Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Lisa D’Orso – Certified Play Therapist, PTUK (Play Therapy UK)

Safeguarding is defined as:

• protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
• preventing harm to children’s mental and physical health or development
• ensuring that children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
• taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.

Child Protection is defined in the Children Act 1989 (s.47) as when a child is suffering or is likely to suffer significant harm. Under statutory guidance and legislation action must be taken to safeguard and promote the child’s welfare. 

As a Play Therapist, it is my responsibility to ensure the safety and emotional wellbeing of all the children I come into contact with. For the purposes of this policy, a child is a person under 18 years of age.

• I hold a current DBS certificate, which is renewed every three years.
• I receive regular safeguarding training, in accordance with PTUK requirements.
• I have public liability insurance.
• I have regular clinical supervision with a PTUK approved creative arts therapist and supervisor.

I am committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children by:

• The provision of a safe environment in which to provide play therapy or filial play coaching sessions
• Acting on concerns about a child’s welfare immediately
• Fulfilling my legal responsibilities to identify children who may be in need of early help or who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.

All action taken by me (Lisa D’Orso) will be in accordance with current legislation summarised within:

• Working together to safeguard children (2023) statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/669e7501ab418ab055592a7b/Working_together_to_safeguard_children_2023.pdf
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (2024) statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66d7301b9084b18b95709f75/Keeping_children_safe_in_education_2024.pdf
• Local Guidance from the Local Safeguarding Partnership: around particular safeguarding topics, available on Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership Website

Child abuse is any action by another person – adult or child – that causes significant harm to a child. This includes sexual abuse, neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse, online abuse, domestic abuse, bullying and cyberbullying, child trafficking, grooming, peer-on-peer sexual abuse, exploitation including radicalisation. This list is not exhaustive.

My approach is child-centred, which means that I consider, at all times, what is in the best interests of the child. During play therapy or filial play coaching sessions, if a child discloses information, suggesting that they, or another child, are, or have been at risk of harm, it is my duty to follow procedures as follows:

• Listen carefully and stay calm
• Ensure I have understood the matter under discussion, clarifying points as necessary
• Reassure the child that by telling me, they have done the right thing
• Inform the child that I must pass on this information now, but only to those who need to know; inform them who I am going to tell, using age-appropriate language
• Take note of the main points of the conversation including names, times, dates, etc, together with any injuries observed.

If in a school or other organisation, I would report this to the designated safeguarding lead in a timely manner. In private practice, I would contact the appropriate service depending on the seriousness of the disclosure and the perceived risk of harm. This would be either Families in Focus, First Response, or the police.

There may be times when it is necessary to share information without consent such as:

• To gain consent would place the child at risk
• It cannot be reasonably expected to gain consent
• By sharing information, it will enhance the safeguarding of a child in a timely manner but it is not possible to gain consent.

The Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR do not prevent the sharing of information for the purposes of keeping children safe (see separate data protection and privacy policy).

This policy reviewed – October 2024

Date for review – 1^st October 2025, or sooner if updates are needed.

Referral Agencies

·       First Response T: 0117 903 6444 (all Bristol)

·       The place to call if you are concerned about a child or young person or think they need some help. Calls to First Response may result in direct referral to a Social Work Team or to Early Help and/or advice and guidance being given about services to help families.

·       Families in Focus: North 0117 352 1499; East / Central 0117 357 6460; South 0117 903 7770

·       Disabled Children Team (all Bristol) – Tel: 0117 903 8250

·       Emergency Duty Team /Out of Office Hours T: 01454 615 165 Text: 60066

·       Police:  Non-emergency – T: 101; Emergency – T: 999

Support and advice

• Southwest Child Protection Procedures (online guidance) https://swcpp.trixonline.co.uk

• Childline https://www.childline.org.uk T: 0800 1111 (open 24 hours)
• National Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children helpline (NSPCC)https://www.nspcc.org.uk T: 0808 800 5000

• Bristol City council – abuse and violence support – https://www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/crime-and-emergencies/abuse-and-violence
• Police Prevent Team: T: 0800 011 3764
• Refuge National Domestic Abuse https://refuge.org.uk Helpline: T: 0808 2000 247
• Next Link (domestic abuse Bristol): https://nextlinkhousing.co.uk/contact T: 0800 4700280