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Safeguarding policy

 

Tsunami Counselling & Educational Support is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers, student counsellors and associates to share this commitment.

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Our counsellors and therapists are appropriately qualified and trained by organisations offering recognised professional accreditation. They are members of the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), or an equivalent recognised professional body. All counsellors hold appropriate professional indemnity insurance and have completed Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, including barred list checks where required. Identity, qualification and background checks are carried out for all staff, volunteers and student counsellors prior to commencing work.

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Our counselling practice is conducted in accordance with the ethical frameworks and codes of conduct of our professional bodies and current statutory safeguarding legislation. We work closely with schools and educational settings, adhering to each setting's safeguarding and child protection policies and following local safeguarding partnership procedures and multi-agency safeguarding arrangements.

Tsunami Counselling & Educational Support recognises its legal responsibilities in relation to safeguarding and child protection and complies with current legislation, statutory guidance and local procedures (see Appendices I and II).

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Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility. We adopt a child-centred approach and recognise that every child has the right to protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm.

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Safeguarding Responsibilities

Counsellors, therapists, volunteers and associates have a duty to identify and report concerns regarding the safety and welfare of children and young people.

Any disclosure, concern, suspicion or allegation indicating that a child may be suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm must be reported without delay to the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Deputy DSL, and where appropriate, to Children's Social Care or other statutory agencies.

Safeguarding concerns may arise through direct disclosure, observation, professional judgement, third-party information or concerns identified during counselling sessions.

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This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Physical abuse

  • Emotional abuse

  • Sexual abuse

  • Neglect

  • Domestic abuse

  • Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)

  • Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

  • County lines exploitation

  • Online abuse and online safety concerns

  • Peer-on-peer abuse

  • Serious violence

  • Radicalisation and extremism

  • Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)

  • Forced marriage

  • Honour-based abuse

  • Mental health concerns where there is a risk of harm

  • Children Missing Education (CME)

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Any safeguarding concern will override normal expectations of confidentiality.

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Training and Professional Development

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All counsellors are required to:

  • Complete safeguarding training appropriate to their role and setting.

  • Refresh safeguarding training at least annually.

  • Familiarise themselves with the safeguarding and child protection procedures of each school or organisation in which they work.

  • Read and understand relevant policies, including:

    • Child Protection Policy

    • Safeguarding Policy

    • Behaviour Policy

    • Anti-Bullying Policy

    • Online Safety Policy

  • Attend national, regional, local or school-based safeguarding training when required.

  • Maintain awareness of current legislation, statutory guidance, professional standards and relevant case law.

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Tsunami Counselling & Educational Support ensures that safeguarding remains a standing item within professional supervision arrangements.

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Child Protection and Confidentiality

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Tsunami Counselling & Educational Support recognises the importance of confidentiality in developing effective therapeutic relationships with children and young people.

Children and young people will be informed at the outset of counselling about the boundaries of confidentiality and the circumstances under which information may need to be shared.

Whilst counselling sessions remain confidential wherever possible, absolute confidentiality cannot be guaranteed when safeguarding concerns arise.

Counsellors do not routinely share the content of counselling sessions with schools, parents or carers. However, where appropriate, general themes, attendance information and recommendations for supporting a child may be discussed with identified members of staff, provided this is consistent with the counselling agreement and the best interests of the child.

Where a counsellor believes that a child or young person is at risk of significant harm, they will normally seek to discuss their concerns with the child and, wherever appropriate, obtain their consent before sharing information. However, the absence of consent will not prevent information being shared where safeguarding concerns exist.

In all cases, safeguarding concerns will be reported in accordance with the school's safeguarding procedures and local safeguarding partnership arrangements.

Information sharing will be conducted in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018, UK GDPR and relevant safeguarding guidance. Data protection legislation is not a barrier to sharing information where doing so is necessary to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

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Appendix I

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Legal and Statutory Framework

Tsunami Counselling & Educational Support recognises and complies with the following legislation and statutory responsibilities:

1. Duty of Care (Common Law)

An overarching responsibility to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety, wellbeing and welfare of children, young people, staff and volunteers.

2. Human Rights Act 1998

Protects fundamental rights and freedoms, including the right to life, freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment, respect for private and family life, and protection from discrimination.

3. Children Act 1989

Establishes that the welfare of the child is paramount and places duties on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of children in need and investigate concerns of significant harm.

4. Children Act 2004

Strengthens duties on organisations and professionals to cooperate in safeguarding children and promoting their welfare.

5. Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

Provides the legal framework for vetting and barring individuals from working with children and vulnerable adults where appropriate.

6. Equality Act 2010

Protects children and young people from discrimination and promotes equality, diversity and inclusion.

7. Children and Social Work Act 2017

Introduced reforms to safeguarding arrangements, placing duties on safeguarding partners to work together to protect children.

8. Data Protection Act 2018 and UK GDPR

Govern the collection, storage, processing and sharing of personal information while supporting lawful information sharing for safeguarding purposes.

9. Freedom of Information Act 2000

Provides access rights to information held by public authorities, subject to exemptions and protections.

10. Domestic Abuse Act 2021

Recognises children as victims in their own right where they see, hear or experience the effects of domestic abuse.

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Appendix II

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Statutory Guidance and Professional References

Tsunami Counselling & Educational Support has due regard to the following guidance and procedures:

1. Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023, as updated)

Statutory guidance setting out how organisations and agencies should work together to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.

2. Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) (Current Edition)

Statutory guidance for schools and colleges on safeguarding children and safer recruitment.

3. Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations

Supporting regulations and practice guidance relating to children in need, child protection and looked-after children.

4. The Victoria Climbié Inquiry (2003)

A landmark inquiry that significantly influenced safeguarding legislation, policy and multi-agency working practices.

5. Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and Their Families

Provides principles and frameworks for assessing the needs of children and families requiring support or protection.

6. Relevant Local Safeguarding Partnership Procedures

Local safeguarding arrangements and multi-agency procedures applicable to the geographical areas in which services are provided.

7. Professional Guidance of the BACP, UKCP and Other Relevant Accrediting Bodies

Including ethical frameworks, professional standards and safeguarding requirements applicable to counselling and psychotherapy practice.

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Policy Review

 

This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if required by changes in legislation, statutory guidance, safeguarding practice, inspection requirements or organisational need.

Approved by: David Brooks

Date Approved: 04/09/2026

Review Date: 04/09/2027

Version: 1.0

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