Safeguarding Policy

Practice Name: Calm Harbour Therapy

Practitioner: Nick Dommett, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist

Professional Memberships: Registered Member of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy)

Scope of Practice: In-person therapy (Private Consulting Rooms) and Online Therapy (UK-wide via secure video) 

1. Statement of Commitment

I am committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people (aged under 18) who access my therapeutic services. My practice operates in strict alignment with the Children Act 1989/2004, the Data Protection Act 2018 (UK GDPR), the most recent Working Together to Safeguard Children statutory guidance, and the ethical frameworks of both the BACP and the UKCP. 

2. Confidentiality and the Limits of Safekeeping

Therapeutic trust is paramount, and what is shared in sessions generally remains confidential. However, confidentiality is not absolute. I have a legal and ethical duty to break confidentiality and contact external statutory agencies (such as Children’s Services or the Police) if:

  • I assess that a child or young person is experiencing, or is at risk of experiencing, significant harm (including physical, emotional, or sexual abuse, neglect, or exploitation).

  • The client or another person is at imminent risk of serious self-harm or loss of life.

  • I am legally required to do so by a court order.

Communication with Families:

Wherever safe and clinically appropriate, I will discuss my safeguarding concerns with the child and their parent/guardian before making an external referral. However, if I believe that notifying a parent would place the child at immediate or increased risk, I will contact statutory services directly without prior consultation.

For young people aged 16 and 17, or those under 16 assessed as Gillick competent, their explicit consent to involve parents/guardians will be sought and respected, unless doing so compromises their immediate safety or overrides a critical safeguarding threshold. 

3. Specific Protocols for Online and Remote Therapy

To maintain the safety and integrity of psychological therapy delivered online, the following mandatory conditions apply:

  • Location Verification: At the start of every online session, the young person (or parent) must confirm the physical address where the child is currently located, along with an emergency contact number for a parent/guardian who is nearby.

  • Privacy and Environment: The child must be in a private, quiet room where they cannot be overheard. Sessions cannot take place in public spaces, vehicles, or environments where privacy cannot be guaranteed.

  • Technological Disruption Protocol: If a video connection drops during a crisis or a sensitive disclosure, I will immediately attempt to reconnect via video. If this fails, I will call the agreed emergency telephone number. If I am seriously concerned for the immediate safety of the child and cannot reach them or the parent, I will contact emergency services (999) to request a welfare check.

  • Platform Security & Data Processing: All online therapy is conducted using secure, GDPR-compliant, encrypted video platforms (e.g., Zoom for Healthcare or WriteUpp). Sessions are never recorded by the therapist, and clients/parents are strictly prohibited from recording sessions. Clinical data is processed under the legal bases of Article 6(1)(f) (Legitimate Interests) and Article 9(2)(h) (Provision of Health or Social Care) of the UK GDPR.

4. Protocols for In-Person Private Rooms

  • Handover & Waiting Area: For in-person sessions at my consulting rooms, parents/guardians must remain on the premises (or within a strictly agreed radius) for the duration of the session. Handover must occur directly between the therapist and the authorised adult.

  • Premises Safety: The physical space is maintained as a safe, hazardous-free environment appropriate for child and adolescent psychological work.

5. Action and Referral Procedure

If a child makes a disclosure of harm, or if clinical observations indicate an immediate risk:

  • Listen & Validate: I will listen without cross-examining, investigating, or making promises of absolute secrecy.

  • Record: Detailed, objective, and contemporaneous clinical notes will be securely compiled immediately following the session.

  • Refer: I will contact the relevant local authority Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) or Social Work Team. For online clients, this will be the local authority where the child is physically located at the time of the session. (For clients in Scotland, this process aligns with the Getting It Right For Every Child [GIRFEC] framework).

  • Supervise: All safeguarding events are immediately brought to my clinical supervisor for professional review.

  • Escalate: If a referral is made and I professionally disagree with the threshold outcome decided by the local authority MASH team, I will formally follow that local safeguarding partnership’s escalation pathways to ensure the young person's safety. 

6. Professional Standards & Vetting

  • I hold an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (or Protecting Vulnerable Groups [PVG] scheme membership in Scotland).

  • I am registered as a Data Controller with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and adhere strictly to UK GDPR principles regarding the storage and processing of clinical data. See Privacy Policy for details.

  • I maintain comprehensive Professional Indemnity Insurance covering both in-person and digital clinical work with minors.

  • I complete Level 3 Safeguarding Children training at least every two years.

  • I have a designated Clinical Will and Professional Executor in place to protect client continuity and data safety in the event of my sudden incapacity.

Contact and Concerns

If you are a parent, professional, or young person with questions regarding this policy, you can contact me directly via my website contact page.

If you are concerned that a child is in immediate danger, please contact the emergency services on 999, or call the NSPCC Professionals Helpline on 0808 800 5000.