Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy
Purposeful Parenting with Liv
Policy owner: Olivia Gorton
Contact: livgortonparenting@gmail.com
Applies to: 1:1 parenting coaching
Last reviewed: September 2026
Next review: September 2027
1. Purpose and commitment
Purposeful Parenting with Liv is committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of children and to responding appropriately to concerns about abuse, neglect or other forms of harm. This policy sets out the approach I will take when a safeguarding concern arises during or in connection with parenting coaching.
This policy is informed by the Department for Education's Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026 statutory guidance and relevant safeguarding and information-sharing guidance for England.
A child means anyone under 18. Safeguarding includes protecting children from maltreatment, preventing impairment of their health or development, and ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with safe and effective care.
2. Scope
This policy applies to all 1:1 parenting coaching provided by Purposeful Parenting with Liv, including information shared during discovery calls, coaching sessions, follow-up communication and WhatsApp check-ins.
Coaching is provided online via Google Meet. Sessions are not recorded. No other person is routinely present on the call.
3. Safeguarding lead
As a sole-trader business, Liv Gorton is the person responsible for safeguarding decisions within Purposeful Parenting with Liv.
Where a concern relates to Liv herself, or where there is a conflict of interest that means she cannot respond impartially, the concern will be referred directly to the appropriate external safeguarding authority or emergency service as appropriate.
4. Principles
· The safety and best interests of the child will remain central to safeguarding decisions.
· I will listen carefully and take concerns seriously.
· I will not investigate allegations myself or attempt to establish proof.
· I will record concerns factually, distinguishing what was said or observed from my own interpretation.
· I will share information when this is necessary and lawful to protect a child.
· I will work openly with parents and carers wherever this is safe and appropriate, while recognising that there may be circumstances where information cannot be shared with them in advance.
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5. Recognising a safeguarding concern
A safeguarding concern may arise from something a parent or carer tells me, something I observe during a session, information shared in writing, or a pattern of information that causes me to be concerned about a child's safety or welfare.
Concerns may relate to abuse, neglect, domestic abuse, exploitation, online harm, or other circumstances in which a child may be at risk of harm. A concern does not need to be proven before it is acted upon.
6. Responding to a concern
If a safeguarding concern arises, I will:
· Listen calmly and allow the person to explain what has happened, without asking leading or investigative questions.
· Clarify only what is necessary to understand the immediate safeguarding issue.
· Consider whether the child is in immediate danger or may be at risk of significant harm.
· Make a factual written record as soon as reasonably possible, including the date, time, what was said or observed, the child or family involved where known, and the action taken.
· Seek appropriate safeguarding advice where needed, including from the NSPCC Helpline or the relevant local authority children's social care service.
· Share information with the appropriate safeguarding service or police where this is necessary to protect the child or required by law.
· Keep a record of decisions and actions taken.
I will not promise a parent, carer or child that information will remain confidential if I believe that sharing it is necessary to safeguard a child.
7. Immediate risk of harm
If I believe a child is in immediate danger or there is an immediate risk of serious harm, I will prioritise the child's immediate safety and contact the emergency services by calling 999.
Where appropriate, I may also contact the NSPCC Helpline on 0808 800 5000 for safeguarding advice. For concerns that are not an immediate emergency, I will consider contacting the relevant local authority children's social care service for the area where the child lives.
8. Information sharing
Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis and only where necessary for the relevant safeguarding purpose or where there is another lawful basis for sharing. Consent is not always required to share information for safeguarding purposes.
Where it is safe and appropriate, I will explain to the parent or carer what information I need to share, with whom and why. I may not do this where informing them could increase risk to a child, prejudice an investigation, or otherwise be inappropriate or unlawful.
9. Allegations or concerns about the coach
If a safeguarding concern or allegation is made about me, I will not investigate the concern myself. I will seek appropriate external advice and refer the matter to the relevant safeguarding authority or other appropriate body. Where a child is in immediate danger, the police or emergency services will be contacted.
10. Record keeping
Safeguarding records will be kept separately from routine coaching notes where appropriate and stored securely with restricted access.
Safeguarding records will be retained only for as long as necessary for the safeguarding, legal or regulatory purpose for which they are held. They may need to be retained for longer than routine coaching notes where necessary. The 12-month retention period for ordinary coaching notes therefore does not automatically apply to safeguarding records.
Records will be factual, objective and limited to information that is relevant to the safeguarding concern and the actions taken.
11. Confidentiality
Coaching conversations are normally confidential. However, confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where information indicates that a child may be at risk of harm, where information needs to be shared for safeguarding purposes, or where disclosure is required by law.
This policy should be read alongside the Parenting Coaching Agreement and Privacy Policy.
12. Professional boundaries and scope
Parenting coaching is not an emergency safeguarding service and is not a substitute for children's social care, medical care, mental health support, legal advice or other specialist services.
Where a concern falls outside the scope of parenting coaching, I will signpost the parent or carer to an appropriate professional or service.
13. Review
This policy will be reviewed at least annually and sooner if there are significant changes to safeguarding guidance, the services provided, or the way information is handled.
14. Useful safeguarding contacts
· Emergency / immediate danger: 999
· NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
· Local authority children's social care: contact the children's social care / children's services team for the local authority where the child lives.
· Non-emergency safeguarding advice: the NSPCC Helpline can advise practitioners and organisations working with children and families.