Safeguarding Policy

BEAM WELLBEING

SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Policy Version: June 2026
Date Approved: 08/06/2026
Review Date: 08/06/2027
Policy Owner & Designated Safeguarding Officer: Sarah Vugler

Contact: beam@btinternet.com

1. POLICY STATEMENT

Beam Wellbeing is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people and their families who access our services.

We recognise our responsibility to protect children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm and to promote their wellbeing, safety and development.

Safeguarding is everyone’s shared, active, responsibility. We adopt an "it could happen here" approach and expect all staff, associates and volunteers to maintain a culture of vigilance, curiosity and accountability.

Beam Wellbeing adopts a safeguarding approach based upon prevention, early intervention and proportionate response. 

Safeguarding responsibilities take precedence over professional confidentiality where a child may be at risk of harm.

2. PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is:

· To set out Beam Wellbeing’s commitment to safeguarding.

· To provide staff, associates and volunteers with clear safeguarding guidance.

· To promote safe and ethical practice.

• To ensure safeguarding concerns are recognised, reported and acted upon appropriately.
• To clarify roles, responsibilities and accountability with regards to safeguarding.
• To support a culture where all children feel heard, respected and safe whilst      recognising that neurodivergent children may experience increased vulnerability to harm.

3. SCOPE

This policy applies to all individuals working for or on behalf of Beam Wellbeing and applies to all services delivered by Beam Wellbeing to children and family members including:

• Face-to-face services
• School-based services
• Community-based services
• Online services
• Telephone support
• Workshops and group programmes

4. LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL FRAMEWORK

This policy is informed by:

• Children Act 1989
• Children Act 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children (2026)
• Keeping Children Safe in Education (current edition)
• Equality Act 2010
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Data Protection Act 2018
• UK GDPR
• Care Act 2014
• Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015
• The Prevent Duty
• BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions
• Threshold of Needs guidance for the Local Authority in which the child resides.

5. OUR SAFEGUARDING PRINCIPLES

We believe:

• Every child has the right to protection from harm, abuse and neglect.
• Every child has the right to be listened to.
• Safeguarding is everyone's shared, active, responsibility.
• Effective safeguarding requires partnership working.
• Early intervention can improve outcomes for children and families.
• Professional curiosity is essential to safeguarding practice.

We recognise that some children may be particularly vulnerable due to:

• Disability or SEND
• Neurodivergence
• Mental health difficulties
• Being looked after or previously looked after
• Family adversity
• Domestic abuse
• Poverty
• Trauma
• Communication differences
• Exploitation risks

6. CHILD-CENTRED, TRAUMA-INFORMED AND NEURO-AFFIRMING PRACTICE

Beam Wellbeing is committed to safeguarding practice that is:

Child-Centred

We will:

• Listen to children's views.
• Consider children's wishes and feelings.
• Promote participation in decisions affecting them.
• Act in their best interests.

Trauma-Informed

We recognise the impact of trauma and adverse childhood experiences.

Practitioners will:

• Promote safety and trust.
• Avoid re-traumatisation.
• Consider behaviour as communication.
• Respond with compassion and understanding.

Neuro-Affirming

We recognise and respect neurodiversity.

Practitioners will:

• Make reasonable adjustments.
• Support communication needs.
• Recognise alternate ways of expressing distress.
• Avoid deficit-based approaches.
• Recognised that SEND children may be more vulnerable to harm and coercion.

7. TYPES OF ABUSE AND SAFEGUARDING RISKS

Beam Wellbeing recognises:

Abuse

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse
• Neglect

Additional Safeguarding Risks (not limited to):

• Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
• Child Criminal Exploitation (CCE)
• County Lines
• Online abuse
• Grooming
• Sextortion
• Peer-on-peer abuse
• Harmful sexual behaviour
• Domestic abuse
• Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
• Forced marriage
• Honour-based abuse
• Radicalisation and extremism
• Missing children
• Trafficking and modern slavery
• Self-harm
• Suicidal ideation
• Substance misuse
• Mental health crises

All concerns must be taken seriously.

