Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy
Organisation: From the Heart Energy Healing
Practitioner / Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Emma Randell, practising professionally as Emma Hunt
Professional Body: The International Institute of Complementary Therapists (IICT)
Membership Number: GB2597957191
Effective Date: 2 October 2026
Review Date: 1 October 2027
1. Purpose and Scope
1.1 Purpose: The purpose of this policy is to protect adults at risk who receive remote holistic care or distance energy healing sessions from From the Heart Energy Healing (referred to as ‘From the Heart’ in this document). From the Heart is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare, well-being, and rights of all adults interacting with the practice, promoting an environment free from abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
1.2 Legislation and Guidelines: From the Heart is fully committed to Safeguarding Adults in line with national legislation and relevant national and local guidelines. We will safeguard adults by ensuring that our activities are delivered in a way which keeps all adults safe.
1.3 Culture: From the Heart is committed to creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm to adults which necessitates: the recognition of adults who may be at risk and the circumstances which may increase risk; knowing how adult abuse, exploitation or neglect manifests itself; and being willing to report safeguarding concerns. This extends to recognising and reporting harm experienced anywhere, including within our activities, within other organised community or voluntary activities, in the community, in the person’s own home and in any care setting.
1.4: Best Practice: From the Heart is committed to best safeguarding practice and to uphold the rights of all adults to live a life free from harm from abuse, exploitation and neglect.
1.5 Legal and Ethical Duties: This policy outlines our legal and ethical duties under UK safeguarding legislation, including the Care Act 2014, the Mental Capacity Act 2005, the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Human Rights Act 1998. It applies to all online, telephone, and distance email sessions delivered to adults.
1.6 Definition of an Adult at Risk: In line with the Care Act 2014, an ‘adult at risk’ is anyone aged 18 or over who:
Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs).
Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect.
As a result of those care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect.
2. Policy Statement
2.1 Rights: From the Heart believes everyone has the right to live free from abuse or neglect regardless of age, ability or disability, sex, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital or gender status.
2.2 Safe and Positive Environment: From the Heart is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment and an open, listening culture where people feel able to share concerns without fear of retribution.
2.3 Responsibility: From the Heart acknowledges that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and is committed to prevent abuse and neglect through safeguarding the welfare of all adults involved.
2.4 Resilience & Barriers: From the Heart recognises that health, well-being, ability, disability and need for care and support can affect a person’s resilience. We recognise that some people experience barriers, for example, to communication in raising concerns or seeking help. We recognise that these factors can vary at different points in people’s lives.
2.5 Legal Framework: From the Heart recognises that there is a legal framework within which holistic health and energy healing practices need to work to safeguard adults who have needs for care and support and for protecting those who are unable to take action to protect themselves and will act in accordance with the relevant safeguarding adult legislation and with local statutory safeguarding procedures.
2.6 Actions: Actions taken by From the Heart will be consistent with the principles of adult safeguarding ensuring that any action taken is prompt, proportionate and that it includes and respects the voice of the adult concerned.
3. Core Safeguarding Principles
3.1 Six Principles of Adult Safeguarding: From the Heart operates strictly in accordance with the six statutory principles of the Care Act 2014:
Empowerment: Supporting individuals to make their own decisions with informed consent.
Prevention: Taking action before harm occurs.
Proportionality: Ensuring the least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
Protection: Offering support and representation to those in greatest need.
Partnership: Working collaboratively with local services when necessary.
Accountability: Remaining transparent and responsible in safeguarding practices.
3.2 Equal Protection: All adults have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
3.3 Heightened Vigilance in Remote Settings: Remote practice requires enhanced attention regarding online safety, identity verification, emotional vulnerability during distance sessions, and the privacy boundaries of the client's immediate digital and physical environment.
4. Remote Practice & Safeguarding Guidelines
4.1 Online Services: Because From the Heart’s services are delivered entirely online, via video call, email or over the telephone, specific protocols are in place to ensure a safe environment:
Consent and Mental Capacity: Adults are presumed to have the capacity to consent to their own healing sessions unless it is established otherwise. If it becomes apparent during a remote session that a client lacks the mental capacity to consent to the service or make decisions regarding their own safety, the practitioner will act in the individual's best interests in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Environment Verification: At the start of video or telephone sessions, the practitioner will subtly confirm that the client is in a private, safe space where they cannot be overheard, ensuring their confidentiality and emotional safety are maintained.
Digital Boundaries: All digital communications, including emails and distance healing reports, will be transmitted using secure, password-protected systems to maintain client privacy and prevent unauthorised data access.
4.2 Digital Boundaries and Visual Safety:
Both the practitioner and the client (including anyone else present in the room) must be fully and appropriately dressed for the duration of the call.
Sessions will be held against a neutral background. No visual screenshots, audio recordings, or electronic recordings of the live call will be taken by either party.
4.3 Right to Terminate: The client or practitioner can stop a live video or telephone session at any time if anyone feels uncomfortable.
