PRIVACY AND SAFEQUARDING POLICY

PRIVACY POLICY

Your privacy is important to me, and I want to communicate with you in a way which has your

consent, and which is in line with the UK law on data protection and with the Information Commissioners Office.

Consent

I will ask you to sign consent form before we start any work.

You can withdraw consent at any time by contacting me directly at ciara@dream-together.co.uk

Consent is valid until termination of the therapeutic relationship, and you have the right to revoke consent at any time.

What you or your child say in therapy is confidential. However, should the therapist have any concerns about what is said in the therapy or any safeguarding concerns, they will be required to contact their clinical supervisor or appropriate professional.

Records are kept in a secure place and locked. Records include written reports, computerized reports, photographs, film, audio, artwork and emails.

Photos of the sessions can be shared only with signed consent, as part of DREAM together marketing, website and social media, but people and their identities will not be shown.

Reports if appropriate will be shared with you or the appropriate professional via email and/or post with password protection.

Dramatherapists and social workers are legally required to receive supervision to oversee their work. The therapy and work will be discussed anonymously.

The therapist will do their upmost to keep to a regular time and date. Please give 24 hours’ notice for non-attendance when possible. Please make contact with me if you are going to be late.

If you decide not to continue with DREAM together updates and you want to withdraw consent on the data, we hold, and you can contact me directly me via ciara@dream-together.co.uk

Your personal data – what is it?

Personal data relates to a living individual who can be identified from that data. Identification

can be by the information alone or in conjunction with any other information in the data

controller’s possession or likely to come into such possession. The processing of personal data is

governed by the General Data Protection Regulation (now the UK “GDPR”).

How do I get your data?

● Directly from you when you contact me

● When you sign up to receive DREAM together updates

● When you make any form of payment

Types of personal data I collect?

I collect a variety of different types of personal information, including the following personal

identifiers such as:

● Your title

● Name

● E-mail

● Telephone Number

Reviewed on 12th December 2023 by:

Ciara McClelland (M.A.) (B.A. hons)

Dramatherapist registered with Health Care professionals Council HCPC AS14594

Social Worker registered with Social Work England SWW107820

DBS 001812252025

All work covered by Clinical Supervision

SAFEQUARDING POLICY

The purpose and scope of this policy statement

DREAM together support children, adults, families, communities, and organisations to repair, transform and develop relationships with themselves and with others, in a creative and therapeutic way. We use Dramatherapy a form of evidence-based psychotherapy which is a creative approach to support the individual to access their unconsciousness thoughts and patterns, supporting insight, growth, healing, relational repair, and transformation. DREAM together support individuals, partnerships, families, business, and communities who may have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect and as a result may struggle with relationship difficulties, mental health, self-harm, addictions. DREAM together specialise in supporting children and young people who are in care, fostered or adopted or who are care experienced. We believe that every care experienced child or young person deserves a safe space to explore, re- tell and own their story.

The purpose of this policy statement is:

• to protect children, young people and adults who receive DREAM together services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services.

• to provide paid and unpaid associates and volunteers and students, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

• this policy applies to anyone working on behalf of DREAM together, including paid and unpaid associates, volunteers, and students.

Legal framework

This policy has been drawn up based on legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children and adults in England. Legislation provides the framework for safeguarding in England. It makes clear the expectations and requirements around duties of care to children and adults and creates accountability for these. The main legislation in England is, the Children Act 1989 (2004) and the Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015, the Care Act 2014, The Care Act statutory guidance on Safeguarding in Chapter 14, Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, The Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Links and Guidance to legalisation

• Children Act 2004 (legislation.gov.uk)

• Working Together to Safeguard Children (workingtogetheronline.co.uk)

• Working together to safeguard children - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• Care and support statutory guidance - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• ISL036 14 Mental Health Act Review Consultation (publishing.service.gov.uk)

• Mental Capacity Act: making decisions - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

We believe that:

• children, young people, and adults should never experience abuse of any kind

• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, and adults to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

We recognise that:

• the welfare of children, young people and adults is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take

• working in partnership with professionals, children, young people, adults, caregivers/ parents, and other agencies is essential in promoting an individual’s safety and welfare

• all individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse

• some people are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues

• extra safeguards may be needed to keep children, young people or adults who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• valuing, listening to and respecting children, young people, and adults who we support.

• adopting best practice through our policies, procedures and value base for associates, volunteers, or students

• recruiting and selecting associates, volunteers, or students ensuring all necessary checks are made

• recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance (more information please refer to DREAM together Privacy policy at Dream together (dream-together.co.uk) ).

• making sure that children, young people, adults, and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern

• Follow procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, adults, parents, families, and carers appropriately.

• building a safeguarding culture where individuals, associates, volunteers’ students, parents, professionals’ children, young people, and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

• Ensure that clients understand and sign and agree to the DREAM together Therapeutic Consent process below.

Therapeutic engagement Consent

Consent is valid until termination of the therapeutic relationship, and you have the right to revoke consent at any time.

What you and your child say in therapy is confidential. However, should the therapist have any concerns about what is said in the sessions or any safeguarding concerns. They will be required to contact their clinical supervisor and/or the referring professional.
Records are kept in a secure place and locked. Records can include written reports, computerised reports, photographs, film, audio, artwork, and emails.
I consent to “mock up” photos of process of sessions to be shared as part of the DREAM together’s socials/ website. I understand that no names or faces or identities or persons details will be shown.
I consent to “mock up” photos of the process of the sessions to be shared in written or any summary or reports written.
Reports will be shared via email and/or post with password protection.
Dramatherapists are legally required to receive supervision to oversee the therapy. The therapy will be discussed anonymously.
Each session with last on hour. The therapist will do their upmost to keep to a regular time and date. Please give 24 hours’ notice for non-attendance when possible. Please contact the therapist if you are going to be late.
Your therapist will provide the referring professional with their CV, DBS check, professional indemnity insurance, reference and HCPC registration.

Lead for safeguarding and child protection

Name: Ciara McClelland (M.A) (BSc. Honours) Dramatherapist HCPC AS14594/ Social Worker SW107820/ DBS number: 001812252025

Phone/email: ciara@dream-together.co.uk and 07972104106

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Local Authority

Name: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board

Link to make a referral: Professionals – Making a Referral | Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Safeguarding Partnership Board (safeguardingcambspeterborough.org.uk)

Phone/email: 0345 045 5203 Open 24/7

Adult Services Cambridgeshire County Council: 0345 045 5202 or complete a referral online: via link above. Report concerns about an Adult at Risk – Cambridgeshire County Council Peterborough City Council: 01733 747474 Emergency Duty Team (Out of Hours) 01733 234724.

Name: Devon Local Authority

Link to make a referral: DCC - Request for support (outsystemsenterprise.com)

Phone: Front Door directly on 0345 155 1071. Our lines are open Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm and Friday 9am-4pm.

Emergency Duty Service on 0345 6000 388

If you think a child or an adult with care and support needs is in immediate danger, phone 999.

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