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Safeguarding Policy

Introduction:

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Safeguarding the welfare and wellbeing of adults and children is everyone’s responsibility.  This includes Kelly Lockwood Counselling.

Kelly Lockwood Counselling is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all individuals who access the service.  This policy is therefore applicable to all who engage with the service.

The responsibility for implementing this policy lies with Kelly Lockwood (counsellor).

 

 

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Context:

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The responsibilities and requirements stated within relevant legislation for the protection of both adults and children also apply to Kelly Lockwood Counselling.

 

This policy is in line with best practice identified within relevant legislation including:

  • Children Act (1989 & 2004)

  • Working Together to Safeguard Children (2018)

  • Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act (2004)

  • Mental Health Act (1983; updated in 2007)

  • Mental Capacity Act (2005)

  • PREVENT duty guidance for England & Wales (2015; updated in 2021)

  • Counter Terrorism & Security Act (2015)

  • Serious Crime Act (2015)

  • The Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act (2019)

  • Domestic Abuse Act (2021)

 

The above list is not exhaustive.

Legislation may also be updated following governmental review.  This policy will be updated in accordance with this.

 

 

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Definitions:

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  • An adult at risk is any person aged 18 years or over who ‘is’ or ‘maybe’ in need of care due to and is ‘unable’ to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.

  • An adult at risk is deemed to be any person who is aged 18 years or over and who ‘is’ or ‘may be’ at risk of, or in need of, care, support and protection, due to factors including disability, age, physical, or mental illness.  They will also be deemed unable to protect themselves against significant harm and/or exploitation.

  • Child protection or safeguarding processes focus on protecting individual children identified as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm.  They detail how to respond when there are concerns about a child or young person.  This includes unborn children, as well as children and young people up to their 18th birthday. 

 

 

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Processes & procedures:

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The limits around confidentiality within the counselling room are detailed within the Agreement document signed by both client and counsellor prior to counselling sessions commencing. 

The client is provided with a copy of this document for their records and own keeping, and it is also available to view on the Kelly Lockwood Counselling website.

 

Instances where confidentiality may need be breached include:

  • Any concerns about the safety and welfare of the client or others, including children and/or young people.

  • If the client provides any information about activities involving drug trafficking, money laundering, and/or terrorism.

  • If the client provides any information about a road traffic accident.

  • Requests made by the Court.

 

In the above instances, there may be concerns for the client or others, including children and/or young people.

 

Should any concerns arise regarding the welfare and/or safety of the client or others (including children and/or young people), the following steps will be taken:

 

Should any concerns arise regarding the above, consideration will be given to whether it is appropriate to share the concerns and next steps with the client. 

If appropriate, a discussion will take place with the client, identifying the concerns, and, in partnership with the client, a plan for next steps.

 

However, in some instances, such as disclosure of a future crime, or where speaking with the client, and/or alerting them to next steps, may place either themselves or another at risk, a prior discussion with the client will not take place.

 

Where appropriate, discussions will take place with the counsellor’s supervisor, to consider the presenting issue and actions/next steps required.

 

Should it be necessary to inform others, or an appropriate agency, of the concern, the counsellor will contact the relevant organisation or person as required.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, the reference to informing an individual if appropriate, refers to the named contact person provided by the client at the point of referral, should a matter arise where it is necessary to contact them for the wellbeing of the client.

 

If a safeguarding matter arises in relation to children or young people, the counsellor will contact the relevant local authority to seek advice and if required, a referral will be made.

 

If it is a safeguarding matter relating to an adult, the counsellor will contact the relevant adult social care, to seek advice and take next steps, including a possible referral, as appropriate.

 

If it is a criminal matter, or potential criminal matter, contact will be made with the relevant organisation as per legislation and guidance detailed at the beginning of this policy.

 

It is recognised that there may be occasions when the client is not in agreement with the actions required or taken by the counsellor.  It is important that this is acknowledged and honoured, and as such, the client will be provided with an opportunity to discuss this with the counsellor, either as part of the planning for next steps, or following, to consider whether they wish to continue with the counselling relationship, with an understanding that they can end it should they wish, as per the counselling agreement.

 

All actions taken by the counsellor will be recorded in line with the recording processes noted within the counselling agreement and privacy agreement for Kelly Lockwood Counselling.

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