5. Recognising Abuse and Neglect
5.1 Vigilance: The practitioner remains vigilant to indicators of abuse, neglect, or self-harm during remote sessions, including but not limited to:
1. Physical Abuse: Including hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, or inappropriate physical restraint.
2.Sexual Abuse: Including rape, non-consensual sexual acts, sexual harassment, or exploitation.
3. Psychological/Emotional Abuse: Including threats of harm, humiliation, coercion, isolation, and Cyber/Digital Abuse (such as online scams, cyberbullying, and digital safety violations).
4. Financial or Material Abuse: Including theft, fraud, internet scamming, or coercion regarding money, property, or assets.
5. Neglect and Acts of Omission: Including failing to provide access to medical care, essential health or support services, or withholding the basic necessities of life.
6. Self-Neglect: Including a wide range of behaviours threatening the individual’s own health and safety, including hoarding.
7. Domestic Abuse: Including coercive control, psychological, physical, sexual, or financial abuse occurring within a home or family environment.
8. Modern Slavery: Encompassing human trafficking, forced labour, and domestic servitude.
9. Discriminatory Abuse: Forms of harassment, slurs, or unfair treatment based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age, or religion.
10. Organisational Abuse: Relating to poor care practices, rigid regimes, or a culture of neglect within a structure providing care (such as a hospital, care home, or care agency).
6. Confidentiality and Sharing Information
6.1 General Principle: Information shared by clients during energy healing sessions is strictly confidential and managed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018.
6.2 Overriding Confidentiality: Confidentiality is a duty, not an absolute right. The practitioner has a legal and ethical obligation to share information with relevant authorities (such as Local Authority Adult Social Care or the Police) without the client's consent if:
There is a clear risk of serious harm to the client or to others.
A crime is being committed, or there is a statutory requirement to disclose.
The client lacks the mental capacity to consent, and sharing the information is in their vital best interests.
If From the Heart requires neutral external advice before making a formal local authority referral, they will contact the Ann Craft Trust Advice Service (ann-craft-trust@nottingham.ac.uk, 0115 951 5400) or the local statutory Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) directly, via the Ann Craft Trust Safeguarding Adults Board Directory.
6.3 Making Safeguarding Personal: In line with UK statutory guidance, From the Heart commits to 'Making Safeguarding Personal'. This means that wherever possible, the practitioner will discuss safeguarding concerns with the adult, seek their view on what they want to happen next, and involve them closely in any decision-making process, unless doing so would place them or others at immediate, increased risk of harm.
7. Reporting and Actions
7.1 Reporting & Response Procedure: If a safeguarding concern is identified or an adult makes a disclosure during a remote session, the practitioner will follow these immediate steps:
1. Ensure Immediate Safety: If the adult is in immediate physical danger the practitioner will contact emergency services in the UK or internationally directly.
2. Listen and Document: The practitioner will listen calmly without judgement, providing a supportive space. The practitioner will write clear, factual, dated notes using the client’s own words where possible.
3. Determine Consent: The practitioner will ask the client what they would like to happen next. If they refuse consent to escalate the issue, the practitioner will respect this choice unless an exemption under Section 6.2 applies. The practitioner will contact the Ann Craft Trust Advice Service for guidance if required, without sharing any information that discloses the client’s identity.
4. Escalate to Statutory Services: If a referral threshold is met, the practitioner will directly contact the relevant UK Local Authority Adult Social Care team, via the Government’s Find Your Local Council tool. For international clients, we will contact emergency services in their country.
5. Document: The practitioner will document the concern and their actions fully, The practitioner will date this information and immediately save it in secure, password-protected digital file. They will log the date, time, what was disclosed/observed, their immediate assessment, who they spoke to at the local authority and the Ann Craft Trust Advice Service if contacted, and any reference numbers provided. These notes will be securely and confidentially in line with GDPR requirements (separately from any session notes).
7.2 Information Sharing: From the Heart understands that an adult may not always want information to be shared. This may be because they fear repercussions from the person causing harm or are scared that they will lose control of their situation to statutory bodies or because they feel stupid or embarrassed. From the Heart recognises that their wishes should be respected unless there are overriding reasons for sharing information.
The circumstances when we need to share information without the adult’s consent include those where:
It is not safe to contact the adult to gain their consent – i.e. it might put them or the person making contact at further risk.
We believe they or someone else is at risk, including children.
We believe the adult is being coerced or is under duress.
It is necessary to contact the police to prevent a crime, or to report that a serious crime has been committed.
The adult does not have mental capacity to consent to information being shared about them.
The person causing harm has care and support needs.
The concerns are about an adult at risk living in Wales or Northern Ireland (where there is a duty to report to the Local Authority).
When information is shared without the consent of the adult From the Heart recognises that this must be explained to them, when it is safe to do so, and any further actions should still fully include them.
If the practitioner is in doubt as to whether to share information, they will seek advice, for example by contacting the Local Authority and explaining the situation without giving personal details about the person at risk or the person causing harm.
