Safeguarding Policy

Policy owner: Luke Webb Coaching
Policy version: 1.0
Date of publication: 01/01/2026
Next review date: 01/01/2027

1. Introduction

I, Luke Webb am committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults who engage with my coaching services.

I work with parents, professionals and young people in the UK. I recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and that everyone has the right to feel safe, respected and supported.

This policy explains my commitment to safeguarding, the standards I expect in our coaching relationships, and how I will respond to safeguarding concerns.

My approach is informed by relevant UK safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, professional standards and good practice. I will review this policy regularly to ensure that it remains appropriate for our work.

2. Scope of this policy

This policy applies to Luke Webb Coaching and all coaching, mentoring, consultation and related professional services provided by the business.

For the purposes of this policy:

Children and young people means anyone under the age of 18.
Adults means people aged 18 and over.
Adults at risk means adults who may have care and support needs, are experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect, and may be unable to protect themselves because of those needs.
Clients means parents, professionals, young people and adults who receive coaching or related services.
Coaching includes one-to-one sessions, group sessions, online coaching, mentoring and other professional interactions.

This policy applies whether coaching takes place in person, online, by telephone or through other forms of communication.

3. My safeguarding commitments

Luke Webb Coaching will:

Put the safety, welfare and best interests of children, young people and adults at risk at the centre of his practice.
Treat all clients with dignity, respect and fairness.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries in all coaching relationships.
Take safeguarding concerns seriously and respond to them promptly and appropriately.
Maintain appropriate confidentiality while recognising that safeguarding concerns may need to be shared.
Work within the limits of my professional competence.
Signpost or refer clients to appropriate services when their needs fall outside the scope of coaching/teaching.
Maintain appropriate records of safeguarding concerns and actions taken.
Keep my safeguarding knowledge and practice up to date.
Promote an inclusive coaching environment free from discrimination, harassment and abuse.

4. Working with clients

4.1 Initial agreement

Before coaching/sessions begin, Luke Webb Coaching will explain the nature, purpose and boundaries of the coaching/support relationship.

Clients will be informed about:

The purpose and format of the sessions.
The expected duration and frequency of sessions.
The respective responsibilities of the coach and client.
Confidentiality and its limitations.
How safeguarding concerns will be handled.
How to raise a complaint or concern about the coaching service.

Where a young person is receiving coaching, appropriate arrangements will be made with their parent or guardian, taking account of the young person’s age, understanding, wishes and best interests.

Where coaching is arranged through a parent, school, employer or other organisation, the responsibilities of the relevant parties will be agreed in advance.

4.2 Professional boundaries

Luke Webb Coaching will maintain clear and appropriate professional boundaries with all clients.

This includes:

Communicating through agreed professional channels.
Maintaining appropriate boundaries around contact outside sessions.
Avoiding inappropriate physical, emotional or financial relationships.
Not engaging in romantic or sexual relationships with current clients.
Not exploiting a client’s trust, personal information or vulnerability.
Ensuring that online and in-person coaching environments are appropriate and safe.

Where a coaching relationship becomes inappropriate, unsafe or creates a conflict of interest, Luke Webb Coaching will take appropriate action, which may include ending or referring the working relationship.

4.3 Equality, diversity and inclusion

Luke Webb Coaching is committed to treating clients fairly and respectfully.

I will not knowingly discriminate against anyone on the basis of protected characteristics or other personal circumstances.

I will seek to understand individual needs and make reasonable adjustments where appropriate.

5. Confidentiality and information sharing

Luke Webb Coaching will respect the privacy and confidentiality of clients.

Information shared during coaching will normally remain confidential, subject to applicable law and the terms agreed at the start of the coaching relationship.

However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where:

A child or young person may be at risk of abuse or neglect.
An adult at risk may be experiencing abuse or neglect.
There is a serious concern about a person’s safety or the safety of others.
Disclosure is required by law.
Information needs to be shared to prevent serious harm.

Where possible and appropriate, I will explain to the client what information may need to be shared and why.

When working with young people, I will make appropriate arrangements with parents, guardians or other relevant professionals to support the young person’s welfare while respecting their privacy and developing independence.

I will only share information that is relevant, proportionate and necessary for safeguarding purposes.

All personal information and records will be stored and managed securely in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.

6. Recognising safeguarding concerns

Safeguarding concerns may include, but are not limited to:

Physical abuse.
Emotional or psychological abuse.
Sexual abuse.
Neglect.
Domestic abuse.
Financial abuse.
Discriminatory abuse.
Organisational or institutional abuse.
Online abuse and exploitation.
Grooming.
Bullying.
Self-neglect.
Concerns about a person’s immediate safety or risk of serious harm.

