Safeguarding
Play Therapy UK (PTUK) takes the risk of suicide and self-harm seriously aligning with our ethical framework and core principles of safeguarding and promoting the well-being of children. Our commitment to providing a safe, supportive environment for emotional expression necessitates vigilance in recognising and responding to risks of harm. Every client accessing therapy deserves to be protected from danger, our ethical responsibility compels us to act decisively to prevent self-harm and suicide. By prioritising the assessment of these risks, we uphold our duty of care and ensure that therapeutic interventions contribute to the holistic safety and mental health of our clients.
In the assessment of the risk of suicide or self-harm among clients in play therapy and counselling, the below steps are in place to help practitioners identify high-risk situations and take appropriate action to mitigate these risks.
Risks can be understood through a collaborative process between the client, therapist and other important people in their lives. This should aim to summarise the client’s current risks and difficulties and understand why they are happening to inform the agreed treatment. This typically includes taking into consideration historical factors and experiences, more recent problems and existing strengths and resources.
Training: All play therapists and counsellors should understand and apply the safeguarding principles of the Care Act 2014, the Children Act 1989, and the Children and Families Act 2014 alongside local safeguarding policies and procedures.
We have an appointed DSL who will assess the advice and provide updates to members through safeguarding training for categorised groups of PTUK members. These groups will include play therapists working with children between the ages of 4 and 13, play therapists and creative art counsellors working with children and young people between the ages of 13 and 25, alongside creative arts counsellors working with adult clients 18 years old and above.
All therapists are required to complete safeguarding training before starting working with clients. It is recommended that qualified play therapists complete advanced safeguarding (at level Three or equivalent) to ensure they are able to support children and families with the best evidence informed knowledge. This training supplements local Safeguarding Partnership training which practitioners should also access in their local area protocols.
Assessment Tools: Implement standardised assessment tools to identify at-risk clients early.
Pre therapy assessments are carried out with children and young people that involve parental interviews enquiring about behaviour and any current or previous risks that therapist needs to know about.
Therapists are trained to explain at the start of therapy to parents and clients about confidentiality and what they would do should a child protection issue arise, which includes the risk of suicide and self-harm.
If it is identified during the assessment that suicide or self-harm is a risk, therapists will follow safeguarding policies that are in place and be advised to follow the ethical framework of PTUK, which would include ensuring they have the competencies to carry out the work. If they have not, they would refer the work to an appropriate therapist or other professional specialised service or undertake additional specialist training to support their client work.
Therapists and counsellors working with young people will use a recognised questionnaire (CORE – www.coresystemtrust.org.uk). Specific questions are asked in session with the clients that identify these risks. Question examples are “I made plans to end my life”, (taken from CORE 10), “I have thought of hurting myself” (taken from CORE 34). These questions, alongside others, are used to identify any risks so that practitioners can then follow appropriate actions and support clients effectively and safely.
Supervision and Support: Mandatory clinical supervision is a requirement for all therapists. This supports their work with high-risk clients, with discussing and identifying risks, support with reporting risks. Supervision can also identify a need for therapy or counselling for the practitioner if required to support the emotional toll of working with high-risk clients.
Crisis Protocols: All therapists must have a DSL accessible on site where their therapy takes place. PTUK’s DSL will support members in developing risk assessments and clear protocols for managing crises, including referral pathways to specialised mental health services.
Samantha Phippard
PTUK Designated Safeguarding Lead
Biography
I have been a qualified social worker since 2008, with experience both in the UK and internationally, focusing on children and families. My work has included frontline children’s teams in England and Children, Families, and Adults Services in the South Atlantic and Eastern Caribbean, where I served as a safeguarding consultant.
I hold a master’s degree in children’s rights, which I integrated into my journey as a play therapist. I brought this together in my doctorate which explored what matters to children in remote locations, using creative methods of engagement. I am passionate about increasing children’s participation in decision-making and using play therapy to enhance direct working skills across professions.
Recently, I was awarded a National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) fellowship where I explored mental health support for children in care, specifically how they navigate access to services. I continue to practice as a play therapist and trainee supervisor while working within a local authority to improve services for children
