Safeguarding Policy

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Children and vulnerable adults have the right to be protected from harm. This policy and the accompanying procedure explain how Baeotus Therapy will keep children and vulnerable adults safe, and how we will respond to safeguarding concerns. 

This safeguarding policy sets out Baeotus Therapy’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults. It refers to Baeotus Therapy Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedure which gives more detail about how we will endeavour to keep children and vulnerable adults safe and respond to safeguarding concerns. 

The two documents should be read together. 

Context

Baeotus Therapy operates a Counselling, Couples counselling, Clinical and Non Clinical Supervision, Counselling student or Newly Qualified Counselling Mentoring service. 

Baeotus Therapy recognises that central to all our work is the principle that the welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount and that every client has the right to live free from harm or any form of abuse. It is the responsibility of any person who does work on behalf of Baeotus Therapy to ensure that the rights of children and vulnerable adults are protected and upheld at all times. Baeotus Therapy takes a proactive role in the protection of children and vulnerable adults whilst working in partnership with other agencies. Baeotus Therapy will consult, co-operate and co-ordinate its activities with other agencies to achieve the best possible outcomes for children and vulnerable adults. 

Relevant legislation: 

• The Children Act 1989 (England & Wales) 

• The Children Act 2004 

• The Protection of Children Act 1999 (England & Wales) 

• Care Act 2014 • Mental Capacity Act 2005 

• The Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 (England & Wales) 

• The Police Act 1997 • The Data Protection Acts 1984 and 1998 

• The Human Rights Act 1998 

• Sex Offenders Act 1997 

• Sexual Offences Act 2000 and 2003 

Relevant Sources 

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006 

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015 

• Every Child Matters 

• Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Board 3 

Children

Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined within Working Together 2018 as: 

• Protecting children from maltreatment 

• Preventing impairment of children’s health or development 

• Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care 

• Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcome. Child Protection is part of safeguarding and promoting welfare. It is the activity undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering or are likely to suffer significant harm. 

Adults 

Baeotus Therapy recognises that adult clients may also be vulnerable. Safeguarding issues may arise during work undertaken and the relevant local authority guidance and process on safeguarding adults must be followed. Safeguarding means protecting an adult’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect. It is about people and organisations working 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 wellbeing is promoted including, where appropriate, having regard to their views, wishes, feelings and beliefs in deciding on any action. This must recognise that adults sometimes have complex interpersonal relationships and may be ambivalent, unclear or unrealistic about their personal circumstances (Care Act 2014 Guidance). 

In summary 

Baeotus Therapy will ensure that all work with children is carried out in accordance with the principles established by the Children Act 1989, the Children Act 2004, the Children and Social Work Act 2017, within the framework for the care and protection of children reflected in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2018 DFE). Baeotus Therapy will ensure that all work with vulnerable adults is carried out in accordance with the Care Act 2014. 

Who does this policy apply to? 

Baeotus Therapy believes that everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them. This policy applies to Youth Concern staff and volunteers; to anyone who has even occasional contact with children and vulnerable adults whilst representing the charity. The law states and Youth Concern believes that ‘the welfare of the child is paramount at all times’ (Children Act 1989). 

In broad terms, Baeotus Therapy will meet our commitment to keeping children and vulnerable adults safe by: 

• listening to and respecting children and vulnerable adults 

• appointing a designated Safeguarding Lead to take responsibility for safeguarding 

• having detailed safeguarding and child protection procedures 

• making sure all staff understand and follow the safeguarding and child protection procedures 

• ensuring children, vulnerable adults, and where possible, their families know about Baeotus Therapy’s safeguarding and child protection policy and procedures and what to do if they have a concern 

• building a safeguarding culture where staff, children and vulnerable adults know how they are expected to behave and feel comfortable about sharing concerns. 

Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedure Approval date: April 2025

Introduction 

Children and vulnerable adults have the right to be protected from harm. This procedure and the accompanying policy explain how Baeotus Therapy will keep children and vulnerable adults (‘clients’) safe, and how we will respond to safeguarding concerns. This procedure gives detail about how our charity will endeavour to keep children and vulnerable adults safe and respond to safeguarding concerns. The Safeguarding Policy sets out Youth Concern’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults. The two documents should be read together. Purpose and aim of the procedure This procedure sets out: 

• Youth Concern’s commitment to protecting children and vulnerable adults 

• the steps that must be taken if there are any concerns about a child's or vulnerable adult’s safety and wellbeing. 