From the Heart will record any decision to share or not to share information with an external person or organisation together with the reasons to share or not share information.
7.3 Visual Flowchart: At all times we will follow our Adult Safeguarding Visual Flowchart (Appendix 2).
8. Key Contact Details
8.1 UK Clients: The practitioner will use the following contact details to report an adult safeguarding concern if required:
Emergency Services: 999 (Immediate Danger)
Non-Emergency Police: 101
Local Authority Adult Social Care (Gloucestershire County Council):
Adult Social Care Helpdesk (Office Hours): 01452 426868
Emergency Duty Team (Out of Hours): 01452 614194
Other UK Boroughs: If the remote client resides in a different UK borough, the practitioner will locate and contact that client’s specific local authority safeguarding hub via the GOV.UK database. Once redirected to their local council website, the practitioner will search for ‘Report an Adult Safeguarding Concern’ to report their concern. Alternatively, the practitioner may use the Ann Craft Trust Nearest SAB Directory to find the exact website and emergency structure for any local board across the country.
8.2 International Clients: The practitioner will report any safeguarding concerns to the relevant emergency services.
9. Data Protection & Mandatory Deletion Rules (UK GDPR)
9.1 Secure Storage: All intake details, emergency contacts, intuitive observations, and session summaries are strictly confidential and stored securely within an encrypted, password-protected environment, via Kiku, our GDPR-compliant practice management software.
9.2 Insurance Mandated Retention: In strict compliance with From the Heart’s professional indemnity insurer (BGi.uk) and the UK Limitation Act 1980, all records for adults must be safely archived for 10 years following their last session.
9.3 Right to Erasure Limits: Because these retention periods are a binding insurance requirement to protect against long-tail professional liability claims, session records cannot be deleted or erased prior to the expiration of these mandatory timelines.
10. Professional Standards
10.1 DBS Clearance: Emma Randell, practising professionally as Emma Hunt, maintains an up-to-date Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check.
10.2 Training: Emma Randell updates her adult safeguarding training regularly to stay compliant with UK best practices and professional expectations. Emma Randell has completed the following course and refreshes it every two years:
An Introduction to Safeguarding Adults (Ann Craft Trust, 2026).
11. Whistleblowing and Allegations
11.1 Concerns about From the Heart: If an adult client or another professional has a concern about the practitioner or From the Heart’s practice:
Non-safeguarding related concerns can be raised directly with the practitioner, or through From the Heart’s complaints procedure, outlined in our Complaints Policy.
Any safeguarding allegation or concern raised suggesting that the practitioner has harmed an adult at risk, or behaved in a way that indicates they are unsuitable to work with adults at risk, cannot be investigated internally. This also applies if the practitioner needs to self-report a complex boundary issue for independent evaluation. In either of these cases, the concern must be directed immediately to statutory external bodies:
Safeguarding concerns or any allegation that the practitioner has harmed an adult at risk, or behaved in a way that indicates they are unsuitable to work with adults at risk, cannot be investigated internally. This also applies if the practitioner needs to self-report a complex boundary issue for independent evaluation. In either of these cases, the concern must be directed immediately to statutory external bodies: To the adult’s Local Authority Adult Safeguarding Team or to to the police (999 in an emergency) if a crime may have happened.
11.2 Independent Advisory Support: To ensure absolute transparency and strict compliance with UK safeguarding legislation, the practitioner or the person raising the concern can contact the Ann Craft Trust Advice Service (0115 951 5400 or ann-craft-trust@nottingham.ac.uk) for independent, neutral guidance on how the allegation should be formally managed and routed.
11.3 Concerns about another Professional or Organisation: If the practitioner ever has concerns about another professional or organisation, they will raise them with the Local Authority Adult Safeguarding Team in their area, and/or seek advice from the Ann Craft Trust (0115 951 5400 or ann-craft-trust@nottingham.ac.uk).
12. Medical Care
12.1 Medical Care: Sessions do not replace medical or mental health care. The practitioner will advise parents to contact their GP where needed.
13. Accountability, Roles, and Policy Review
13.1 Designated Lead: The founder and principal practitioner of From the Heart, Emma Randell (practising professionally as Emma Hunt), holds ultimate responsibility for safeguarding governance, secure record retention, and statutory referrals.
13.2 Policy Review: This policy will be proactively reviewed annually to ensure alignment with any updates to UK safeguarding legislation, local authority guidelines, and remote digital safety best practices.
Date of Last Review: 2 October 2026
Date of Next Review: 1 October 2027
Signed: Emma Randell [Signed Electronically]
Role: Practitioner & Designated Safeguarding Lead, From the Heart Energy Healing
Date: 2 October 2026
Appendices:
Appendix 1: Ann Craft Trust Directory of Organisations and Useful Contacts
Appendix 2: Adult Safeguarding Visual Flowchart [PDF]
Related Documents: