1.  Our Commitment
Stillpoint Counselling is committed to protecting the welfare of vulnerable adults, children, and young people who may be affected by matters raised during counselling. This policy explains how safeguarding concerns are identified, responded to, and recorded, in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions, which requires us to maintain clear safeguarding procedures, make these available to clients, and act on our legal duty to share information when someone faces a risk of serious harm.

2.  Scope of This Policy
This policy applies to all clients of Stillpoint Counselling, as well as to any child, young person, or vulnerable adult who may be affected by matters disclosed during a session, whether or not they are a client themselves. Safeguarding responsibilities are not limited to the person in the room; if something shared in a session raises concern about someone else's welfare, this policy applies in the same way.

3.  Key Definitions

• Safeguarding - Taking action to protect a person's health, wellbeing, and rights, and to help them live free from abuse, harm, or neglect.

• .Vulnerable Adult -  An adult who needs care and support, and who is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and is unable to protect themselves as a result (in line with the Care Act 2024)

• Child - Anyone who has not yet turned 18.

• Abuse or Neglect -  Includes physical, sexual, emotional, or financial abuse; domestic abuse; discriminatory or organisational abuse; self-neglect; and neglect by others.

4.  Recognising a Safeguarding Concern
A safeguarding concern may come from something a client tells us directly, something noticed during a session, or a combination of both. Signs that someone may be at risk can include, but are not limited to:

• A client discloses abuse, neglect, or exploitation, whether current or in the past

• Unexplained injuries, or a pattern of injuries that doesn't match the explanation given

• Signs of fear, distress, or controlling behaviour from another person in the client's life

• A client describes a situation that suggests a child or vulnerable adult may be at risk of harm

• A client's care and support needs appear to leave them unable to protect themselves

​

5.  What We Will Do

If a safeguarding concern arises, we will:

• Respond promptly and take the concern seriously

• Talk to the client openly wherever it is safe to do so, explaining what we may need to share and why, in line with the confidentiality exceptions set out in our Terms & Conditions

• Consult our clinical supervisor, unless doing so would cause a harmful delay

• Contact the relevant agency, such as adult social care, children's social care, the client's GP, or the police, where we believe someone is at risk of serious harm

• Act immediately, without prior discussion, where the urgency of the situation requires it, to protect the client or someone else

• Keep a clear, factual record of the concern, the decisions made, and any action taken

Where the risk is immediate or life-threatening, we will contact emergency services on 999 without delay.

​

6.  Confidentiality & Information Sharing
Information will only be shared beyond what is described in our Privacy Policy where doing so is necessary and proportionate to protect someone from serious harm. Wherever possible, we will discuss this with the client first, including what we intend to share, with whom, and why, unless that conversation would itself put someone at greater risk.

7.  Record Keeping
Any safeguarding concern, along with our decisions and the action taken, is recorded factually and held securely on our records platform, in line with our Privacy Notice. These records follow our standard retention periods, 7 years for adult clients, or until a client's 25th birthday if they were under 18 at the time, unless the law or a relevant statutory body requires them to be kept for longer.

8.  Training & Supervision
We maintain up-to-date safeguarding knowledge through ongoing training and regular clinical supervision, in keeping with the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions. Safeguarding can be raised in supervision at any time a concern comes up, not only at scheduled reviews.

9.  Useful Contacts

• Emergency (immediate risk):  999

• Police (non-emergency):  101

• NSPCC Helpline:  0808 800 5000

• Samaritans:  116 123 (24 hours, free)

• SHOUT:  Text 85258 for confidential crisis support

• Adult Social Care:  Contact via the client's local authority

• Children's Social Care:  Contact via the relevant local authority
   

10.  Review of This Policy
This policy is reviewed on a regular basis, and updated sooner if there are changes to the law, BACP guidance, or the way our service operates, so that it continues to reflect good practice.