Child in Time is committed to caring for children and young people and protecting them from harm. Our counsellors/therapists are qualified and have been trained by organisations offering recognised accreditation for counsellors/therapists. Two of the leading accrediting bodies are the United Kingdom Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP) and the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Art Therapists will be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. All counsellors carry professional indemnity insurance and have Enhanced Disclosures from the Criminal Records Bureau (DBS).
Our counselling practice is in accordance with the ethics and Code of Conduct of our training organisations, or accrediting body, and with statutory legislation. We work in co-operation with the school’s Child Protection Policy, following Area Child Protection Committee guidelines.
Child in Time is subject to and/or recognises legal responsibilities in terms of childcare and child protection as well as government guidance and local procedures (see appendix I and appendix II).
This includes the requirement for the counsellor to identify and report possible causes of harm to children and young people via the school’s link person and/or designated Child Protection Person. This would originate from any disclosures made by the young person or if the counsellor has knowledge, concerns or suspicions that a child is suffering or is likely to be at risk of harm. This will include disclosures relating to alleged physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse and/or neglect from self or other. Other safeguarding concerns include domestic abuse, child criminal exploitation and online safety. Such disclosures would override any confidentiality agreement made between counsellor and client.
Counsellors/therapists should endeavour to keep up to date with current legislation and case law. It is recommended that they refresh their child protection training at level 3 regularly. Each counsellor must read the school’s pastoral documentation, which includes the child protection policy, anti-bullying policy and discipline policy annually. Specific arrangements for reporting child protection concerns will be agreed with the school and set out in school procedures.
Each counsellor is required to take part in any national, regional, or local mandatory child protection training – this is usually offered by the school where they are working. Our Counselling Services pay due regard to current legislation and guidance, and offer confidentiality within usual ethical and safeguarding limits.
Child Protection and Confidentiality
Some schools are concerned about the confidential nature of counselling. We will not share details of the sessions but we are able to give broad themes and outlines in order to discuss ways to support the child with staff members. In effect there is no such thing as absolute confidentiality when working with young people as child protection always takes precedence over normal confidentiality codes. In the initial contract this will be made clear to the child. Should a counsellor think that a child/young person is at risk of significant harm, they will attempt to gain the child’s permission before reporting it to your schools designated link person and/or child protection person.
Appendix I.
Legal/Statutory obligations
Child in Time is subject to and/or recognises legal responsibilities in terms of child protection. These include:
- Duty of care – common law: This is an overall responsibility to endeavour to ensure the safety and welfare of the children, young people and personnel.
- Human Rights Act 1998: This includes the right of individuals not to receive ill-treatment, to privacy and family life; not to be recipients of discrimination.
- Children Act 1989: This lays the foundations for ensuring that the welfare of children is paramount. It states that it is the responsibility of all Local Authorities to promote and safe-guard the children in their area. This includes assessments of children who may be in need and the duty to investigate if it is believed that a young person may be suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm.
- The Children Act 2004: This sets out the organisational responsibilities for child protection.
- Data Protection Act 2018: The statutory responsibility for confidentiality and its role in child protection.
- Freedom of Information Act 2005: This sets out the responsibility for children and young people to have access to information held on them and the responsibility for secure storage of information.
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006: This includes the responsibility to ensure that all personnel who have contact with children and young people using services from Child in Time have had the appropriate statutory checks made.
Appendix II.
Government Guidance and Local Procedures
There is government guidance which is, in effect, mandatory (Local Authority Social Services Act, 170, Section 7). There are also local policies and procedures which are compulsory:
- The enquiry into the death of Victoria Climbie (2003). This enquiry set out a number of recommendations which have influenced both legislation, policy and procedures in child protection.
- The Children Act 1989 Regulations and Guidance: Several of these volumes have application within child counselling.
- Working together to safeguard children (2023). This outlines the child protection policy in terms of organisations.
- Keeping Children safe in Education (2024) sets out what schools and colleges must do to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people under the age of 18.
- Framework for the assessment of Children in Need and their families (2000). This defines the framework for the assessment of all children who are thought to be in need including the need to be safeguarded.
- Every Child Matters (2003). The government’s aims and objectives in chid care/child protection.
- The London Child Protection Procedures (3rd Ed. 2022). The pan-London procedures, issued by LSCB; sanctioned by DCSF.
