Safeguarding

What is safeguarding?

Safeguarding is the process by which we protect people from the risk or experience of abuse or harm. The UK Care Act (2014) defines adult safeguarding as the process by which…

“People and organisations [work] together to prevent and stop both the risks and experience of abuse or neglect, while at the same time making sure that the adult’s well being is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action.”  Further Explanations below.

The six principles of safeguarding are as follows:

  1. Empowerment
    People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent

 

  1. Prevention
    It is better to take action before harm occurs.

 

  1. Proportionality
    The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.

 

  1. Protection
    Support and representation for those in greatest need.

 

  1. Partnership
    Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse. 

 

  1. Accountability
    Accountability and transparency in safeguarding practice.

The types of abuse from which I have a duty to protect my clients  from are below. You can click on the links here to find out more about what these types of abuse comprise.

What is in this policy?

This policy describes my line of defence for keeping clients safe while they are working with me. 

This policy also describes the procedure I  must take when I am concerned about a client during a course of therapy or during a one-off session. 

This policy is reviewed regularly by myself. If you have a question about this policy please get in touch 

This policy is written in plain English, but some jargon is inevitable. 

The relationship between this policy and a therapist’s duty of care

This policy provides a framework. 

These guidelines are in addition to the guidelines each therapist is bound to through their professional body. They do not replace what is expected of them as therapists from their registration authority. 

Safeguarding is ‘everyone’s responsibility. This policy sets out Grow Your Own Way Counselling's responsibilities to ensure that adults at risk are kept safe from harm. 

We have an overarching commitment to keep at risk adults safe at all times whilst under our care and supervision.

The Policy
The policy lays out the commitments made by Grow Your Own Way Counselling and informs counselors of their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.

Policy Statement
Grow Your Own Way Counselling believes that every client I come into contact with, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or ethnic origin has the right to be protected from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation. I have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all my clients, to keep them safe and to practice in a way that protects them and their interests.

This policy will address adult safeguarding.
Grow Your Own Way Counselling commits to addressing safeguarding throughout its work, through the three pillars of prevention, reporting and response.

Prevention
Grow Your Own Way Counselling Responsibilities

• That I have access to, are familiar with, and know my  responsibilities within this policy
• This includes information about clients, how it is gathered, communicated, and stored
• Implement stringent safeguarding procedures when recruiting
• Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process

Counsellor Responsibilities
Adult safeguarding
Grow Your Own Way Counselling will adhere to the following

• I will not subject an at-risk adult to physical, emotional, psychological abuse or neglect
• Ensure the welfare of all clients, their wishes and feelings are always considered
• Contribute to creating a safe space that prevents safeguarding violations
• Report any concerns or suspicious regarding safeguarding

 

Reporting
Grow Your Own Way Counselling will ensure that safe, appropriate, accessible means of reporting safeguarding concerns are made available to me and the communities I work with. If circumstances allow, I  will communicate this reporting to the client.

Response
Grow Your Own Way Counselling will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to policy and procedure, and legal and statutory obligations.

Confidentiality
It is essential that confidentiality in maintained at all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding information will be stored and handled in line with the Data Protection Act 2018. Information relating to the concern and subsequent case management should be shared on a need-to-know basis only and should be kept secure at all times.

Dates
This Policy Statement comes into force with effect from 23rd May 2023 and will be reviewed annually, with the next review taking place on 23rd May 2024. Reviewed November 2024

Contact Details
In the first instance, please contact growyourownway 2021@outlook.com  for any further support and advice relating to the above.

Glossary of Terms
Beneficiary of Assistance
Someone who directly receives goods or services from Grow Your Own Way Counselling.

Harm
Psychological, physical and any other infringement of an individual’s rights

Psychological harm
Emotional or psychological abuse, including (but not limited to) humiliating and degrading treatment such as bad name calling, constant criticism, belittling, persistent shaming, solitary confinement and isolation

Safeguarding
In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, well being and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect
In our sector, we understand it to mean protecting people, including children and at-risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact with. Safeguarding means taking all reasonable steps to prevent harm, particularly sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment from occurring; to protect people, especially vulnerable adults and children, from that harm; and to respond appropriately when harm does occur.

This definition draws from our values and principles and shapes our culture. It pays specific attention to preventing and responding to harm from any potential, actual or attempted abuse of power, trust, or vulnerability, especially for sexual purposes.

Safeguarding applies consistently and without exception across my work. It requires proactively identifying, preventing and guarding against all risks of harm, exploitation and abuse and having mature, accountable and transparent systems for response, reporting and learning when risks materialize. Those systems must be survivor-centred and also protect those accused until proven guilty.
Safeguarding puts beneficiaries and affected persons at the centre of all we do.

Sexual abuse
The term ‘sexual abuse’ means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.

Sexual exploitation
The term ‘sexual exploitation’ means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. This definition includes human trafficking and modern slavery.

Survivor
The person who has been abused or exploited. The term ‘survivor’ is often used in preference to ‘victim’ as it implies strength, resilience and the capacity to survive, however it is the individual’s choice how they wish to identify themselves.

At risk adult
Sometimes also referred to as vulnerable adult. A person who is or may be in need of care by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.

GrowYourOwnWay2021@outlook.com