Terms of Use for Family Counselling Online Service and Family Counselling Services (“Terms of Use”)

 

1.    General

1.1 The Family Counselling Online Service (the “FC online service”) is an online service developed by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (“MSF”), and encompasses MSF’s Family Assist, Social Service Net One (“SSNet”), BookingSG and Singpass. The FC online service enables the booking of appointments for Family Counselling services with MSF-appointed agencies [1] (“FC services”).

1.2 By accessing the FC online service and FC services, you agree to the Terms of Use stated herein. You shall be deemed to have accepted to be legally bound by these Terms of Use if you have accessed or used any part of the FC online service or FC services.

1.3 Please contact familyassist@msf.gov.sg if you have any enquiries on these Terms of Use, which includes our privacy statement.

Family Counselling online service (“FC online service”)

2. Use and Availability

2.1 You will be bound by all other Terms of Use of Singpass, BookingSG, and MSF’s Family Assist and SSNet when using the FC online service.

2.2 MSF reserves the right to suspend the operation of the FC online service or any part of the FC online service for any duration, for the purposes of updating, upgrading, system maintenance, or otherwise.

2.3 MSF reserves the right to modify any features and all other forms of content in the FC online service at any time.

3.  Security

3.1 You acknowledge that you are fully responsible for taking the necessary steps to keep your information, software, and equipment secure. This includes clearing your Internet browser cookies and cache before and after using the FC online service.

3.2 During your use of the FC online service, you acknowledge that you are fully responsible for the security or loss of your Singpass and Singpass ID and any other password and User ID assigned to you. This includes taking the necessary steps to keep your User ID(s) and password(s) confidential, including but not limited to changing your password(s) periodically, and maintaining the confidentiality of your account information.

3.3 During your use of the FC online service, you acknowledge that you are fully responsible for all activities, transactions and/or enquiries made through the use of your identification, Singpass, Singpass ID, and any other password and User ID assigned to you, regardless of whether such activities, transactions or enquiries were made with your knowledge and authority. You agree that you will immediately report to MSF if you know or have reason to suspect that the security of your Singpass, Singpass ID, and any User ID and password assigned to you have been compromised or used by another person without your authority.

3.4 MSF will use available technology to protect the security of communications made through the FC online service, including the electronic transmission of personal data. However, MSF does not accept liability for the security, authenticity, integrity, or confidentiality of any transaction and other communication made through the FC online service, whether using Singpass or otherwise.

3.5 You agree that the accessibility and operation of the FC online service rely on technologies beyond MSF’s control. Due to the inherent defects of electronic distribution, you acknowledge that there may be errors, delays, omissions, interruptions, breaches of security and corruption in the FC online service. MSF does not guarantee, represent, or warrant continuous accessibility or uninterrupted operation of the FC online service at any time, including the time you access any information or perform online transactions/services, whether using Singpass, Singpass ID, and any other User ID and password assigned to you, or otherwise.

3.6 MSF reserves the right to deny or restrict any person access to the FC online service, or to block any Internet address from accessing the FC online service, at any time, without giving any reason(s) and/or notification.

4. Proprietary Rights

4.1. Except for the Singpass and BookingSG services, the FC online service is owned and operated by MSF. 

5. Disclaimers against Warranty and Liability

5.1. The FC online service is provided “as is” and “as available” without warranties made by MSF of any kind. To the extent permitted by law, MSF does not make any warranty of any kind in relation to the FC online service and hereby disclaims all express, implied, and statutory warranty of any kind to you or any third party, including any warranty:

a. as to the accuracy, correctness, reliability, timeliness, non-infringement, title, merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose of the FC online service; or

b. that the FC online service will be uninterrupted or error-free, or that defects will be corrected or that the FC online service and the server are and will be free of all viruses or other harmful elements.

