Your personal information deserves careful handling.

Who this policy covers

This policy applies when Ethical Care at Home handles personal information through this website, phone or email inquiries, care-related conversations, service administration and employment applications.

British Columbia’s Personal Information Protection Act generally governs private organizations in the province. Federal privacy law may also apply to personal information involved in a commercial activity that crosses provincial or national borders.

The information we may collect

The information depends on how you interact with Ethical Care. We limit collection to information that a reasonable person would consider appropriate for the stated purpose.

• Contact and identity information, such as your name, phone number, email address, city and relationship to the person who may need care.
• Care-inquiry information you choose to provide, such as the general situation, requested timing, communication preferences and details needed to understand the inquiry.
• Service and administrative information if care is arranged, including records needed to coordinate, document and administer the agreed service.
• Employment or applicant information when someone applies to work with Ethical Care.
• Basic technical information produced when a website is used, such as internet protocol address, browser type, device information, pages visited and security logs.

How information is collected

Most personal information comes directly from you. It may also come from a family member, substitute decision-maker, referral source or care professional when that person has your consent or another lawful authority to share it.

If you provide information about another person, please make sure you have the authority to do so and share only what is needed.

Why we use personal information

Ethical Care uses personal information only for identified purposes or as otherwise permitted by law.

• Respond to questions and help determine whether a requested service may be appropriate and available.
• Arrange, provide, coordinate, document and administer agreed services.
• Communicate with the person receiving care and authorized family members, representatives or professionals.
• Process business records, payments, insurance or other service administration when applicable.
• Review applications and manage an employment or contractor relationship.
• Protect the website, prevent misuse, maintain records and meet legal, regulatory, safety and professional obligations.

Consent and your choices

Ethical Care seeks meaningful consent before collecting, using or disclosing personal information, unless the law allows or requires otherwise. Express consent is used when the information is sensitive or the purpose is not obvious. Consent may be implied when you contact us and the use is clear from your request.

You may withdraw consent for a future use by contacting the Privacy Officer. Withdrawal may be limited by legal, safety or contractual requirements and may affect whether Ethical Care can provide a requested service.

When information may be shared

Ethical Care does not sell or rent personal information. Information may be shared only as needed for an identified purpose or when law permits or requires it.

• With employees and contractors who need the information to perform their role and are expected to protect confidentiality.
• With authorized family members, representatives, care professionals or referral contacts when consent or another lawful authority permits it.
• With service providers that support hosting, communications, records, payments, professional advice or business operations, subject to appropriate privacy and security requirements.
• To respond to a court order, legal requirement, investigation or compelling health or safety concern when disclosure is authorized by law.
• As part of a legitimate business transaction, with the protections required by law.

Service providers and information outside Canada

A technology or business service provider may process or store information outside British Columbia or Canada. When that occurs, the information may be subject to the laws and lawful access rules of that place. Ethical Care remains responsible for personal information under its control and uses contractual, access and security measures appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.

The Privacy Officer can answer questions about the types of service providers used and the safeguards that apply.

Website technologies and email

The website may use technical storage that is necessary for navigation, security and basic functions. If optional analytics or advertising technologies are introduced, they will be identified through an appropriate notice or consent control before they are used where consent is required.

Ordinary email is not a secure place for detailed health information. Use email for a general question and wait for instructions before sending sensitive records.

Marketing messages

Ethical Care will send commercial email or text messages only when there is consent or another lawful basis to do so. Commercial messages will identify the sender and include a working way to unsubscribe. Service, safety or administrative communications may still be sent when they are necessary for an existing relationship.

How information is protected

Ethical Care uses administrative, technical and physical safeguards that are reasonable for the sensitivity of the information. These may include role-based access, confidentiality expectations, secure systems, staff practices, backup and disposal controls, and a process for responding to a privacy incident.

No email, website or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. Please use the contact guidance on this page before sharing sensitive information.

Accuracy, retention and disposal

Reasonable steps are taken to keep personal information accurate and complete when it may be used to make a decision about someone or disclosed to another organization.

Information is kept only as long as needed for the purpose for which it was collected and for legal or business requirements. When personal information is used to make a decision that directly affects someone, BC law generally requires it to be retained for at least one year so the person has a reasonable opportunity to request access. When retention is no longer required, records are securely destroyed or de-identified.

Accessing or correcting your information

You may make a written request to access personal information about you that is under Ethical Care’s control, learn how it has been used or disclosed, or ask for a correction. Ethical Care may need to confirm your identity and authority before responding.

Access may be limited by exceptions in the law, including another person’s privacy, legal privilege or safety. BC law generally requires a response within 30 days, subject to permitted extensions. If access is refused, the response will explain the legal reason and the available review process.

Privacy questions and complaints

Send a privacy question, access request, correction request or complaint to the Privacy Officer at info@ethicalcarehome.ca or call 778-903-5683. Please write “Privacy request” in the subject line and avoid including sensitive details in the first email.

Ethical Care will review the concern and explain the outcome. If a privacy concern is not resolved, you may contact the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner for British Columbia.

Changes to this policy

This policy may be updated when practices, services or legal requirements change. The date at the top of the page will show the latest revision. A material change will be brought to attention in a reasonable way before it takes effect when notice or consent is required.