Privacy Policy

Read our full Policy below

VictimFocus Privacy Notice

VictimFocus are dedicated to challenging poor practice, discrimination and oppression of victims of abuse, trauma, and violence. We work to change the way professionals and the public understand, perceive, and discuss victims of abuse, trauma, and violence. Our goal is to influence governments, policymakers, practitioners, academics, and the public to treat victims with respect and compassion.

VictimFocus Ltd are committed to protecting your personal data. This Privacy Notice informs you how we look after your personal data and clarifies your privacy rights. It also sets out the personal information we collect and how we collect it. It confirms how we process your information pursuant to the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR and EU GDPR (“Data Protection Laws”). 

Our Details
A “controller” is a person or organisation who alone or jointly determines the purposes for which and the way any personal data is or is likely to be processed. Unless we notify you otherwise VictimFocus is the controller of your personal data for the purpose of this website and where we carry out our services to you. 

Our registered address is: VictimFocus Limited, 20-22 Wenlock Road. London. N1 7GU. Company Number: 11906930. We are registered with the ICO on the Data Protection register and our registration number is ZB180758. 

Scope
This Privacy Notice applies to the processing of personal data by us in connection with any:

• Clients/Customers for the provision of services by us.
• Visitors who visit on our website. 
• Suppliers who we use so that we can operate and carry out our services.
• Practitioners and Consultants who supply services to our Clients/Customers.

Types of personal data 
Personal data or personal information means any information about an individual from which that person can be identified. It does not include data where the identity has been removed. This is known as anonymised data. Anonymised data falls outside the scope of Data Protection Laws. 

How do we get your information?

Direct source: Most of the personal information we process is provided to us directly by you for the following reasons:

• You may give us your information through filling in contact or enquiry forms on our website or via our shop. Our website will also automatically collect data when you use it via various methods including cookies.  See also Further Information on Website Data.
  
• You may also correspond with us via email requesting our services.
  
• You may also give us your information when subscribing to publications or consenting for marketing emails to be sent to us via our website. 
  
• You may provide us with feedback which may include data personal to you. You may also participate in research which may contain your personal data. 
  
• You may also provide us with your personal data when engaging with our E-Learning Platform. 
  
• We may collect your personal data via engagements with our social media platforms. 
  
• We may also collect information if you engage us to work with you on any project or commission and further details of how we process the data in this case will be provided in the Conditions of Work Agreement which will be provided to you and agreed with you prior to us commencing any work with you. 

Indirect source:  We may receive your personal data if a third party provides us with it to contact you. 

What types of personal data do we collect?  

We may collect, use, store and transfer different kinds of personal data about you and it will depend on the nature of the service we are offering and how we are offering it to you. 

• Identity and Contact Data: Your name, date of birth, gender, address details, email address and telephone number, your job role.
  
• Financial Data: Your bank account details or your payment card details if you are making a purchase via our online store on our website as an example or when you pay us for our services. 
  
• Website Data: Any automatic data collected via our website when you visit it such as your IP address
  
• Usage Data: Details of how you interact with our website.
  
• Marketing Data: Your preferences surrounding receiving marketing from us and how you choose to receive that information.
  
• Research Data: Your personal information submitted through participation with our research.

Further Information on Website Data: 

We may gather information and statistics collectively about visitors to our website. Analysis of this information demonstrates the most frequently used sections of the website and assists us in continually improving the online service. You give us your personal data, which includes Usage Data, Website Data and/or Marketing Data when you use our website or which we have agreed with you to use or when you review any publications or marketing material we send you. Please see our cookies notice for more information.

Providing personal data 

Where we need to collect personal data by law or under the terms of a contract, we have with you and you do not provide that information when requested we may not be able to perform the contract we have or are trying to enter into with you for example to provide you with our services. In this case we may have to cancel our service, but we let you know beforehand. 

Lawful bases: We will use your personal data in the following circumstances:

• Performance of a contract: Where we need to perform the contract, we are about to enter into or have entered into with you. For example, when we provide our services to you. 
  
• Legal obligation: Where we need to comply with a legal obligation. For example, for accounting or legal purposes. 
  
• Legitimate interests: Where it is necessary for our legitimate interests or those of a third party and your interests and fundamental rights do not override those interests.
  
• Consent: We do not generally rely on consent as a legal basis for processing your personal data. Where we do rely on consent you have the right to withdraw consent at any time. Please contact us at admin@victimfocus.org.uk to withdraw consent. Please also see Marketing communications. 
  

Further information to Practitioners and Consultants

In addition to our processing activities outlined above, we may also process personal data such as your Curriculum Vitae (CV) which includes details of your qualifications and any information you provide to us if you are registered with a regulatory body. You will be listed in our Practitioners Directory so we may forward your details to the end user. 