This procedure is written for everyone who comes into contact with children and vulnerable adults even if it is not their main role in our organisation. 

Summary of useful information 

Abuse is the violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by another person or persons. Abuse may consist of a single act or repeated acts. It may be physical, verbal or psychological, it may be an act of neglect or an omission to act, or it may occur when a vulnerable person is persuaded to enter into a financial or sexual transaction to which they have not consented or cannot consent. 

Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it. Abuse and neglect can take many forms. You should not be constrained in your view of what constitutes abuse or neglect and should always consider the circumstances of the individual case. 

Types of abuse: 

Physical – including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions. 

Sexual – including rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting. 

Domestic – including psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence. 

Psychological – including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks. 

Financial or material – including theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits. 

Modern slavery – encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment. 

Discriminatory – including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. 

Organisational – including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to ongoing ill treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation. 

Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating. 

Self-neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding. 

Clear instructions: how to report a safeguarding concern If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult, tell your line manager (or another manager if your line manager is not available). Your line manager will - discuss your concern with Baeotus Therapy’s Safeguarding Lead- decide whether your concern requires internal investigation - decide whether your concern requires a safeguarding referral to local authority / police 

Any concerns must be kept confidential and should not be discussed with anyone other than the Safeguarding Lead who will make any necessary referral; information should only be shared with people who need to know. Remember you must share any concerns you have about a child or vulnerable adult, even if they ask you not to. 

If a child or vulnerable adult tells you they are experiencing abuse, it’s important to reassure them that they’ve done the right thing in telling you. Make sure they know that abuse is never their fault. Never promise that you will keep the things they’re telling you a secret. Explain you need to share what they’ve told you with someone who will be able to help. 

Individual identifies safeguarding concern, and discloses to safe guarding lead.

No referral: Details are recorded in client file

Referral: Safeguarding lead contact relevant authority 

Emergency situations If a child or vulnerable adult needs emergency medical attention, this must be sought immediately and directly from the emergency services (call 999). If possible, parents/carers should be kept fully informed. Once the child or vulnerable adult has been referred for medical attention, continue to follow these procedures. There may be other situations where a member of staff believes that a child or vulnerable adult is at immediate risk of serious harm in which case the police or Local Authority must be alerted as a matter of urgency. 

Are your concerns justified? 

In some situations, it may be difficult to know whether your concerns are justified, and it is important to consult your line manager. The purpose of the consultation is to discuss your concerns and decide what action is necessary. Where your concern relates to a longstanding situation, you should write a chronology of events and incidents to see if a pattern, indicative of abuse and/or neglect, emerges. Where your concern relates to mental health (including self harm, suicidal thoughts or attempts, self neglect eg hoarding issues), your line manager or the Safeguarding Lead may decide to carry out an investigation before referring externally. It is important that Baeotus Therapy staff know who to speak to – their line manager in the first instance – and don't feel they are on their own when dealing with a worrying situation. 

Disclosures 

If a child or vulnerable adult discloses abuse or makes an allegation it is important to: 

• keep calm 

• listen carefully 

• allow the child or vulnerable adult to say what they need to say 

• do not ask leading questions 

• reassure the child or vulnerable adult 

• let the child or vulnerable adult know that you will be talking to other people in order to help keep them safe 

• report the matter to your line manager immediately

consider reporting the matter to the police (if a crime has been committed) 

• record what the child or vulnerable adult has said immediately on Baeotus Therapy’s safeguarding form (appendix 1) 

What information to record 

It is essential that when recording safeguarding concerns, the written information is accurate, the source of information identified and that the recording is completed as soon as possible after the event and always within one working day. 

This information should be recorded on Baeotus Therapy’s safeguarding form (appendix 1) by the individual to whom the disclosure was made. It should be uploaded onto the child or vulnerable adult’s client file as quickly as possible. 

External contact details

Buckinghamshire First Response Team 

- Processes all new referrals to social care, including children (under 16s) with disabilities. Ensures the referral reaches the appropriate team for assistance in a quick and efficient manner. 

- Call 01296 383 962 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm - If you need an urgent response outside these hours, contact the Emergency Social Work Team on 0800 999 7677 or 01865 902000 

- If a child is in immediate danger, call 999 or report a crime on 101 Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Team - Protects vulnerable adults or children from abuse or neglect. 