5.2. MSF will not be liable to you or any third party for any loss, damage, expense or cost howsoever caused, including but not limited to any direct or indirect loss of income, revenue, or profit, lost or damaged data, or damage to your device, software, or any other property, which may result, directly or indirectly in connection with any of the following:

a. your use of the FC online service;

b. any loss in or unavailability of use of the FC online service;

c. any delay, breakdown or malfunction of any equipment system or software used in connection with the FC online service, whether belonging to us or not, including but not limited to Singpass;

d. any decision made or action taken by you or any third party with reference to and/or in reliance on any statement, opinion, representation or information made available in the FC online service;

e. any use of or access to any other website linked to the FC online service; or

f. the conduct or the views of any person who accesses or uses the user’s Singpass or any other password and/or accesses or uses the FC online service;

g. any errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or incompleteness in the FC online service; or

h. any virus or other harmful elements in the FC online service.

6. Links from the FC online service to Third Party Sites

6.1 The FC online service contains links to third party websites (“Third Party Websites”) which are not maintained or controlled by MSF. Insofar as the FC online service provides links to Third Party Websites, MSF will not be responsible for the availability or content of Third Party Websites and will not be liable for any damages or loss arising from your access to or use of Third Party Websites.

6.2 Links to Third Party Websites are provided for your convenience and do not imply any endorsement by, association with or affiliation to any trade or service marks, logos, insignia, or other devices used or appearing on Third Party Websites to which the FC online service is linked.

7. Links to the FC online service from Other Websites

7.1. Caching, hyperlinking to, and the framing of the FC online service is prohibited unless you have obtained prior permission from MSF. MSF reserves the right to impose conditions when permitting any caching, hyperlinking to, or framing of the FC online service.

7.2. Your caching, hyperlinking to, or framing of the FC online service constitute your acceptance of these Terms of Use. This is deemed to be the case even after changes to these Terms of Use are made. If you do not accept these Terms of Use, you must immediately discontinue caching, hyperlinking to or framing of the FC online service.

7.3. Under no circumstances shall MSF be considered as associated with or affiliated to any trade or service marks, logos, insignia, or other devices used or appearing on other websites (“Other Websites”) that link to the FC online service.

7.4. MSF reserves all rights:

a. to disable any links to or frames of the FC online service in any website containing inappropriate, profane, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, or unlawful topics, names, material, or information, that violates any written law; and

b. to disclaim any responsibility and/or liability for the content available on any Other Websites that link to or frame any part of the FC online service.

8. Privacy

8.1 The collection, use, storage, and disclosure of data belonging to you, or that may relate to a third-party individual that is provided by you, during your use of the FC online service will be subject to the terms of the privacy statement which can be found below (the “Privacy Statement”).

8.2 By using the FC online service, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and accepted our Privacy Statement, and that you agree to the terms of the Privacy Statement as may be revised from time to time. The Privacy Statement forms part of these Terms of Use.

Family Counselling services (“FC services”)

9. Eligibility of Users

9.1 FC services offered by MSF-appointed agencies is only available for (i) Singapore Citizens/ Permanent Residents/ Non-residents with Singapore nexus (having at least one member of the family who is a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident) and (ii) who are at least 18 years of age (subject to clause 9.2), with marital, divorce or other family relationship issues. The staff from MSF-appointed agencies (“staff”) will only serve clients seeking help for pre-marital issues if they have indicated their desire to marry and have attended or are currently attending pre-marital programmes in the community.

9.2 If you are under 18 years of age, parental consent will be required for you to receive FC services at MSF-appointed agencies.

9.3 If you are already receiving counselling or support from other agencies or professionals for similar issues, we encourage you to continue seeking support from your existing agency or professional to ensure continuity of care.

10. Sessions

10.1 All sessions with the MSF-appointed agencies can only be conducted whilst you are physically present in Singapore. Sessions may be conducted in-person or via a video call.

10.2 All information disclosed by you when receiving FC services will be kept strictly confidential, unless there are safety concerns or when disclosure is required by law. You acknowledge that in such circumstances, the staff is legally and/or ethically obligated to disclose information to appropriate persons/ authorities.

10.3 If counselling services are deemed necessary for your child(ren) aged below 18 years old upon consultation between you and the staff, you acknowledge that your consent will be sought for their participation and acknowledge that discussions will remain confidential except where disclosure is required by law or for safety reasons.