Marketing communications

We may send you marketing communication which may be of interest to you relating to our services. You have the right to object to processing of your personal data for direct marketing purposes. You can unsubscribe from receiving marketing communications from us by using the unsubscribe methods contained in communications we send to you or by contacting us. See Contact us. 

Where you opt out of receiving marketing communications this will not apply to personal data provided to us as a result of registering for or using our service, your service experience or other interactions with this website.

How we share your personal data

• Internally: Your personal data will be used by our employees and contractors who are working on providing your services to you on a need-to-know basis.
  
• Suppliers: This would include service providers who support our business including IT and communication suppliers and outsourced business support to ensure our service runs smoothly. 
  
• Professional advisers: This would include lawyers, bankers, auditors and insurers who provide consultancy, banking, legal, insurance and accounting services.
  
• Law enforcement bodies, regulators and other authorities: This is to comply with our legal requirements or adhere to good practices.
  
• Advertising networks and analytics service providers: This is to support the function of our website and to understand your engagement on our website, apps and other social media tools.
  
• Third parties: This is in the context of the acquisition or transfer of any part of our business or in connection with the business reorganisation. If a change happens to our business then the new owners may use your personal data in the same way as set out in this Privacy Notice.

Data security

We have put in place appropriate security measures to prevent your personal data from being accidentally lost, used or accessed in an unauthorised way, altered or disclosed. In addition, we limit access to your personal data to those employees, agents, contractors and other third parties who have a business need to know. They will only process your personal data on our instructions, and they are subject to a duty of confidentiality. 

The transmission of information via the internet is not completely secure. Although we will take reasonable measures to protect your personal data, VictimFocus cannot guarantee the security of your information transmitted and any transmission is at your own risk.

International transfers

How we safeguard personal data when we transfer it internationally

We ensure a similar degree of protection is afforded whenever we transfer personal data out of the UK/EEA by ensuring at least one of the following safeguards is implemented: 

1. We will only transfer your personal information to countries that have been deemed to provide an adequate level of protection for personal information; or 
2. We will use specific contracts approved for use in the UK by the UK Government or by the EU Commission which give personal information the same protection it has in the UK/EU. For example, with the use of Article 46 UK/EU GDPR safeguard mechanisms to transfer personal data. 

Please contact us if you would like further information about the specific mechanism used by us when transferring your personal data out of the UK/EEA. 

How long do we keep your personal data for

We will only retain your personal data for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, regulatory, tax, accounting or reporting requirements. We may retain your personal data for a longer period in the event of a complaint or if we reasonably believe there is a prospect of litigation in respect to our relationship with you.

To determine the appropriate retention period for personal information we consider the amount, nature and sensitivity of the personal information, the potential risk of harm from unauthorised use or disclosure of your personal information, the purposes for which we process your personal information and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means and the applicable legal, regulatory, tax, accounting or other requirements.

We may anonymise your personal data so that it can no longer be associated with you for research or statistical purposes in which case we may use this information indefinitely without further notice to you. 

What are your rights with regards to your data? 

Under certain circumstances, you have rights under data protection laws in relation to your personal data. Not all rights are absolute. You have the right to:

• To be informed: We will tell you what data is collected, how it is being used, how long it will be collected and whether it will be shared with any third party. This information is contained in this Privacy Notice. 
  
• To be able to access your data via a Data Subject Access Request: You can ask us to provide to you any personal data which we hold. Please note that this may incur a fee if this request is excessive, repetitive or malicious in any way. We will request proof of your identification before we can provide you with the information you request under a Data Subject Access Request. 
  
• To be able to rectify your data: If your data is inaccurate or incomplete then you can request that this is updated. 
  
• To request erasure of your data:  You can ask us to delete all the personal information which we hold about you if we no longer require this. We will carry this out immediately unless there is a good reason or lawful reason which prevents us from doing so. 
  
• To request data portability: You can request to obtain and reuse your personal data for your own purposes across different services. This can only be exercised against personal data that you have provided to data controllers by way of a contract or via consent. 
  
• To object to the use of your data: You can object to the processing of your personal data that is collected with legitimate interests or via the performance of a task in the interest/exercise of official authority unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for processing your data which overrides your interests, rights and freedoms. 
  
• To withdraw consent for marketing purposes:  You may request that we no longer hold your personal data for the purpose of marketing. This can be done by opting out of our marketing in your preferences or by contacting us at admin@victimfocus.org.uk. You can withdraw your consent to us processing your data for marketing at any time. 

