Safeguarding policy
Purpose and Aim of the Policy Statement
Safeguarding is ‘everyone’s responsibility. This policy sets out Kim Harrison's responsibilities under the Children Act 2004 to ensure children, young people and adults at risk, are kept safe from harm.
I have an overarching commitment to keep children and at risk adults safe at all times whilst under my care.
The Policy
The policy lays out the commitments made by Kim Harrison and her responsibilities in relation to safeguarding.
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What is Safeguarding?
In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.
It also means protecting people, including children and at risk adults, from harm that arises from coming into contact therapists.
Further definitions relating to safeguarding are provided in the glossary below.
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Policy Statement
I believe 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 practise in a way that protects them and their interests.
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This policy will address the following areas of safeguarding: child safeguarding and adult safeguarding. These areas of safeguarding may have different policies and procedures associated with them (see Associated Policies).
Prevention
My Responsibilities:
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Ensure I have access to, am familiar with, and know my responsibilities within this policy
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Design and undertake all my sessions in a way that protects people from any risk of harm that may arise from their coming into contact with myself. This includes the way in which information about clients is gathered, communicated and stored (I am registered with the ICO for GDPR compliance).
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Keep my DBS certificate up to date.
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Ensure I receive refresher training on safeguarding at regular intervals or whenever widespread changes to legislation have been made
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Follow up on reports of safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process
Child Safeguarding
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Not subject a child to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect
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Notify appropriate external agencies immediately (MASH team, police etc) if a child is at risk of harm.
Adult safeguarding
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Not subject an at risk adult to physical, emotional or psychological abuse, or neglect
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Notify appropriate external agencies immediately (MASH team, police etc) if an at risk adult is at risk of harm.
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Additionally, I am obliged to:
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Always ensure the welfare of clients, and their wishes and feelings are afforded consideration.
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Contribute to creating and maintaining an environment that prevents safeguarding violations and promotes the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy
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Report any concerns or suspicions regarding safeguarding violations using the appropriate channels
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Reporting and response
Kim Harrison will follow up safeguarding reports and concerns according to policy and procedure, and legal and statutory obligations (see Procedures for reporting and response to safeguarding concerns in Associated Policies).
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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 and in compliance with GDPR. 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.
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Dates
This Policy Statement will be reviewed annually, with the next review taking place on 1 Dec 2021.
Contact Details
Please contact oneheartnatureconnection@protonmail.com for any further support and advice relating to the above.
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Other organisations you might find helpful to contact include:
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NSPCC
T: 0808 800 5000
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Brittish Association of Art Therapists
(I am a member of BAAT. Issues with my practice can be reported to them)
https://www.baat.org/
020 7686 4216
info@baat.org
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Health and Care Professions Council
(All art therapists are regulated by HCPC. Issues with my practice can be reported to them)
0300 500 6184
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Samaritans
www.samaritans.org
Confidential support for people in distress
116 123 – 24 hour phone support
jo@samaritans.org 24 hour email support
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If you wish to self-report someone at risk of harm please Google your local MASH team (Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub), or in an emergency contact the police​ on 999.
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Glossary of Terms
Child
A person below the age of 18
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.
Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)
The term used by the humanitarian and development community to refer to the prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse of affected populations by staff or associated personnel. The term derives from the United Nations Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (ST/SGB/2003/13)
Safeguarding
In the UK, safeguarding means protecting peoples' health, wellbeing 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 our staff or programmes. One donor definition is as follows:
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.
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 our programmes, partners and staff. 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 materialise. 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.