Safeguarding Policy

This policy was last updated on 1st September 2026

Purpose and Scope

I work independently in private practice and offer counselling and psychotherapy to adults over the age of 18 years old. I am committed to protecting the people I see(clients) from avoidable harm, whilst respecting their privacy, dignity and autonomy. I am the person responsible for managing safeguarding concerns within my practice.

This policy applies to my counselling and psychotherapy work, including online sessions. This does not mean that I am an emergency service or that all concerns should be reported.

Professional and Legal Framework

My decisions are informed by the:

Alongside local safeguarding arrangements, I use relevant professional supervision and seek specialist advice where appropriate. Legal responsibilities and referral routes may differ if a client is located outside England.

What May Cause Concerns

Safeguarding concerns may include:

  • Physical Abuse

  • Sexual Abuse

  • Psychological Abuse

  • Domestic Violence

  • Coercive Control

  • Financial Exploitation

  • Neglect/Self Neglect

  • Discrimination

  • Organisational Abuse

  • Modern Slavery

  • Explotitation

Serious Self-harm and Suicide risk require careful risk assessment and appropriate intervention; however, they are not automatically a Care Act safeguarding referral.

Recognising Adults at Risk

Section 42 of the Care Act 2014, a local authority has an enquiry duty where it has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult has care and support needs, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and because of those needs is unable to protect themselves. Not everyone experiencing abuse meets all three criteria. I will consider whether a local authority safeguarding referral is appropriate without treating the statutory test as the only reason to seek advice or support.

Responding to Concerns

When a concern arises, I will listen without judgement, seek to understand the facts and the adult’s wishes, consider immediate safety, and explore options with them. I will avoid promising absolute confidentiality or investigations outside my role. Where appropriate, I will discuss safety planning, support networks, specialist domestic abuse services, GP or mental health services, and referral to local authority adult safeguarding. I will seek appropriate consultation, without delaying urgent action.

Mental Capacity and Consent

Adults are presumed to have capacity unless established otherwise. Capacity relates to a particular decision at a particular time; an unwise decision alone does not demonstrate lack of capacity. I will support clients to make their own decisions and seek suitable specialist advice if capacity is in doubt. I will ordinarily seek the person’s informed agreement before a referral or disclosure and take account of their wishes if they decline help. Consent is not the only possible lawful basis for sharing information.

Confidentiality and Information Sharing

Counselling and Psychotherapy are confidential, subject to legal and ethical limits explained in my counselling agreement and privacy statement. Where sharing information is necessary or justified, I will consider applicable law, the seriousness and immediacy of harm, risk to others, the adult’s wishes, whether less intrusive measures could be effective, and the proper recipient. I will normally tell the client beforehand unless unsafe or inappropriate. I will share the minimum necessary information, securely, and document the recipient, date, rationale and information shared. A disclosure of past abuse or a general discussion of suicide is not automatically a reason to breach confidentiality.

Immediate Risk and Emergencies

If there is an immediate threat to life or serious harm, I will take proportionate protective action. This may include helping a client obtain urgent healthcare, contacting emergency services on 999 where justified, or contacting another appropriate service.

For urgent but non-emergency needs in England, NHS 111 (mental health option) may be appropriate. Clients are informed that I do not provide a crisis response outside agreed sessions.

Concerns Involving Children

Although I do not offer counselling and psychotherapy to under 18s, a client may disclose information suggesting that a child is at risk. I will consider relevant child safeguarding duties and local referral arrangements, seek advice when needed, and share information where legally required or otherwise justified to protect the child. I will not assume that an adults-only practice removes these responsibilities.

Online Counselling and Psychotherapy

As a rule, I do not offer telephone counselling; I offer video counselling through Cliniko Telehealth only. This helps me consider a client’s location and a safe means of contact for remote work.

Where indicated, I will clarify relevant local support or emergency contacts, consider technical failure arrangements, and use appropriate confidentiality and information-security safeguards. If a client is outside England, I will consider whether I can safely and legally provide the service and how local safeguarding and emergency responses operate.

Documentation and Follow-up

I will keep proportionate, factual, securely stored notes recording the concern, risk assessment, client’s views, consent/capacity considerations, consultation, decisions and rationale, disclosures, actions and follow-up. I will distinguish known facts from professional judgement. Records are handled in line with my privacy notice and retention arrangements. Where safeguarding action has been taken, I will consider whether further review or follow-up is appropriate.

Competence, Supervision and Review

I will maintain relevant safeguarding knowledge and training, use clinical supervision appropriately and recognise the limits of my competence. Significant incidents or learning will inform review of this policy. It will be reviewed at least annually and whenever legislation, guidance or my practice arrangements change.

Contact Details and Escalation

In an emergency: 999. Police non-emergency: 101.

Or

 For child Safeguarding

  • .Children's Advice and Support Service (CASS): Call 0121 303 1888

  • Emergency Out-of-Hours Team: Call 0121 675 4806 outside of normal office hours.

Policy Access and Concerns About My Practice

Clients can access this policy on my website or request a copy. They can raise safeguarding concerns directly with me using the contact details in their counselling agreement.

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