Safeguarding Policy
Counsellor: Danielle Louise Knall Practice: Relight Counselling Service: Private psychodynamic counselling Client group: Adults aged 18 and over Policy review: Annually, or sooner if guidance or circumstances change.
last updated 13.11.261. Purpose of this policy
The purpose of this policy is to explain how Relight Counselling approaches safeguarding, suicide risk, self-harm and concerns about the safety and wellbeing of clients and other people.
The policy aims to:
● Promote the safety, dignity and wellbeing of clients.
● Explain the limits of confidentiality where there are safeguarding concerns.
● Set out how concerns about suicide and self-harm will be approached.
● Explain what action may be taken if a client discloses that a child or another adult is at risk.
● Identify appropriate emergency and support services.
● Ensure that safeguarding concerns and decisions are recorded appropriately.
This policy should be read alongside the Counselling Agreement and Privacy Notice.
2. Scope of the service
Relight Counselling provides counselling to adults aged 18 and over only. I do not provide counselling or therapeutic services to children or young people under the age of 18.
However, during counselling, an adult client may disclose information that raises concerns about the safety or welfare of a child, another adult or themselves. I recognise my responsibility to take such disclosures seriously and consider whether further action is necessary.
Safeguarding responsibilities may therefore arise even though my counselling service is exclusively for adults.
3. My safeguarding responsibilities
As an independent counsellor, I am responsible for responding appropriately to safeguarding concerns that arise during my work.
I will:
● Take disclosures and concerns seriously.
● Listen without judgement and avoid making assumptions.
● Consider the level and immediacy of any identified risk.
● Explain the limits of confidentiality to clients.
● Seek appropriate professional advice where necessary.
● Contact relevant safeguarding services or emergency services when appropriate.
● Share only information that is necessary and proportionate.
● Keep accurate, factual and timely records of concerns, decisions and actions.
● Use clinical supervision to consider safeguarding issues and support safe practice.
I will not investigate allegations or attempt to undertake the work of statutory safeguarding agencies.
4. Adult safeguarding
An adult safeguarding concern may arise where an adult has care and support needs, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and may be unable to protect themselves because of those needs.
Abuse or neglect may include:
● Physical abuse.
● Emotional or psychological abuse.
● Sexual abuse.
● Financial or material abuse.
● Domestic abuse.
● Discriminatory abuse.
● Organisational abuse.
● Neglect or acts of omission.
● Self-neglect.
● Modern slavery or exploitation.
If a client discloses abuse or neglect, I will listen, explore their immediate safety where appropriate and consider what support or action may be needed.
Where an adult safeguarding concern arises, I will consider whether a referral to Adult Social Care or another appropriate agency is necessary. I will normally discuss this with the client and seek their views and consent where appropriate.
However, there may be circumstances where information needs to be shared without consent, for example where there is a serious risk of harm, a risk to another person, a legal obligation or another lawful basis for disclosure.
5. Suicide risk and suicidal thoughts
Clients may experience suicidal thoughts or feelings during periods of emotional distress. I aim to provide a safe and non-judgemental space in which clients can talk openly about these experiences.
If a client discloses suicidal thoughts, I will seek to understand the nature and seriousness of their distress. Where appropriate, this may include exploring:
● Whether thoughts of suicide are present.
● Whether the client has considered a plan or taken any steps towards acting on their thoughts.
● Whether there is any immediate intention or access to means.
● Whether there have been previous attempts or episodes of serious self-harm.
● What support, relationships or other protective factors are available.
● Whether additional or urgent professional support is needed.
I recognise that suicide risk can change and that a counselling session cannot guarantee a person’s safety.
Where I believe there is an immediate or serious risk to life, I will take appropriate action. This may include contacting emergency services, encouraging the client to attend A&E, or contacting an appropriate health professional.
Where possible, I will discuss any proposed action with the client. However, immediate safety will take priority where there is a serious and imminent risk.
6. Self-harm
Clients may disclose current or previous self-harm. I will approach these disclosures sensitively and without judgement.
I will seek to understand the context and purpose of the self-harming behaviour and consider whether there is an immediate risk of serious injury or suicide.
Where appropriate, I will encourage clients to seek additional support from their GP, NHS mental health services or another suitable service.
If a client has seriously injured themselves, taken an overdose or is in immediate danger, emergency medical assistance should be sought by calling 999 or attending A&E.
I recognise that self-harm and suicidal intent are not necessarily the same, but both require appropriate attention and consideration of risk.
7. Risk of harm to other people
If a client discloses thoughts, intentions or plans to seriously harm another person, I will consider the nature and seriousness of the risk.
Where there is a serious or immediate risk to another person’s safety, I may need to share relevant information with the police or another appropriate agency.
I will consider confidentiality, proportionality and the need to protect those at risk. Where possible and safe, I will discuss any proposed disclosure with the client.
8. Safeguarding children
Although Relight Counselling works exclusively with adults aged 18 and over, a client may disclose information that raises concerns about a child or young person under the age of 18.
This could relate to:
● The client’s own child.
● A child in their family or household.
● A child they care for or have contact with.
● A child known to them through work, relationships or other circumstances.
● A child who may be experiencing abuse, neglect, exploitation or other forms of harm.
Concerns may include physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, domestic abuse affecting a child, grooming, exploitation, online abuse or a child being exposed to an unsafe environment.
Responding to a disclosure
If a client discloses information that raises a concern about a child, I will:
● Listen carefully and take the information seriously.
● Avoid questioning the client in a way that could become an investigation.
● Establish enough information to understand the nature and urgency of the concern.
● Consider whether the child may be at immediate risk of harm.
● Make a factual record of what has been disclosed, using the client’s own words where possible.