Carrying out your data subject rights

You will not have to pay a fee to access your personal data or to exercise any of the other rights. However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your request is clearly unfounded, repetitive or excessive. We may need to request specific information from you to help us confirm your identity and ensure your right to access your personal information or to exercise any of your other rights. This is a security measure to ensure that personal information is not disclosed to any person who has no right to receive it. We may also contact you to ask you for further information in relation to your request to speed up our response.

We try to respond to all legitimate requests within one month. Occasionally it may take us longer than a month if your request is particularly complex or you have made a number of requests. In this case, we will notify you and keep you updated.

If you wish to exercise any of the rights set out above, please contact us at  admin@victimfocus.org.uk

If you wish to make a complaint

We would like the opportunity to address your concerns first. To complain or to raise an enquiry about the use of your personal data, please email admin@victimfocus.org.uk.  A complaint can be made by you at any time to the UK data protection authority - ICO. They can be contacted via their website at https://www.ico.org.uk. 

Changes to our Privacy Notice 

This Privacy Notice may be changed from time to time in response to legal, technical or business developments. We will take appropriate measures to inform you when we update our Privacy Notice. We will obtain your consent to any material Privacy Notice changes if and where this is required by applicable Data Protection Laws.

Version

We can confirm that the latest revision to this Privacy Notice was carried out on 21 June 2023. 

Contact

Questions, comments and requests regarding this Privacy Policy are welcomed and should be addressed to admin@victimfocus.org.uk

1. About these Terms 

a. These Terms of Use together with the documents referred to below, govern your use of VictimFocus Ltd’s
    website at www.VictimFocus.com, either as a registered user or someone visiting the site. 

b. Please thoroughly read these Terms of Use before you commence use of our site. By continuing to use our
     site you accept these Terms of Use and agree to comply with them. 

c. If you do not agree to any or all of our Terms of Use then you must not use our site. 

d. We can change these Terms of Use at any time. Please check the current Terms of Use every time you use
     the site and take notice of any changes. 

e. We may change the content of our website at any time. We do not guarantee that the information on our
     website is up to date and we are under no obligation to update it. We do not guarantee that our site, or
     any content thereon, is complete or accurate. 

2. Documents which Apply to use of our website

These Terms of Use refer to the following, which also apply to your use of our website

a. Our Cookie Policy – giving you information about the cookies on our site

b. Our Privacy Notice – setting out how we may use your personal information 

c. Our APTI Directory Subscriber Terms and Conditions – setting out the Terms and Conditions between VictimFocus and Practitioners listed on our APTI Directory (Subscribers)

d. Our Acceptable Use Policy – this is contained within these Terms showing how you can and cannot use out site and any content therein

3. Who we are 

a. www.VictimFocus.com is owned and operated by VictimFocus Limited, a private limited company incorporated in England and Wales with Company Number 11906930 and registered office address of 20-22 Wenlock Road, London, N1 7GU (“VictimFocus”).

4. Assess to our Website

a. The information on our website can be accessed free of charge. 

b. We make no guarantees that the content of our website will never be interrupted or unavailable. 

c. You are responsible for anyone accessing our website through your internet connection. 

5. Intellectual Property

a. VictimFocus are the owner or the licensee of all intellectual property rights in our site, and in the material
    published on it. Those works are protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All such rights
    are reserved. 

b. No information on our website should be distributed by you and is for personal use only, unless prior
    written authority has been requested and granted by us. You may print off one copy, and may download
    extracts, of any page(s) from our site for your personal use and you may draw the attention of others
    within your organisation to content posted on our site.

c. Any information printed off or downloaded by you from our website cannot be amended or changed in any
    way whatsoever. You must always acknowledge VictimFocus as the authors and owners of any content
    downloaded from our website. 

d. You must not use any part of the content on our website for commercial purposes unless you have
    obtained a licence to do so from VictimFocus or our licensors. 

e. If you print off, copy, download, share or repost any part of our site in breach of these terms of use, your
    right to use our site will cease immediately and you must, at our option, return or destroy any copies of the
    materials you have made.

6. Information on our website

a. The content on our website is provided for general information only. It is not intended to amount to advice
    on which you should rely. You must seek professional or specialist advice before taking or not taking any
    action based upon the content of our website.

b. Although we make reasonable efforts to update the information on our site, we make no representations,
    warranties or guarantees, whether express or implied, that the content on our site is accurate, complete or
    up to date. 

