Safeguarding Policy
Lori Thackham | Tavistock, Devon
Last reviewed: September 2026
Commitment to Safeguarding
Out of the Blue Counselling and EFT Tapping is committed to providing a safe, respectful and confidential therapeutic environment and to responding appropriately when concerns arise about the safety or welfare of a client or another person.
I work with adults and young people aged 13-17 and recognise that safeguarding responsibilities may differ according to a person’s age, circumstances, capacity and level of vulnerability.
Confidentiality and Safeguarding
Confidentiality is an important part of counselling and EFT and is discussed at the beginning of our work. However, confidentiality is not absolute.
There may be circumstances in which information needs to be shared to protect a client or another person from serious harm, to meet safeguarding responsibilities, or where disclosure is required by law.
Where it is safe and appropriate to do so, I would normally discuss a safeguarding concern with the client before sharing information. Any disclosure would be limited, as far as possible, to information that is relevant and necessary.
Client Information and Emergency Contacts
At the beginning of our work, I ask clients for their full name, address, date of birth, emergency contact details and GP details. This applies whether we are working face-to-face or online.
I explain that these details enable me to respond appropriately if an unexpected health or safety issue arises – for example, if a client becomes unwell during a session.
I do not routinely contact a client’s GP or emergency contact. If I become concerned about a significant risk of harm, I would normally discuss my concerns with the client and consider with them whether their GP, emergency contact or another appropriate service should be involved. There may be circumstances where the seriousness or immediacy of the risk means that relevant information needs to be shared without consent.
Children and Young People
When working with a child or young person, their welfare and safety are central to my practice. I work within relevant safeguarding requirements and professional guidance, taking account of the young person’s age, understanding, autonomy and circumstances.
Where appropriate, parents or carers may be involved in arrangements for therapy. I explain confidentiality and its limits as clearly as possible to both the young person and, where relevant, their parent or carer.
If I have concerns that a child or young person may be at risk of harm, I will consider what safeguarding action is necessary. Depending on the circumstances, this may include consultation in supervision and/or contact with a parent or carer, GP, children’s services, mental-health services, police or another appropriate safeguarding service.
Where possible and safe, I will involve the young person in decisions about what happens next. However, their safety or the safety of another person may sometimes require action without their agreement.
Safeguarding Adults
Adults generally have the right to make their own decisions, including decisions that other people may find difficult or concerning.
Where safeguarding concerns arise, I will take account of the client’s wishes, autonomy, circumstances, capacity and the nature and seriousness of the risk.
Where appropriate, I may discuss options with the client and consider whether support from a GP, mental-health service, adult safeguarding service, emergency contact or another relevant service would be helpful or necessary.
Information may be shared without consent where there is a sufficiently serious or immediate risk of harm, where another person may be at risk, or where there is another legal or safeguarding basis for doing so.
Risk of Harm to Self or Others
Thoughts about suicide, self-harm or harming another person do not automatically mean that confidentiality will be broken.
If a client tells me about thoughts of harming themselves or somebody else, I will seek to understand the situation with them, including the nature and immediacy of the risk, any plans or intentions, access to means where relevant, protective factors and the support available to them.
Where possible, I will work collaboratively with the client to consider what support or action may be needed. This may include developing a safety or crisis plan, involving trusted support, contacting a GP or mental-health service, or seeking urgent or emergency help.
If I believe there is a serious and immediate risk to the client or another person, it may be necessary to share relevant information without the client’s consent in order to respond to that risk.
Online Counselling and EFT
For online sessions, I need to know where a client is physically located so that appropriate help can be sought if an emergency arises during the session.
If a client is attending from somewhere other than their usual address, including another part of the country, I may ask them to confirm their current location. Any safeguarding or emergency referral would be made to the appropriate service for the area in which the client is physically located.
Responding to a Safeguarding Concern
When a safeguarding concern arises, I will consider the information available, the client’s wishes and circumstances, the level and immediacy of risk, relevant professional and legal responsibilities, and whether consultation or referral is required.
Where appropriate, I may seek guidance through clinical supervision or from an appropriate professional or safeguarding service, while protecting the client’s confidentiality as far as possible.
Safeguarding decisions are made on the circumstances of the individual situation rather than automatically in response to a particular disclosure.
Emergency Situations
Out of the Blue Counselling and EFT Tapping is not an emergency or crisis service and I am not available 24 hours a day.
If there is an immediate danger to life or a serious medical emergency, emergency services should be contacted by calling 999.
Clients experiencing an urgent mental-health crisis may also need to contact NHS urgent mental-health services, NHS 111, their GP or another appropriate local crisis service.
Record Keeping and Information Sharing
I keep appropriate records of safeguarding concerns, risk assessments, decisions, actions, consultations and referrals where these arise.
Safeguarding records form part of the client’s confidential clinical record and are handled in accordance with my Privacy Policy and professional record-keeping responsibilities.
Where information needs to be shared, I aim to share only what is relevant and necessary, with an appropriate person or service, and to record the reason for the decision.
Professional Standards and Guidance
My safeguarding practice is informed by relevant law, professional ethical standards and safeguarding guidance, including guidance issued by the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS).
I use clinical supervision to support safe and ethical decision-making and will seek additional professional or safeguarding advice where appropriate.
Responsibility for Safeguarding
I am a sole practitioner and am responsible for safeguarding within Out of the Blue Counselling and EFT Tapping.
I keep my safeguarding knowledge and practice under review and undertake relevant continuing professional development.
Concerns About My Practice
If you have concerns about my professional practice, I encourage you to raise them with me where you feel able to do so.
As a member of the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), I work within its Code of Ethics. Information about the NCPS Code of Ethics and complaints procedure is available through the NCPS website.
Review of This Policy
This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated where necessary to reflect changes in my practice, professional guidance or relevant legal and safeguarding requirements.
The date of the most recent review will be shown at the top of this policy.
Contact
Lori Thackham
Out of the Blue Counselling and EFT Tapping
Tavistock, Devon
Email: enquiries@outofthebluecounselling.org