HGI Complaints Information

Please note: How the HGI deals with complaints explains the HGI complaints procedure in full, including the formal and informal categories.

Complaints dealt with between April 2023 and March 2024

During the period April 2023 to March 2024, the HGI Registration and Professional Standards Committee (RPSC) received 1 allegation, which was informally resolved.

 

Complaints dealt with between April 2022 and March 2023

During the period April 2022 to March 2023, the HGI Registration and Professional Standards Committee (RPSC) received 6 allegations.

• Complaints not proceeded with - 3
• No case to answer - 1
• Not recorded - 1
• Matter dealt with informally - 1

 

Complaints dealt with between May 2019 and March 2022

During the period May 2019 to September 2021, the HGI Registration and Professional Standards Committee (RPSC) received six formal complaints from clients of human givens therapists.

• Complaints reviewed by the Committee – 1
• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) – 1
• Full hearing – 0 (3 legacy complaints preceding the year 20/21 progressed to full hearings in the last 12 months) 
• Not taken forward/not proceeded with – 3 
• Complaints against the organisation re-register functions – 1 (same as 1 of the full hearing totals A/A)

 

Complaints dealt with between May 2016 and April 2019

May 2016 – April 2017

During the period May 2016 and April 2017, the HGI Registration and Professional Standards Committee (RPSC) received one formal complaint from a client of human givens therapist. See note below in May 2017-April 2018

May 2017 - April 2018

During the period May 2017 and April 2018, the HGI Registration and Professional Standards Committee (RPSC) received two formal complaints from clients of human givens therapists. Of these, one complaint was partially upheld and, as at May 2018, the second is being dealt with via the formal process. During early 2018, a complaint notified in 2016 was upheld and the therapist concerned removed from the HGI Register. (Note: How the HGI deals with complaints explains the HGI complaints procedure in full, including the formal and informal categories.)

During the same period, in response to a number of ethics-related queries submitted by members, the RPSC issued additional guidance to HGI Registrants and trainee therapists on a variety of subjects, including how to deal with disclosures of historic (i.e. non-recent) sexual abuse, the legitimate use of client testimonials in marketing material, and how to deal with requests by clients to provide testimony in legal cases.

May 2018 - April 2019

During the period May 2018 and April 2019, the HGI Registration and Professional Standards Committee (RPSC) received eight formal complaints from clients of human givens therapists.

• 1 complaint was upheld and is currently under appeal
• 1 complaint was resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.
• 1 complaint was not pursued as the complainant was not willing to continue to avoid additional stress.
• 1 complaint was inapplicable to the HGI, as it related to a training course not accredited with HGI and it was suggested that the complaint be brought to the appropriate accrediting body.
• 4 complaints are currently being investigated and of these one HGI registrant member has been suspended pending investigation.

 

Complaints dealt with between 2006 and April 2016

Between 2006 and 2016, the HGI Registration and Professional Standards Committee (RPSC), and its predecessor, the Ethics and Complaints Committee (ECC), dealt with some 23 complaints from clients or their relatives, together with three from other organisations/professionals. In addition, five complaints made by members of the HGI in relation to fellow members were dealt with. Total complaints received and dealt with in the period 2006-2016: 30. Of these:

• 6 complaints were upheld and appropriate remedial action taken;
• 15 complaints were not upheld, there being insufficient grounds to do so;
• 7 complaints were not followed through since the complainants did not pursue their concern, being content to bring the matter to the attention of the HGI only.
  Notes:
  1. The complainants were given the opportunity to pursue the complaints but did not wish to do so;
  2. Where complainants provided the name of the therapist concerned, the matter 2 was raised with them and a response required;
• 2 complaints were inapplicable to the HGI, both relating to therapists who were neither trained in the human givens approach nor registered with the HGI;
• Note: 1 further complaint proved not possible to pursue since the therapist, who by the time of the complaint was no longer a member of the HGI, did not respond to the ECC’s letters.

In addition the RPSC dealt with numerous ethical queries raised by HGI members, providing information and guidance as required.

Where complaints, concerns and queries indicated a need for additional guidelines and information for Registrants, this was done, for example, strengthened data protection and confidentiality guidelines, enhanced case study guidelines, ethics code strengthened in relation to business practice, indicative sanctions guidance, and information and guidance regarding medication.

 

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Updated March 2024