7. Liability

a. We do not exclude or limit in any way our liability to you where it would be unlawful to do so. This includes
    liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence or the negligence of our employees, agents or
    subcontractors and for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

b. Subject to clause 7a above, VictimFocus are not liable for any loss or damage, even where this could have
    been foreseen, arising in connection with your use of our website or your reliance on any content within
    our website. 

c. Our Website should not be used for any commercial use whatsoever. 

d. VictimFocus will not be liable for any  direct or indirect loss or damage arising from any virus, hacking,
    technologically harmful event or material that may infect your computer or any programs as a result of
    your use of our website or downloaded of any content from our website. This also applies to you following
    any links posted on our website. You are responsible for making sure you have your own anti-virus
    software prior to using our website. Where our website contains links to other websites, these links are for
    informational purposes only and VictimFocus have no control over the contents of those linked sites
    or resources. 

e. VictimFocus are not responsible for the content of any websites linked to our site. 

8. General 

a. These Terms of Use are governed by English Law. 

b. When you subscribe to our website you confirm acceptance of our APTI Directory Subscriber Terms and
    Conditions and agree to comply with them. This does not negate your obligation to comply with these
    Terms of Use or any of the other documents listed at clause 2 above. 

c. If you wish to contact us please email admin@victimfocus.org.uk.

Acceptable Use Policy

This Policy sets out how you may use our website at www.Victimfocus.com. This applies to anyone assessing or using our site in whatever capacity. By continuing to use our website you agree to be bound by the terms of this Acceptable Use Policy and our Website Terms of Use above. 

1. Unacceptable use 

a. You must not use our website in anyway that is unlawful or fraudulent, and your use must not break
    any law or regulation. 

b. You must not use our website to send or download, use or reuse any material without our express
    permission to do so.

c.  You must not use our website to send marketing, advertising or promotional material. 

d. You must not introduce to our website any viruses or other harmful programs or coding which is designed
    to damage the use of our website, website functionality or damage to any software or hardware of ours
    or any other users of our website. 

e. You must not reproduce, copy or sell any part of our website. 

f. You must not damage, disrupt or interfere with any part of our website, any network our site is stored on,
    any software used to provide our website, or any equipment, network or software owned or used by any
    third party.

2. Use of any interactive services

a. Should we provide any interactive services on our website, including but not limited to any bulletin boards
    or chatrooms, we will provide you with information about how to access and the moderation of any
    interactive service. 

b. We will endeavour to assess any risks for users when using any interactive service provided on our website.
    We are under no obligation to moderate any interactive service that we provide on our website and we are
    not liable for any direct or indirect loss of damage arising from any use of our interactive services. 

c. For any minor to access our interactive services this must only be done with permission from a parent
    or guardian. 

3. Suspension of use 

a. If we decide that your use of our website does not conform to this Acceptable Use Policy, we may take any
    action as we deem appropriate, fair and reasonable. 

b. Breaching any terms within this Acceptable Use Policy will mean that you have broken the terms of our
    Website Terms of Use. 

c. Should you breach the terms of this Acceptable Us Policy or our Website Terms of Use, we reserve the right
    to withdraw your access and right to use our website without notice to you. If this results in any costs to us
    arising out of you breaking this Acceptable Use Policy or our Website Terms of Use then we reserve the
    right to recover all and any costs from you. 

4. Changes to this Policy 

a. We reserve the right to make changes to this Acceptable Use Policy at any time. 

Anti Pathology Trauma Informed Directory Information Disclaimer 

1. VictimFocus have taken all reasonable steps and due care in creating and operating a Anti-Pathology Trauma
    Informed Directory (the “Directory”). This aims to provide users with accurate content. We will not be responsible
    for any direct or indirect loss or damage incurred as a result of any mistakes within the Directory. If you have any
    reason to believe that any details within the Directory are incorrect or inaccurate then please email us at 
    admin@victimfocus.org.uk.

2. The information contained within our Directory, including all content therein, is only for those Practitioners that
    are registered as Subscribers on our website. The details provided therein are provided by the Subscriber and
    published for website users. We do not certify, recommend, endorse, approve or refer you to any of these
    Subscribers. 

3. VictimFocus take reasonable steps to ensure that the information provided by the Subscriber is accurate. The
    Subscribers are wholly responsible for their own information and we are not liable for its accuracy. VictimFocus
    will therefore not be liable for any direct or indirect loss or damage incurred as a result of you relying on any
    Subscriber information. 

4. When using information from our Directory, you are responsible for checking the Subscriber information yourself
    before you rely on this. VictimFocus are not liable for any advice, therapy or support a Subscriber provides to you
    or any actions you take in reliance on that advice, therapy or support. 

5. Where a Subscriber’s website is linked on our Directory, VictimFocus is not responsible for the contents of that
    website.

6. Any information contained within our Directory is for informational purposes only. We will not be liable or
    responsible for any decisions or diagnoses provided by Subscribers. 

7. Our Directory is for personal use only. This must not be used for commercial purposes, including promotional,
    marketing or selling goods or services. 

8. The information within our Directory should not be copied or distributed in any way.