Written 15-10-2026

 

1. Purpose and scope

I work independently in private practice and offer counselling to adults aged 18 and over. I am committed to protecting clients from avoidable harm while respecting their dignity, choices, privacy and autonomy. I am the person responsible for managing safeguarding concerns within my practice. This policy applies to my counselling work, including online and telephone sessions. It does not mean that I am an emergency service or that all concerns are automatically reported.

 

2. Professional and legal framework

My decisions are informed by the BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions (2026), the Care Act 2014, Mental Capacity Act 2005, Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010, UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018, alongside applicable duties and local safeguarding arrangements. I use relevant professional supervision and seek specialist advice where appropriate. Legal responsibilities and referral routes may differ if a client is located outside England.

 

3. What may cause concern

Safeguarding concerns may include physical, sexual or psychological abuse; domestic abuse and coercive control; financial exploitation; neglect and self-neglect; discriminatory or organisational abuse; modern slavery; and exploitation. Serious self-harm or suicide risk also requires careful risk assessment and appropriate intervention, but is not automatically a Care Act safeguarding referral.

 

4. Recognising adults at risk

Under section 42 of the Care Act 2014, a local authority has an enquiry duty where it has reasonable cause to suspect that an adult has care and support needs, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and because of those needs is unable to protect themselves. Not everyone experiencing abuse meets all three criteria. I will consider whether a local authority safeguarding referral is appropriate without treating the statutory test as the only reason to seek advice or support.

5. Responding to concerns

When a concern arises I will listen without judgement, seek to understand the facts and the adult’s wishes, consider immediate safety, and explore options with them. I will avoid promises of absolute confidentiality or investigations outside my role. Where appropriate I will discuss safety planning, support networks, specialist domestic abuse services, GP or mental health services, and referral to local authority adult safeguarding. I will seek appropriate consultation, without delaying urgent action.

 

6. Mental capacity and consent

Adults are presumed to have capacity unless established otherwise. Capacity relates to a particular decision at a particular time; an unwise decision alone does not demonstrate lack of capacity. I will support clients to make their own decisions and seek suitable specialist advice if capacity is in doubt. I will ordinarily seek the person’s informed agreement before a referral or disclosure and take account of their wishes if they decline help. Consent is not the only possible lawful basis for sharing information.

 

7. Confidentiality and information sharing

Counselling is confidential, subject to legal and ethical limits explained in my counselling agreement and privacy statement. Where sharing information is necessary or justified, I will consider applicable law, the seriousness and immediacy of harm, risk to others, the adult’s wishes, whether less intrusive measures could be effective, and the proper recipient. I will normally tell the client beforehand unless unsafe or inappropriate. I will share the minimum necessary information, securely, and document the recipient, date, rationale and information shared. A disclosure of past abuse or a general discussion of suicide is not automatically a reason to breach confidentiality.

 

8. Immediate risk and emergencies

If there is an immediate threat to life or serious harm, I will take proportionate protective action. This may include helping a client obtain urgent healthcare, contacting emergency services on 999 where justified, or contacting another appropriate service.

For urgent but non-emergency needs in England, NHS 111 (mental health option) may be appropriate. Clients are informed that I do not provide a crisis response outside agreed sessions.

 

9. Concerns involving children

Although I do not counsel anyone under 18, a client may disclose information suggesting that a child is at risk. I will consider relevant child safeguarding duties and local referral arrangements, seek advice when needed, and share information where legally required or otherwise justified to protect the child. I will not assume that an adults-only practice removes these responsibilities.

 

10. Online and telephone counselling

I will consider the client’s location and a safe means of contact for remote work. Where indicated, I will clarify relevant local support or emergency contacts, consider technical failure arrangements, and use appropriate confidentiality and information-security safeguards. If a client is outside England, I will consider whether I can safely and legally provide the service and how local safeguarding and emergency responses operate.

 

11. Documentation and follow-up

I will keep proportionate, factual, securely stored notes recording the concern, risk assessment, client’s views, consent/capacity considerations, consultation, decisions and rationale, disclosures, actions and follow-up. I will distinguish known facts from professional judgement. Records are handled in line with my privacy notice and retention arrangements. Where safeguarding action has been taken I will consider whether further review or follow-up is appropriate.

 

12. Competence, supervision and review

I will maintain relevant safeguarding knowledge and training, use clinical supervision appropriately and recognise the limits of my competence. Significant incidents or learning will inform review of this policy. It will be reviewed at least annually and whenever legislation, guidance or my practice arrangements change.

 

13. Contact details and escalation

In an emergency: 999. Police non-emergency: 101.

• NHS urgent advice (England): 111.

• Lancashire Safeguarding team - 0300 123 6720 (or direct adult safeguarding line at 0300 123 6721)

Or

• Out of Hours / Emergency Duty Team: 0300 123 6722

 

• Online reporting can be made at. -https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/adult-social-care/safeguarding-adults/

 

For child Safeguarding

• Daytime concerns (8:00 am to 8:00 pm): Call Lancashire Children's Social Care on 0300 123 6720.

• Out-of-hours urgent concerns: Call 0300 123 6722.

 

14. Policy access and concerns about my practice

Clients can access this policy on my website or request a copy. They can raise safeguarding concerns directly with me using the contact details in their counselling agreement.