Safeguarding Policy

1. Purpose and Scope

This policy applies to all aspects of our counselling practice and ensures we:

• Protect clients from abuse, neglect, and exploitation
• Provide a safe therapeutic environment
• Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns
• Work collaboratively with safeguarding agencies when necessary
• Support clients' wellbeing and safety

2. Legal Framework

This policy is informed by:

• The Care Act 2014
• Children Act 1989 and 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
• Mental Capacity Act 2005
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR
• BACP Ethical Framework

3. Key Definitions

3.1 Child/Young Person

Anyone under the age of 18 years.

3.2 Vulnerable Adult

An adult who:

• Has care and support needs
• Is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect
• Is unable to protect themselves due to their care and support needs

3.3 Types of Abuse

Type of Abuse	Description	Warning Signs
Physical	Hitting, slapping, pushing, restraint	Unexplained injuries, fear of specific people
Emotional	Threats, intimidation, isolation	Withdrawal, low self-esteem, changes in behaviour
Sexual	Sexual acts without consent	Sexual knowledge inappropriate for age, self-harm
Financial	Theft, fraud, coercion	Sudden financial difficulties, unexplained transactions
Neglect	Failure to meet basic needs	Poor hygiene, malnutrition, untreated conditions
Discriminatory	Harassment based on protected characteristics	Exclusion, unequal treatment, verbal abuse
Domestic Abuse	Abuse between partners or family	Controlling behaviour, injuries, fear

4. Our Safeguarding Procedures

4.1 Creating a Safe Environment

• Conducting sessions in appropriate, private settings
• Maintaining professional boundaries
• Using trauma-informed approaches
• Ensuring accessibility and inclusivity
• Regular risk assessments of practice environment

4.2 Working with Young People (14-17 years)

When working with clients aged 14-17, we:

• Assess capacity to consent (Gillick competence)
• Explain confidentiality and its limits clearly
• Encourage parental involvement where appropriate
• Consider the young person's best interests paramount
• Document decision-making processes

Where a young person is brought to a session by a parent, guardian or other adult, that adult may help them settle in at the very start. The counselling itself takes place with the young person on their own. The accompanying adult is asked to leave once the session begins. This protects the young person's privacy and gives them a confidential space of their own.

5. Responding to Safeguarding Concerns

5.1 If a Client Discloses Abuse

5.2 Reporting Procedures

6. Confidentiality and Information Sharing

6.1 When We May Break Confidentiality

We will share information without consent when:

• There's risk of serious harm to the client or others
• A child is at risk of significant harm
• A vulnerable adult is at risk of serious harm
• Required by law or court order
• To prevent terrorism or serious crime

6.2 Information Sharing Principles

• Share only what is necessary and proportionate
• Share only with those who need to know
• Record what was shared, with whom, and why
• Inform the client unless doing so increases risk
• Seek consent where possible and safe

7. Safer Recruitment

As a sole practitioner, Tash Thomas-Still has:

• Enhanced DBS check (renewed every 3 years)
• Professional registration with BACP
• Regular supervision with qualified supervisor
• Ongoing safeguarding training
• Professional indemnity insurance

8. Training and Development

We maintain competence through:

• Annual safeguarding training updates
• Regular supervision discussing safeguarding issues
• Keeping current with legislative changes
• Attending multi-agency training when available
• Reviewing and updating this policy annually

9. Support for Those Affected by Abuse

We provide:

• Trauma-informed therapeutic approaches
• Safety planning for those at risk
• Information about support services
• Advocacy and empowerment
• Collaborative care with other agencies when appropriate

10. Useful Contacts

Service	Contact Number	Available
NSPCC Helpline	0808 800 5000	24/7
Childline	0800 1111	24/7
National Domestic Abuse Helpline	0808 2000 247	24/7
Samaritans	116 123	24/7
Action on Elder Abuse	0808 808 8141	Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Mind	0300 123 3393	Mon-Fri 9am-6pm

11. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed:

• Annually as standard practice
• Following any safeguarding incident
• When legislation or guidance changes
• In response to learning from practice