UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018: Primary legislation governing the collection, processing, and storage of personal and sensitive health data. Essential for therapy intake forms as they collect sensitive personal information.
Mental Health Act 1983 (amended 2007): Provides the legal framework for mental health treatment and patient rights in England and Wales. Relevant for understanding the legal context of therapeutic services.
Health and Social Care Act 2012: Legislation covering general healthcare provision and standards in England and Wales. Sets out requirements for healthcare service delivery.
Mental Capacity Act 2005: Legislation governing consent and capacity issues. Critical for ensuring clients have the capacity to consent to therapy and understand the treatment process.
Professional Standards Guidelines: Including BACP Ethical Framework, UKCP Code of Ethics, and HCPC Standards. These provide professional guidelines for therapeutic practice and documentation.
Equality Act 2010: Ensures non-discriminatory practices and reasonable accommodations in service provision. Must be considered in form design and service accessibility.
Consumer Rights Act 2015: Relevant for private practice therapy services, establishing consumer rights and service provider obligations in therapeutic relationships.
Common Law Duty of Confidentiality: Legal principle protecting client information and privacy. Essential for establishing confidentiality terms in therapy documentation.
Children Act 1989: Crucial when working with minors, covering safeguarding responsibilities and parental consent requirements in therapeutic contexts.
