01
Protection from harm
We take concerns about abuse, exploitation, neglect, unsafe conduct and serious risk seriously.
About ThrivewellInstitutional profile
Safeguarding & confidentiality
Safety, dignity and trust—held with professional care.
Thrivewell takes active responsibility for protecting the people who engage with our services, programmes and partnerships. Safeguarding, consent, confidentiality and clear escalation are part of how the work is designed—not measures added after a concern arises.
Applies to
Services, programmes, partnerships, staff and volunteers
Core standard
Protect safety while preserving dignity and agency
Immediate danger
Contact the appropriate local emergency service first
01
Our commitment
Everyone has the right to engage without abuse, exploitation, neglect or unsafe professional conduct.
This responsibility applies across age, identity, background, disability, circumstance and service setting. It is especially important in work involving children, young people, adults at risk and anyone affected by unequal power or dependence.
02
Respect and agency
People receive clear information, are listened to without judgement and participate in decisions wherever possible.
03
Accountable practice
Roles, records, escalation responsibilities and information-sharing decisions are handled with professional discipline.
04
Appropriate support
A concern is considered in context and directed to the most suitable safeguarding, statutory, medical or specialist route.
02
Confidentiality in practice
Private by default. Clear about the limits.
Counselling and support conversations are treated as confidential. Confidentiality is not secrecy: information may need to be shared where there is a serious risk of harm, a safeguarding responsibility or a legal requirement to disclose.
- What you share is treated as private and handled only for a clear professional purpose.
- Confidentiality and its practical limits are explained before support begins and revisited when needed.
- Information is not shared with family members, schools, employers or partners simply because they requested it.
- Where sharing is necessary for safety or required by law, only relevant information is disclosed to an appropriate person or service.
03
Children & young people
Age-appropriate consent. A respected voice. Adults responsible for safety.
The young person should understand what support involves, who may be involved and what information may need to be shared. Parents, caregivers, schools and professionals are included only within an appropriate consent and safeguarding framework.
Participation
The child or young person is listened to and supported to take part in decisions affecting them.
Explanation
Confidentiality and safeguarding limits are explained in language appropriate to age and understanding.
Professional attention
Changes in presentation, behaviour, relationships or circumstances are considered without rushing to assumptions.
Proportionate sharing
Information is shared only when necessary, with an appropriate person and for a defined safety purpose.
04
When a concern is raised
A concern moves through a clear response pathway.
- 01
Receive and listen
The concern is received calmly. The person is heard without pressure to provide more detail than is necessary at that point.
- 02
Consider immediate safety
Urgency, present danger and the needs of any child, young person or adult at risk are considered first.
- 03
Record responsibly
Relevant information is documented accurately, factually and with access limited to those who need it for their role.
- 04
Consult and decide
The appropriate safeguarding lead or responsible professional considers the concern and the action required.
- 05
Refer and follow through
Where another service or authority must act, information is shared proportionately and the next step is followed through.
Raise a concern
Tell us what you are concerned about.
You do not need to investigate, prove the concern or confront another person before speaking up. Share what you know, what you observed and whether anyone may be in immediate danger.
Use Thrivewell’s contact route and identify the message as a safeguarding concern so it can be directed appropriately.
If a person is in immediate danger or requires urgent medical attention, contact the appropriate local emergency service first. Thrivewell is not an emergency response service.
Institutional standard
See how safeguarding sits within wider governance and accountability.
Our governance centre explains the responsibilities, evidence discipline and professional standards that support safe practice.