PRIVACY POLICY

Your privacy is of great importance to me and I am committed to complying with the terms of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) regarding the responsible and secure use of your data. Kay Hoggett Counselling and Coaching has a legitimate interest in processing personal data in order to provide counselling and coaching services. The purpose of this statement is to let you know what personal information I collect and hold, why this data is collected, how long it is kept and what your rights are with regards to this personal data.

Coming for counselling or coaching indicates consent to the processing of your data under the terms of this policy.

I may collect personal data such as name, address, date of birth, gender, GP/medical practitioner details, telephone numbers and email address. I also collect any data you may give me regarding personal and family background, alongside potentially sensitive data relating to medical and mental health conditions. 

I use your information in the following ways:


To provide you as a client with the services requested from me.


To notify you about changes to your appointments and the services I provide.


To fulfil any administrative, legal, ethical and contractual obligations.


I will not share any information about you with other organisations or people, except in the following situations:


Consent – I may share information with relevant medical professionals or others whom you have requested or agreed we need to contact. 

Serious harm – I may share your information with the relevant authorities if I have reason to believe that this may prevent serious harm being caused to you or another person.


Compliance with law – I will share information when the law requires me to - i.e. safeguarding, terrorism, drug trafficking and serious crime.


Clinical Will– I have a clinical will which means in the event of sudden death or a serious accident or illness, a named colleague will be able to access the contact details so we can notify clients. 

Supervision– It is an ethical requirement for any clinician offering counselling or coaching to have regular supervision. Any supervisor used is an accredited member of the relevant accrediting body and works within their ethical framework. 

All information you provide to Kay Hoggett Counselling and Coaching is stored as securely as possible. We will take all reasonable precautions to prevent the loss, misuse or alteration of information given.


All paper forms and correspondence are kept in locked filing cabinets. All electronic files are kept on password-protected devices with virus protection software. 


For virtual appointments, wherever possible, I use Zoom which features end-to-end encryption for added security. Note that no communication software can completely guarantee privacy. 

Whilst we endeavour to keep our systems and communications protected against viruses and other harmful effects, we cannot bear responsibility for all communications being virus free. 

Client notes and other documentation are destroyed seven years after the end of the services offered.


Any known data breaches will be reported to the ICO within 72 hours.


Any requests for personal data need to be made through a data subject access request and will be supplied within one month.


My website, www.kayhoggett.co.uk, is maintained by Webhealer. Your details are not stored on their systems for any contact requests made through them. 

If you choose to contact me by text or mobile phone, numbers are stored under a reference system and/or initials only, as opposed to full names.

Your rights
under the GDPR - you have the right to:


Access your personal data - Rectify, erase or restrict your data - Object to the processing of your data - Request transfer of data (data portability).


You may withdraw your consent for me to hold and process your data at any time. However, if you do this while actively receiving services, the services would have to end. You can withdraw your consent by stating this on an email to me.


If you have any concerns about the way I handle your data please contact me. If you feel this has not been resolved effectively you have the right to contact the Information Commissioners Office (www.ico.org.uk)

Changes to this policy


This document is a work in progress and may be modified from time to time.


January 2019