Concerns, Feedback & Accountability
How Concerns Are Held In This Work
I work in contexts where power is present.
Because I hold up power as the facilitator and programme lead, it is my responsibility to make it possible for concerns to be raised without people having to overcome fear, loyalty, or self-doubt in order to be heard.
This page explains how feedback, concerns, and accountability are handled in this work.
Naming Power in Accountability
People in down power often find it difficult to raise concerns directly with someone in up power.
This can include:
fear of relational consequences
concern about being misunderstood or minimised
worry about disrupting the group
uncertainty about whether something “counts” as an issue
I take this into account.
Accountability here is not based on courage or confrontation.
It is supported by clear structures, process, and protection.
What You Can Raise
You are welcome to raise concerns or feedback related to:
harm, distress, or impact you’ve experienced
boundary or power issues
facilitation choices or group dynamics
safeguarding concerns
experiences of pressure, urgency, or confusion
patterns that don’t feel right, even if they’re hard to name
You do not need to be certain or articulate for a concern to be valid.
Ways To Raise a Concern
There are multiple ways to raise a concern, recognising that different routes feel safer or more accessible for different people.
1. Via the Concerns / Grievance Form (recommended)
This is often the most contained and accessible option.
The form allows you to:
share concerns without direct confrontation
take time to reflect and write at your own pace
raise issues without needing to manage my response in the moment
submit concerns even if you’re unsure how to name them
You can use the form whether the issue feels small, significant, or unresolved.
Using the form does not reduce the seriousness with which a concern is held.
2. Directly With Me (optional)
You may choose to raise a concern with me directly, by email at catherine@catherinhale.co.uk or you can request via email for a scheduled conversation, if that feels more accessible and resourced for you.
Direct contact is optional, not expected.
You are not required to speak to me directly in order for a concern to be valid or addressed.
3. Via an Alternative Route
If it does not feel safe or appropriate to raise a concern with me — either directly or via the form — you may use an alternative route.
This may include:
a named supervisor or safeguarding contact
a mediator or accountability professional
another clearly designated third-party contact
Details of alternative routes can be requested at any time.
No explanation is required for choosing this option.
What Happens Next
When a concern is raised:
it will be acknowledged
it will be taken seriously
it will not be dismissed based on intent
it will not be reframed as a misunderstanding without examination
Depending on the nature of the concern, this may include:
listening and clarification
reflection and review
changes to structure or practice
a repair process
external consultation or supervision
Not all concerns result in the same outcome.
All concerns are treated as valid signals.
Timing & Repair
Concerns can be raised at any point.
The timing of a concern may affect what forms of repair are possible or appropriate.
Repair is often most effective when concerns are raised within a timeframe that allows for context, reflection, and meaningful response. When concerns are raised much later, they will still be taken seriously, though the available options for repair may be different.
Availability for repair does not mean unlimited access or indefinite process.
It means a clear, bounded commitment to accountability.
Impact Not Proof
You are not required to:
provide evidence beyond your experience
convince me that harm occurred
justify why something affected you
manage my response or emotions
Accountability is grounded in impact, not proof, persuasion, or performance.
Repair
Where harm or significant impact has occurred, repair may be offered.
Repair is:
process-based, not outcome-driven
not dependent on forgiveness
not a demand for reconciliation
not a request for emotional labour
Repair may involve acknowledgement of impact, changes to practice, or other appropriate steps.
Boundaries of Accountability
Accountability does not mean:
automatic agreement with every request
financial refunds outside stated policies
removal of all discomfort from growth-oriented work
collapsing programme boundaries
Structural commitments, including financial terms, are held separately and are outlined in the Cancellation & Participation Policy.
Concerns about harm or boundaries are not treated as customer complaints.
Protection From Retaliation
Raising a concern will not result in:
punishment
loss of status
exclusion
subtle retaliation
withdrawal of care
Any form of retaliation would itself be treated as a serious ethical breach.
Feedback & Learning
Not all feedback is about harm.
General feedback, reflections, and suggestions are welcome and contribute to the ongoing learning and evolution of the work.
Feedback does not need to be polite, complete, or carefully worded to be useful.
Ongoing Accountability
Accountability is not a one-off event.
I remain in:
supervision and consultation
review of patterns and themes
revision of policies and practices where needed
This page exists to make accountability possible, not performative.
Closing
Ethical work is not defined by the absence of concerns.
It is defined by how concerns are met.
This page exists so responsibility does not rest on silence, endurance, or personal resilience.