● Consider whether advice or a referral to Children’s Social Care or the police is necessary.
● Seek appropriate professional advice or supervision where needed, without unnecessarily delaying action.
I will not attempt to investigate the concern myself or contact an alleged perpetrator.
Consent and confidentiality
I will normally aim to discuss a safeguarding concern with the client and explain why information may need to be shared.
However, I may need to make a referral or share information without the client’s consent where this is necessary and proportionate to protect a child.
I would not normally inform the client before making a referral if doing so could increase the risk to the child, compromise an investigation or place another person at risk.
The safety and welfare of the child will be the priority.
Making a referral
If I am concerned that a child may be at risk, I may contact the relevant Children’s Social Care service for advice or to make a referral.
If a child is in immediate danger, I will contact the police on 999.
For children living in Stoke-on-Trent:
● Children’s Advice and Duty Service (ChAD): 01782 235100.
● Emergency Duty Team (out of hours, weekends and bank holidays): 01782 234234.
For children living in Staffordshire:
● Families Integrated Front Door: 0300 111 8033.
● Emergency Duty Service (out of hours): 0345 604 2886.
If a child lives outside these areas, I will identify and contact the appropriate local authority children’s safeguarding service.
I will record the reason for any referral, the information shared, who it was shared with, the date and time, and any advice or outcome received.
9. Confidentiality and information sharing
Confidentiality is central to the counselling relationship. However, it is not absolute.
There may be circumstances where I need to share relevant information to protect a client or another person from serious harm, respond to safeguarding concerns or meet a legal obligation.
Information may be shared with:
● Emergency services.
● Adult or Children’s Social Care.
● A client’s GP or relevant health professional, where appropriate.
● Other relevant safeguarding agencies.
● Appropriate professional or legal bodies where legally required.
I will aim to:
● Share only information that is relevant and necessary.
● Use appropriate and secure methods of communication.
● Record the reasons for sharing information.
● Discuss disclosure with the client where it is safe and appropriate to do so.
Further information about confidentiality and data handling is provided in the Relight Counselling Privacy Notice.
10. Emergencies during counselling
If an emergency arises during a face-to-face, telephone or online session, I will take reasonable steps to help the client access immediate assistance.
For online or telephone sessions, I may need to establish the client’s current location and how emergency services can reach them if there is an immediate risk.
If a client becomes uncontactable during an online session after disclosing an immediate risk, I will consider the information available and whether contacting emergency services or another appropriate person is necessary.
Where there is an immediate threat to life or serious injury, I will call 999.
11. Mental health and crisis support services
Relight Counselling is not an emergency or crisis service. Clients who require urgent or ongoing mental health support may need additional help alongside counselling.
The following services may be useful.
NHS 111 – urgent mental health support
Clients in England can call 111 and select the mental health option if they need urgent mental health support.
This service can help people access appropriate urgent mental health advice and assessment.
GP
A client’s GP can provide ongoing support, assess mental health concerns, discuss treatment options and make referrals to appropriate services.
Samaritans
Telephone: 116 123.
Samaritans provide free, confidential emotional support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. People can contact them about any difficulty or distress, whether or not they are experiencing suicidal thoughts.
Shout
Text: SHOUT to 85258.
Shout provides free, confidential text-based mental health support, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
NHS emergency services
Call 999 or attend A&E if:
● Someone’s life is in immediate danger.
● Someone has seriously injured themselves.
● Someone has taken an overdose.
● Someone cannot keep themselves or another person safe.
Where possible, clients should not remain alone while waiting for emergency assistance if there is an immediate risk to their safety.
12. Local safeguarding contacts
The following local services may be contacted when safeguarding concerns arise.
Stoke-on-Trent Adult Safeguarding
Telephone: 0800 561 0015.
Staffordshire Adult Safeguarding
Telephone: 0345 604 2719.
Out of hours: 0345 604 2886.
Stoke-on-Trent Children’s Social Care
Children’s Advice and Duty Service: 01782 235100.
Emergency Duty Team: 01782 234234.
Staffordshire Children’s Safeguarding
Families Integrated Front Door: 0300 111 8033.
Emergency Duty Service: 0345 604 2886.
Police 999 for emergencies or immediate danger.
101 for non-emergency police matters.
Contact details and referral arrangements will be checked periodically to ensure they remain current.
13. Record keeping
Where safeguarding concerns arise, I will make a clear and factual record.
Records may include:
● The date and time of the concern or disclosure.
● What was said or observed.
● Relevant information about the nature of the concern.
● Any assessment or consideration of risk.
● Advice sought and from whom.
● Decisions made and the reasons for those decisions.
● Any referrals or disclosures made.
● The outcome of actions taken, where known.
Records will be stored securely and handled in accordance with the Relight Counselling Privacy Notice and applicable data protection requirements.
14. Clinical supervision and professional support
I recognise the importance of clinical supervision in maintaining safe and ethical counselling practice.
Safeguarding concerns may be discussed in supervision, using anonymised information wherever possible.
Where a safeguarding concern requires urgent action, I will not delay necessary action while waiting for supervision.
I will work within my professional competence and seek appropriate advice where a situation falls outside my knowledge or experience.
15. Scope and limitations of the service
Relight Counselling provides private psychodynamic counselling to adults aged 18 and over.
The service is not intended to replace:
● Emergency mental health services.
● NHS crisis support.
● Medical or psychiatric assessment.
● Statutory safeguarding services.
● Emergency intervention.
Clients will be encouraged to access appropriate additional support when their needs require it.
16. Policy review and availability
This policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner if there are changes to relevant legislation, professional guidance, safeguarding procedures or the services provided by Relight Counselling.
The policy is available on the Relight Counselling website.
Relight Counselling Danielle Knall