10.4 You acknowledge that information shared during sessions will be shared with supervisors of the staff from MSF-appointed agencies for clinical supervision purposes. This may include discussion of case information with supervisors, audio/video recording of sessions between you and the staff, and direct observation by authorised personnel. Clinical supervision is necessary for professional development and quality assurance.

11. Respect for Our Professionals and Our Services

11.1 FC services by MSF-appointed agencies aim to provide you with the assistance and support you need in dealing with your marital or divorce or family relationship issues. In the event of inappropriate behaviour, such as abusive or threatening language directed towards the staff, the session may be terminated. You are not allowed to take any photos or record any videos of any communication between the staff and you.

12. Disclaimer of Liability

12.1 In carrying out the FC services, third-party video conferencing platforms (including but not limited to Zoom and Microsoft Teams) may be used. MSF shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of the third-party video conferencing platforms. Your use of such platforms is at your own risk and subject to the terms of the respective platform agencies.

12.2 The staff are not able to provide you with any legal advice. The staff will try their best to help you in your situation but will not be liable for any mishaps, decisions that you make, losses you have incurred, including psychological or emotional damage, any physical damage/harm to your property, yourself, or others. MSF and the staff expressly disclaim, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all liability in any form whatsoever with respect to acts or omissions made by you arising from the use of the FC online service or FC services.

Miscellaneous

13. Variation

13.1 These Terms of Use may be revised at any time without notice and without liability on the part of MSF. Your continued access or use of the FC online service or FC services will constitute your acceptance of the most recently updated Terms of Use and their changes (if any).

14. Severability

14.1 If any of the terms and conditions of these Terms of Use is held by a court or tribunal of competent jurisdiction to be illegal, invalid, or otherwise unenforceable, that term and condition shall be deemed severed from these Terms of Use and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining terms and conditions.

15. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

15.1 These Terms of Use are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Singapore.

15.2 Any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms of Use will be referred to and resolved by the Courts of the Republic of Singapore.

 

Privacy Statement

Government of Singapore Privacy Statement

1. General

1.1. This is a Government of Singapore digital service.

1.2. We may use "cookies", where a small data file is sent to your browser to store and track information about you when you enter our digital service. The cookie is used to track information such as the number of users and their frequency of use, profiles of users and their preferred digital services. While this cookie can tell us when you enter our digital services and which pages you visit, it cannot read data off your hard disk.

1.3. You can choose to accept or decline cookies. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can usually modify your browser setting to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of the digital service.

2. Use of Data

2.1. If you provide us with personal data about you, your spouse and/or your family member(s):

a. Where appropriate, we may share the necessary data with other Government Agencies, so as to improve the discharge of public functions, and to serve you in the most efficient and effective way unless such sharing is prohibited by law.

b. We will share the personal data about you, your spouse, and/or your family member(s) with non-Government entities (including but not limited to the MSF-appointed agencies) that have been authorised to carry out specific Government services.

c. During your use of the FC online service, MSF will process or display data belonging to you (or to any third-party individual) which you had previously provided to any Government Agency, or any data which may have been derived from any previous submission to Singpass and/or MyInfo. This will ensure that you do not have to make repeated submissions. Should the data be out-of-date, you will be required to provide the most current data through the relevant functionality or feature of the service without delay.

3. Protection of Data

3.1. To safeguard the personal data about you, your spouse, and/or your family member(s), all electronic storage and transmission of personal data is secured with appropriate security technologies.

3.2. This digital service may contain links to non-Government digital services whose data protection and privacy practices may differ from ours. We are not responsible for the content and privacy practices of these other digital services and we encourage you to consult the privacy notices of those digital services.

4. Definitions

4.1. “Government Agency” refers to an Organ of State, Ministry, Department or Statutory Board.

4.2. ”Non-Government entity” refers to a person other than a Government Agency.

4.3. “Personal data” shall have the same meaning as its definition in the Personal Data Protection Act 2012.