- Call 0800 137 915 Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.30pm, Friday 9am to 5pm 

- If you need an urgent response outside these hours, contact the Emergency Social Work Team on 0800 999 7677 or 01865 902000 

- If a vulnerable adult is in immediate danger, call 999 or report a crime on 101 Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children’s Partnership and the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board joint website: www.buckssafeguarding.org.uk 

- Report a concern about a child here Reporting a Concern - Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Children Partnership

- Report a concern about an adult here Report a Concern - Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board

Buckinghamshire Education Safeguarding Advisory Service 

- The ESAS helps protect and safeguard children by training and supporting staff in schools, colleges and other educational settings. ESAS provides services to educational establishments in Bucks so they can fulfil their responsibilities under current legislation and government guidance on safeguarding. 

- Tracey Ireland, Safeguarding Officer - Call 01296 382 817 

Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) 

- The Buckinghamshire Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) is responsible for overseeing the management of all allegations against people in a position of trust working in Bucks with children, directly or indirectly, in a paid or voluntary position when that person has or may have harmed a child, committed an offence against a child or behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children 

- Call 01296 382 070 Monday to Thursday 9am to 5.30pm, Friday 9am to 5pm 

Thames Valley Police 

- Call 999 

- if an emergency and someone is at immediate risk of harm, or a crime has been committed' - Call 101 – for non-emergencies 

Child And Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) 

- NHS specialist mental health services for children and young people 

- Call 0845 219 1459 

Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre 

- Works nationally and internationally to bring online child sex offenders, including those involved in the production, distribution and viewing of child abuse material, to the UK courts 

- https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/ 

Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Forced Marriages Section) 

- Leads on the government’s forced marriage policy, outreach and casework. Operates inside the UK (where support is provided to any individual) and overseas (where consular assistance is provided to British nationals, including dual nationals). 

- FMU operates a public helpline to provide advice and support to victims of forced marriage as well as to professionals dealing with cases. Call 0207 008 8706 Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 

NSPCC 0808 800 5000 

Childline 0800 11 11 

Kidscape Bullying 0207 730 3300 

Samaritans 0800 116 123 12 

Appendix 1: Baeotus Therapy’s safeguarding form 

Personal details of person making safeguarding disclosure 

Name 

Address 

Date of Birth   and Age 

Gender

Ethnicity 

Date of   alleged event

Time of   alleged event

Preferred   language or communication method?

Known   Advocate, Family or Representative - provide details 

If you are   raising this on behalf of someone, have you discussed the concern with them?

Yes No

No If not,   why not?

Please state   whether the person has mental capacity to understand the concern being raised

Yes No

Type of   alleged abuse: (Tick all that apply)

Maltreatment   or neglect

Discriminatory   (including hate crime)

Domestic   abuse/violence

Emotional/Psychological

Financial/Material

Institutional/Organisational

Neglect and   acts of omission

Physical   Abuse

Modern   Slavery

Self-neglect

Sexual Abuse

Sexual   Exploitation

Other

Location of alleged abuse, maltreatment or neglect 

Own Home

Other   person’s home

Public Place

Supported   Accommodation

Education/Training   /Workplace

Hospital

Day   Centre/Service

Other Health   Setting

Other

Not Known

Description   of alleged abuse, maltreatment or neglect Has the alleged victim said   anything to you? (Do not investigate, record actual details. It is important   to capture how the victim sees the abuse, without coaching them in anyway.)   Please provide as much detail as possible, including known events leading up   to and following the alleged abuse.

Record of physical injuries

Observation/description/size/colour: 

Action taken   Action taken to minimise immediate risk:

What does the   person making the disclosure want to happen, or what is their view of the   situation? (please also consider their representatives if appropriate)

Is there a   risk to the person making the disclosure, to a witness or the referrer should   the person causing harm know that a referral has been made?

Has there   been a delay in reporting this alert (24 hours of the incident)? If so please   state the reasons for this.

Reported to   GP or other health care professional?

Yes No

Emergency   services alerted?

Yes No

About the person causing harm

Name

Address

Date of birth   and Age

Role/title/relationship   to person making the disclosure?

Ethnicity/Origin?

Preferred   language or communication method?

If an   employee, organisation or a paid carer state name of employer/organisation

Is the person   causing harm aware of the referral?

Yes No

Details of the person making the referral 

Form completed   by

Organisation   Role/relationship to person making the disclosure

Contact   address

E-mail   address

Telephone   (landline) or Telephone (work mobile)