Keeping You Safe (Child and Adult Safeguarding) The Neuro-Affirming Partnership Ltd believes that every child, young person, and adult has the right to live free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Because our services span young people (aged 12-24), adults (25+), and couples—all in a fully remote, online setting—safeguarding is the foundation of our practice.

This policy outlines our statutory duties, how we recognise risk in an online environment, and the exact steps we take to protect our clients.

1. Core Principles & Duty of Care

We adhere to the principles set out in the Children Act (1989/2004), the Care Act (2014), and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC). Our approach is governed by the following:

  - The Client's Needs are Paramount: The safety and wellbeing of the child, young person, or vulnerable adult will always supersede any other consideration.

  - Neuro-Affirming & Non-Discriminatory: We recognise that neurodivergent individuals may present, communicate, and process information differently. We do not discriminate, and we ensure that a client's neurodivergent traits (e.g., differing eye contact, emotional regulation styles, or situational mutism) are deeply understood and never misconstrued in a safeguarding context.

  - Shared Responsibility: Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility. All practitioners and contractors working under The Neuro-Affirming Partnership Ltd are bound by this policy.

2. Roles and Responsibilities

  - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Maggie Rait is the primary DSL for the organisation. She is responsible for overseeing safeguarding procedures, supporting staff, and liaising with external statutory bodies (e.g., Local Authorities, Police).

  - Contacting the DSL: Margaret Rait, maggie@neuroaffirmingpartnership.com, +44 7565 909685

  - Practitioner Responsibility: All coaches, mentors, and facilitators must know how to recognise abuse, how to respond to disclosures, and how to report concerns immediately to the DSL.

3. Recognising Abuse and Neglect

Abuse can be multifaceted, historic, or ongoing. Neurodivergent individuals can sometimes be at a statistically higher risk of certain types of abuse due to masking, social naivety, or systemic marginalisation. We remain vigilant for signs of:

  - Physical Abuse: Unexplained injuries or inconsistent explanations for injuries.

  - Emotional Abuse: Persistent emotional maltreatment, humiliation, extreme controlling behaviour, or systemic invalidation of a neurodivergent person’s needs.

  - Neglect: Persistent failure to meet basic physical or psychological needs.

  - Domestic Abuse & Coercive Control: Including physical, emotional, and economic abuse between adults. Note: Under the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, a child is legally recognised as a victim of domestic abuse if they see, hear, or experience its effects.

  - Sexual Abuse & Exploitation: Including online grooming and non-contact activities (e.g., forced production of images).

  - Radicalisation (Prevent Duty): Identifying individuals who may be vulnerable to being drawn into extremism or terrorism.

  - Honour-Based Violence & Forced Marriage: Cultural or familial pressure resulting in abuse or forced unions.

4. Safeguarding in a Remote / Online Environment

Because our coaching, mentoring, and group programmes are delivered entirely online (via Google Meet), we cannot rely on the same physical cues present in a face-to-face setting. Our practitioners are trained to "read the remote environment" using professional curiosity:

  - Who is in the room? We actively listen for background noise, aggressive disruptions, or indications that a client is being directed/coached by someone off-camera.

  - Is the client safe to speak? If a client appears unusually guarded, overly masked, or suddenly quiet, we will cautiously check if they are alone and safe to continue.

  - Visual Cues: We observe the visible environment for obvious environmental risks, signs of substance misuse, or extreme neglect.

  - Digital Boundaries: We remain vigilant to the risks of online exploitation, cyberbullying, and inappropriate digital contact, particularly with our younger clients (12-24).

5. Confidentiality, Consent & Information Sharing

Our sessions are a highly confidential space. However, we cannot and will not promise absolute secrecy. We share information strictly on a “need-to-know" basis.

  - When Consent is Sought: If we have a safeguarding concern, we will normally discuss this with the client (and their parent/guardian if they are under 18) and seek their consent to contact external agencies.

  - When Consent is Overridden: We will bypass consent and share information immediately with emergency services or Local Authorities if:

      - Seeking consent would place the client (or someone else) at increased risk of significant harm.

      - The client is in immediate, life-threatening danger.

      - We are required to do so by a UK court of law.

  - Gillick Competence (Ages 12-15): If a young person under 16 wishes to withhold information from their parents, we will assess their maturity and understanding (Gillick competence). However, if there is a risk of significant harm, we will break confidentiality to ensure their safety.

  - Young Adults (16-24) & Adults (25+): We presume capacity to consent under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Confidentiality will only be broken if there is a severe risk of harm or a legal mandate.

6. Responding to a Disclosure of Abuse

If a client discloses abuse, our practitioners are trained to follow these vital steps:

1.  Remain Calm: We will not show shock or disbelief, which could cause the client to shut down.

2.  Listen & Validate: We will reassure the client that they were right to tell us, they are not to blame, and we believe them.

3.  Do Not Investigate: We will ask open-ended questions (e.g.,"Can you tell me more about that?") but we will not interrogate, ask leading questions, or attempt to act as law enforcement.

4.  Do Not Promise Secrecy: We will gently explain that to keep them safe, we have to share this information with someone who can help.

5.  Document Verbatim: We will document the disclosure using the client's exact words, noting the time and date, in our secure, encrypted client records (Google Workspace) on the same day.

7. Reporting Procedures

  - Internal Reporting: All safeguarding concerns must be reported to the DSL (Maggie Rait) on the same day the concern arises.

  - Immediate Danger: If there is an immediate threat to life or a crime is in progress, practitioners will dial 999.

  - Statutory Referrals: The DSL is responsible for formally referring concerns to the relevant Local Authority Children's Social Care (for under 18s) or Adult Social Services (for vulnerable adults). Because we operate across the UK, we will refer to the specific Local Authority corresponding to the client's registered postcode.

  - Emergency Contacts: To facilitate rapid action, all clients must provide an Emergency Contact/Next of Kin and the details of their registered UK GP via their Acuity intake form before commencing services.

8. Dealing with Disclosures in Group Settings

If a safeguarding risk is disclosed or observed during a Group Programme, the facilitator will carefully and calmly manage the group dynamic to maintain emotional safety for all participants. The facilitator will follow up with the individual privately, immediately after the session, to action this policy.

9. Allegations Against Staff (LADO Referral)

If a safeguarding allegation is made against Maggie Rait, Mark Rait, or any contractor working for The Neuro-Affirming Partnership Ltd, the individual will be suspended from client-facing duties without prejudice. The DSL (or an independent Director if the DSL is implicated) will report the allegation within one working day to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for investigation.

10. Training and Supervision

  - Continuous Training: All practitioners must complete mandatory, accredited Safeguarding Training relevant to their roles (equivalent to Level 3 for direct practitioners working with youth/vulnerable adults).

  - Supervision: To ensure ethical, safe, and emotionally regulated practice, our coaches and mentors attend regular professional supervision. Client cases may be discussed to evaluate risk and best practice, but all identifying details are strictly anonymised.

11. Policy Review

This policy is reviewed annually or whenever there are significant updates to UK safeguarding legislation or statutory guidance (e.g., Working Together to Safeguard Children). 

Last Updated: 17 September 2026