LUCY HUTT

Privacy Policy

This legal notice and privacy policy applies to the entire contents of this website under the domain name yewcounselling.co.uk and to any email, text, social media or instant messaging correspondence from me and for all communication with myself, Lucy Hutt.

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To comply with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) GDPR legislation, effective May 2018, I am required to be clear with you about what data I will hold about you, how you can access it and how your data will be used. I am registered on the Information Commissioner’s Office Register as a Data Controller for Lucy Hutt Yew Counselling. You can search the register at
https://ico.org.uk/about-the-ico/what-we-do/register-of-fee-payers

If you contacted me using the Contact form or by any email or messaging correspondence, I will use your contact details only for the purpose of providing you with information about my counselling service. 
 
If you provide information about yourself by registering on a page or otherwise by telling me about yourself, I will collect that information to respond to your request and to assess your needs. If you decide not to engage with my services, all contact details and correspondence will be deleted within 5 days. 

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At the start of any work together, you will be asked to read and sign a General Data Protection Register (GDPR) consent form containing the information below:

• Your full name, address, email and contact telephone number

• Your date of birth

• GP details

• Any prescribed medication in case of emergency

• School/University details if applicable

My obligations to you

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1. I am a Registered Practitioner of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) and I adhere to their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. The full text is available at https://www.bacp.co.uk/media/3103/bacp-ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions-2018.pdf

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2. I will keep your information confidential at all times unless, as contracted, confidentiality has to be breached under the following circumstances:

• If you disclose there is a risk of serious harm to yourself or others.

• I am subpoenaed by the police to provide my notes or called as a witness for the defence or prosecution.

• If you request your notes to be released to a third party.

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Please be advised that I will seek your consent before releasing confidential information and will ask you to sign the relevant disclosure form. However, in some instances, I am not required to gain consent where the law requires me to make a disclosure in cases of safeguarding, including known cases of female genital mutilation (FGM) in under-18s, terrorism, money laundering and drug trafficking. 

 

3. Brief anonymised session notes are kept securely in line with the BACP Ethical Framework. In my clinical supervision, which is a necessary requirement for ensuring high standards of professional practice in therapy, any references to individuals will be anonymised so that clients are not personally identifiable.

 

4. I will only use the data that I collect about you to assist me in giving you the best counselling service that I can, and as an insurance requirement. I will not use the data for any other purposes. If you request it, I will show you in person all the data that I hold about you including session notes, should you feel they require explanation. Under no circumstances will I email or post any paper copies to you to protect confidentiality.

 

5. I am required by law and by my insurance company to keep brief records for a period of 7 years even when our sessions have ceased. The same level of confidentiality applies.

 

6. In the event of emergency cancellation due to my illness or death, I have a protocol in place whereby my appointed legal executor, Cath Lowe, a Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy who adheres to their Ethical Framework, would be able to access your contact details only via digital/paper appointment diary to enable her to contact you on my behalf.