This Policy applies to all staff, including Psychologists, Associates, Supervisors, paid staff, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of Pocket Family Psychologist.

The purpose of this policy:

• To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who receive Pocket Family Psychologist services. This includes the children of adults who use our services
• To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection

Pocket Family Psychologist believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to protect the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.

Legal Framework:
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:

• Children Act 1989
• United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
• Data Protection Act 1998
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Sexual Offences Act 2003
• Children Act 2004
• Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
• Children & Families Act 2014
• Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) code of practice: 0 – 25 years – Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities: HM Government 2014
• Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers.: HM Government 2015
• Working together to safeguarding children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children: HM Government 2015
• General Data Protection Regulations 2018

This policy should read alongside our other policies and procedures on:

• Confidentiality
• Complaints
• Privacy
• Risk
• Health & Safety
• Please note, we follow the same Code of Conduct as the British Psychological Society (BPS)

What is abuse?
Abuse is the violation of an individual’s human rights. It can be a single act or repeated acts. It can be physical, sexual or emotional. It also includes acts of neglect or an omission to act. In all forms of abuse there are elements of emotional abuse. Vulnerable adults may also suffer additional types of abuse such as being manipulated financially or being discriminated against.

We recognise that:

• The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount
• All children and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexuality or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm and abuse
• Some children and adults are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers, vulnerable adults and other agencies is essential in promoting a person’s welfare

We seek to keep children and vulnerable adults safe by:

• Valuing them, listening to and respecting them
• Adopting child protection and safe-guarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
• Recruiting staff and volunteers carefully, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• Recording and storing information professionally and securely
• Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children, vulnerable adults, their families, staff and volunteers by providing them with copies of our procedures
• The safe and appropriate use of cameras, mobile phones, technology and online equipment within the setting
• Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, vulnerable adults, parents and families and carers appropriately
• Ensuring that we have effective complaints measures in place
• Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, vulnerable adults, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance

Contact details:

Safeguarding Officer – Dr Andrea Shortland
Email: mail@shortlandpsychology.com
Phone: 07714 082448

Alternative Safeguarding Contact – Dr Paddy McNally
Email: mcnallypaddy@hotmail.com
Phone: 07835 028196

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.