Safeguarding Children Policy

Helen Ward Therapy
Trading name of ResolvedRM Ltd

Version: 1.0
Effective Date: 30/05/26
Review Date: 30/05/27

1. Purpose

Helen Ward Therapy is committed to promoting the safety, wellbeing, welfare and rights of all children and young people who engage with the practice or who may be affected by information disclosed during therapeutic work.

Safeguarding is an integral part of ethical therapeutic practice. Whilst maintaining client confidentiality is fundamental to the therapeutic relationship, there are circumstances in which the need to protect a child or young person from harm may require confidential information to be shared in accordance with legal, ethical and professional responsibilities.

This policy sets out how safeguarding concerns involving children and young people will be recognised, assessed, managed and recorded.

2. Scope

This policy applies where safeguarding concerns arise regarding:

children or young people receiving services from Helen Ward Therapy;
children connected to an adult client;
unborn children where concerns arise regarding their future safety or welfare;
any child or young person who may be affected by information disclosed during therapy.

Helen Ward Therapy considers working with children and young people on a case-by-case basis. Decisions regarding whether to offer therapy are made after careful consideration of the child's needs, the presenting issues, the ability to establish an appropriate therapeutic contract, confidentiality arrangements, parental responsibilities and whether the practice can safely and ethically meet the child's needs.

3. Legal and Professional Framework

This policy has been developed with reference to:

Children Act 1989;
Children Act 2004;
Working Together to Safeguard Children (current statutory guidance);
Human Rights Act 1998;
Data Protection Act 2018;
UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR);
BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions;
relevant local safeguarding procedures.

4. Principles of Safeguarding

Helen Ward Therapy is committed to the following safeguarding principles:

promoting the welfare of children and young people;
protecting children from abuse, neglect and exploitation;
respecting the rights, dignity and voice of the child;
recognising that the welfare of the child is paramount;
acting proportionately;
working collaboratively with parents, carers and other professionals where appropriate;
maintaining accurate records;
balancing confidentiality with the duty to protect.

Safeguarding decisions will always seek to achieve the least intrusive response consistent with protecting the child or young person from significant harm.

5. Recognising Children Who May Be at Risk

A safeguarding concern may arise where there is reason to believe that a child or young person:

is experiencing abuse or neglect;
is at risk of significant harm;
has unmet care or protection needs;
is being exposed to domestic abuse or harmful environments;
is at risk of exploitation;
may suffer harm due to the actions or omissions of others.

Helen Ward Therapy recognises that safeguarding concerns may exist even where there is limited information or uncertainty, and each situation will be assessed individually using professional judgement.

6. Types of Abuse

Safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

physical abuse;
emotional abuse;
sexual abuse;
neglect;
domestic abuse;
child criminal exploitation;
child sexual exploitation;
online abuse;
grooming;
bullying, including cyberbullying;
harmful practices;
forced marriage;
female genital mutilation (FGM);
trafficking and modern slavery;
fabricated or induced illness;
exposure to inappropriate or harmful environments.

7. Recognising Safeguarding Concerns

Safeguarding concerns may arise through:

direct disclosure;
information provided by an adult client;
observations during therapy;
behavioural or emotional presentation;
concerns identified through risk assessment;
information received from another professional or agency.

Not every concern will require an immediate safeguarding referral. Each situation will be assessed individually using professional judgement, available information and applicable legal and ethical guidance.

8. Responding to Safeguarding Concerns

Where a safeguarding concern arises, Helen Ward Therapy will:

listen carefully and respectfully;
avoid making promises of absolute confidentiality;
gather sufficient information to understand immediate risk;
assess the seriousness of the concern;
consider the child's welfare as the paramount consideration;
consider the views of parents or those with parental responsibility where appropriate and safe to do so;
seek supervision, consultation or legal advice where appropriate;
take action proportionate to the identified risk.

The welfare and safety of the child or young person will remain the primary consideration.

9. Information Sharing

Confidentiality is fundamental to therapy but is not absolute.

Information may be shared without consent where there is a lawful basis to do so, including where:

there is a concern that a child is suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm;
safeguarding responsibilities require disclosure;
disclosure is required by law;
another overriding public interest applies.

Where possible and appropriate, clients will be informed before information is shared unless doing so would increase risk or compromise the safety of a child.

Only the minimum necessary information will be disclosed.

10. Working with Children and Families

Where therapy is provided to a child or young person, confidentiality will be explained in an age-appropriate manner.

The therapeutic relationship relies upon the child feeling able to speak openly and honestly. Without an appropriate level of confidentiality, effective therapy is unlikely to be possible. At the same time, parents and those with parental responsibility have important legal rights and responsibilities in relation to their child's welfare.

These potentially competing responsibilities will be managed through clear contracting and written agreements established before therapy begins. Parents, carers and young people will be provided with information about confidentiality, its limits, and the circumstances in which information may need to be shared.

Parents and carers will be encouraged to support the therapeutic process without placing children under pressure to disclose the content of therapy sessions. Therapy should remain a safe and confidential space for the child, except where safeguarding concerns or legal obligations require otherwise.

As with all therapeutic work, it is important to find an appropriate therapeutic fit. Whilst Helen Ward Therapy fully appreciates how distressing and overwhelming it can be to see a child or young person struggling, the practice may decline or discontinue therapy where it is considered that another therapist or service would be better placed to meet the child's needs. Such decisions are never personal and are made solely in the interests of achieving the safest and most beneficial therapeutic outcome. These decisions are not taken lightly and are reached after careful consideration of all relevant factors, professional responsibilities and conscience.

11. Emergency Situations

Where there is an immediate risk to a child's safety or a risk of serious harm, Helen Ward Therapy may contact:

emergency services;
Children's Social Care;
the Police;
other relevant safeguarding authorities.

Such action may be taken without consent where necessary to protect a child from significant harm.

12. Record Keeping

Safeguarding concerns will be recorded promptly and accurately.

Records should include:

relevant facts;
observations;
disclosures made;
risk assessment;
actions taken;
rationale for decisions;
referrals made;
consultation obtained where applicable.

Records will be objective, factual and stored securely in accordance with the Record Keeping Policy.

13. Professional Consultation and Supervision

Safeguarding decisions involving children and young people can involve complex ethical, legal and professional considerations.

Where appropriate, Helen Ward Therapy will seek guidance through professional supervision, consultation with safeguarding professionals or legal advice before making decisions, unless immediate action is required to protect a child from significant harm.

Any consultation will respect client confidentiality and only the information necessary to obtain appropriate guidance will be shared.

14. Responsibilities

As a sole practitioner, Helen Ward is responsible for:

maintaining safeguarding knowledge and competence;
recognising safeguarding concerns;
undertaking appropriate risk assessment;
maintaining accurate records;
making referrals where necessary;
seeking consultation where appropriate;
reviewing safeguarding procedures regularly.

15. Policy Review

This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner where there are changes to legislation, professional guidance or safeguarding procedures.