8. SAFEGUARDING ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Beam Wellbeing Designated Safeguarding Officer: Sarah Vugler

• Has overall responsibility for safeguarding practise.
• Receives and manages safeguarding concerns.
• Make referrals and liaises where appropriate with agencies for example SENCo, School DSL, MASH, LADO and the Police where appropriate.
• Maintains safeguarding records securely.
• Ensures safeguarding training requirements are met.
• Reviews and updates this policy.
• Holds a current enhanced DBS certificate.
• Ensures the safety of all Beam Wellbeing staff, where practitioners feel unsafe we reserve the right to suspend provision of all services.

All Beam Wellbeing staff and associates must:

• Prioritise and promote children's welfare.
• Undertake safeguarding training.
• Maintain professional boundaries.
• Report concerns promptly.
• Record concerns accurately.
• Attend supervision.
• Follow this policy.

9. RESPONDING TO DISCLOSURES

If a child makes a disclosure, practitioners should:

• Stay calm.
• Listen carefully.
• Reassure.
• Explain next steps.
• Record accurately using the child’s own words where possible.
• Report immediately to the DSL at the relevant school or charity and to other agencies as appropriate.

Practitioners should not:

• Promise confidentiality.
• Ask leading questions.
• Investigate.
• Delay action.

10. RESPONDING TO SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS

All safeguarding concerns, including low-level concerns, must be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead at the educational setting or charity at which they are currently working immediately and always on the same working day.

Beam Wellbeing withholds the right to refer concerns to external agencies if they feel it is appropriate.

The practitioner may refer concerns to:

• School or charity Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• MASH.
• Children's Social Care.
• Police.
• Health professionals.
• Early Help services.
• Other safeguarding agencies.

Decision-making will be documented clearly.

11. INFORMATION SHARING AND CONFIDENTIALITY

Information may be shared appropriately without consent where:

• A child is at risk of harm.
• A serious crime may be committed.
• Seeking consent increases risk.
• Timely intervention is required.

Information sharing will be:

• Necessary
• Proportionate
• Relevant
• Accurate
• Secure

All records will comply with UK GDPR and Data Protection legislation.

12. ONLINE SAFETY

Beam Wellbeing delivers services both in person and online.

Practitioners will:

• Use secure platforms.
• Maintain professional boundaries.
• Ensure appropriate online environments.
• Follow safeguarding procedures for remote delivery.
• Respond to online safeguarding concerns appropriately.

Children will never be contacted through personal social media accounts.

13. MOBILE PHONES, PHOTOGRAPHY AND SOCIAL MEDIA

• Photographs will only be taken with informed parental consent.
• Client work will be stored securely.
• Children will not be identified publicly without explicit consent.
• Mobile phones will remain on silent during sessions.
• Where client work is photographed at the end of a session, images must be stored securely in line with Data Protection Policy and deleted from personal devices immediately.
• Personal contact details will not be shared with children.
• Testimonials will remain anonymous unless written consent has been obtained.

14. WHISTLEBLOWING

All staff have a duty to raise concerns to the relevant LADO regarding:

• Unsafe practice.
• Professional misconduct.
• Safeguarding failures.
• Breaches of policy.

15. RECORD KEEPING

Safeguarding records must be:

• Accurate
• Factual
• Timely
• Secure
• Confidential

Records will be retained in accordance with legal and professional requirements.

16. TRAINING, SUPERVISION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

All practitioners will:

• Undertake regular safeguarding training.
• Participate in supervision.
• Maintain awareness of current safeguarding guidance.
• Make themselves aware of the safeguarding procedures and DSL at the setting in which they are based.
• Work within their competence.
• Maintain a current enhanced DBS.

17. MONITORING AND REVIEW

This policy will be reviewed:

• Annually.
• Following significant legislative changes.
• Following safeguarding incidents.
• Following safeguarding practice reviews.

Beam Wellbeing is committed to continuous improvement and learning in safeguarding practice.

18. EMERGENCY CONTACTS

Emergency Services: 999

Local Authority Designated Officer:

Reading: LADO@brighterfuturesforchildren.org / 0118 937 2684

Reading Single Point of Access: https://brighterfuturesforchildren.org/professionals/report-or-refer-concerns-about-a-child/  0118 937 3641

Oxfordshire: lado.safeguardingchildren@oxfordshire.gov.uk / 01865 810603.

-END-