A safeguarding concern may arise from something a client says, something I observe, information shared by a parent or professional, or information received from another person.

I do not need proof of abuse or neglect before taking a concern seriously.

7. Responding to a safeguarding concern

If a safeguarding concern is raised or identified, Luke Webb Coaching will:

Listen calmly and take the concern seriously.
Allow the person to explain what has happened in their own words.
Avoid leading questions or making promises about confidentiality.
Record the relevant facts as soon as possible.
Consider whether there is an immediate risk of harm.
Contact the appropriate safeguarding service linked to the referrer or emergency service where necessary.
Share information with the appropriate parent, guardian or professional/referrer where this is safe and appropriate.
Seek advice from the relevant safeguarding authority/ Referrer where required.
Keep a record of the action taken and any follow-up required.

We will not attempt to investigate abuse ourselves or confront an alleged perpetrator where doing so could increase risk or interfere with a formal investigation.

7.1 Immediate danger

If someone is in immediate danger, the priority is to obtain urgent help.

In the UK, call 999 if there is an immediate threat to life or serious harm.

For non-emergency safeguarding concerns, Luke Webb Coaching will contact the relevant local authority safeguarding service or other appropriate professional service.

8. Safeguarding children and young people

Luke Webb Coaching recognises that children and young people require particular care and protection.

When working with anyone under 18, Luke Webb Coaching will:

Obtain appropriate parental or guardian consent before coaching begins.
Agree suitable arrangements for communication and sessions.
Consider the young person’s age, maturity, understanding and individual circumstances.
Maintain appropriate boundaries in person and online.
Avoid unnecessary one-to-one communication outside agreed coaching arrangements.
Ensure that parents or guardians understand the coaching arrangements and relevant safeguarding procedures.
Take concerns about abuse, neglect, exploitation or serious harm seriously.
Refer concerns to the appropriate safeguarding service where necessary.

I will seek to involve the young person in decisions affecting them in a way that is appropriate to their age and understanding.

Where a parent or guardian is the subject of a safeguarding concern, we will not automatically share information with them if doing so could place the young person or another person at greater risk.

9. Safeguarding adults

Luke Webb Coaching recognises that adults may also experience abuse, neglect or exploitation.

When working with adults, I will:

Respect their dignity, autonomy and right to make decisions.
Support clients to understand their choices and rights.
Take concerns about abuse or neglect seriously.
Consider whether an adult may have care and support needs that affect their ability to protect themselves.
Seek appropriate safeguarding advice where concerns arise.
Share information when necessary to protect someone from serious harm or where required by law.

Where an adult is able to make their own decisions, I will respect their wishes wherever possible, while recognising that there may be circumstances where information must be shared to protect them or others.

10. Online coaching

Where coaching takes place online, Luke Webb Coaching will take reasonable steps to maintain a safe and professional environment.

This includes:

Using agreed communication platforms. (Google Meet preferred)
Maintaining professional boundaries in digital communication.
Avoiding unnecessary sharing of personal contact information.
Considering privacy and confidentiality when sessions take place.
Taking concerns about online abuse, exploitation or inappropriate communication seriously.
Ensuring that arrangements for young people are appropriate and agreed with their parent or guardian.

11. Professional competence and referral

Luke Webb Coaching recognises that coaching is not a substitute for specialist safeguarding, medical, psychological, therapeutic or social care services.

I will work within the limits of my training, experience and professional competence.

Where a client’s needs fall outside the scope of coaching, we may recommend or signpost appropriate support, such as:

A GP or other healthcare professional.
A qualified mental health professional.
Children’s social care.
Adult social care.
A school or safeguarding lead.
A specialist support organisation.
Emergency services where appropriate.

I will not knowingly continue a coaching arrangement where doing so would be unsafe or inappropriate for the client.

12. Records and data protection

Luke Webb Coaching will maintain appropriate records of safeguarding concerns, decisions and actions taken.

Records will be:

Accurate and factual.
Stored securely.
Accessed only by authorised people.
Retained in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.
Shared only where there is a lawful and appropriate reason.

Safeguarding records will be kept separately from general coaching notes where appropriate.

13. Policy review

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, guidance, professional practice or the services provided by Luke Webb Coaching.

15. Useful safeguarding contacts

Emergency services: 999

Police non-emergency: 101

NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000

Childline: 0800 1111

Local authority children’s social care: Contact the local authority where the child lives.

Local authority adult social care: Contact the local authority where the adult lives.

For further information and guidance, visit the relevant official safeguarding services for your area.

This policy is intended to support safe and professional coaching practice. It is not a substitute for legal advice or the safeguarding procedures of a school, employer, local authority or other organisation. This Policy will be adhered to by Luke Webb and those who are employed by Luke Webb Coaching.