Safeguarding
How Safety Is Held In This Work
I work in contexts where people may be engaging with vulnerable material over time — including 1:1 containers, group programmes, and longer-term trainings.
Safeguarding in this work is not about eliminating all risk.
It is about clear structures, role responsibility, and conscious use of power.
This page outlines how safeguarding and care are held in practice.
Safeguarding Starts With Power
Safeguarding begins with acknowledging up power and down power.
As the facilitator and programme lead, I hold up power.
Participants and clients are in down power.
This means:
I am responsible for the conditions of the work
I am responsible for noticing and responding to harm risk
I do not expect participants to manage power dynamics themselves
I do not rely on people “speaking up” as the primary safety mechanism
Safety is created through clear roles, boundaries, and appropriate intervention.
Boundaries and Scope
Clear boundaries are a core safeguarding practice.
In my work:
I am explicit about what my role is and what it is not
I do not blur facilitation, therapy, friendship, or dependency
I do not position myself as a primary source of support outside the scope of the work
I refer out when needs exceed what the container can responsibly hold
This work is not a substitute for clinical care, crisis support, or emergency services.
Participants are encouraged to have support beyond this work where needed.
Consent in Practice
Consent is ongoing and contextual.
Safeguarding means:
consent is revisited, not assumed
opting out of a specific exercise or activity carries no relational or evaluative penalty
participation is not treated as a measure of commitment, worth, or readiness
intensity is not framed as progress
Opting out of specific practices does not override programme commitments.
Financial terms, time commitments, and participation agreements are set clearly at enrolment and are held separately from moment-to-moment consent within the work.
I pay attention to pressure, not just verbal agreement — including group dynamics, pacing, authority signals, and unspoken expectations.
Intervention and Responsibility
I intervene when harm risk is present.
This may include:
slowing or stopping an exercise
changing structure or pacing
naming power dynamics
setting firmer boundaries
redirecting or pausing participation
following up outside the group
Participants are not expected to self-regulate the space or carry responsibility for group safety.
Intervention is a safeguarding practice, not a failure of trust.
Platforming & External Influence
Safeguarding also applies to who and what is associated with this work.
When people, trainings, or resources are shared in connection with my programmes, I take responsibility for assessing:
power literacy
safeguarding structures
accountability mechanisms
how influence and urgency may impact people in down power
Platforming is treated as an up-power act, not a neutral one.
Aftercare & Integration
Where aftercare or integration support is offered, it is:
clearly defined
time-bound
within scope
Aftercare is not used to compensate for harm or bypass accountability.
If distress exceeds what the work can responsibly hold, referral out is part of care.
Raising Concerns
Safeguarding requires accessible routes for concern and feedback.
There are:
clear ways to raise concerns directly
alternative routes if direct contact doesn’t feel safe
clarity about what happens next
protection from retaliation or subtle consequence
Raising a concern is treated as a valid part of ethical engagement, not as disruption or disloyalty.
Details are available on the Concerns & Accountability page.
Ongoing Safeguarding Practice
Safeguarding is not static.
I stay in:
supervision and consultation
review of practices and structures
learning around power, trauma, consent, and facilitation
adjustment when something isn’t working
Safeguarding is an ongoing responsibility, not a claim.
Closing
Care in this work is not based on trust alone.
It is based on:
visible responsibility
clear boundaries
power awareness
and willingness to intervene and repair
That is how safety is held here.