Clear, contemporaneous documentation

Safeguarding records that keep concerns, decisions and actions connected

Document what was observed or disclosed, what you considered, who was informed and what action followed—all linked to the relevant client record.

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Support careful professional decision-making

The BACP Ethical Framework places client wellbeing, confidentiality and protection from serious harm at the centre of practice. In exceptional circumstances, safeguarding a client or another person from serious harm may require information to be disclosed despite a client’s wishes.

PracticeKit helps document the process around a concern. It does not assess risk, recommend an intervention or replace consultation with a safeguarding lead, supervisor, employer or relevant authority.

No automated system decides whether a concern is present or what action to take. PracticeKit keeps the practitioner’s factual account, consultations, decisions and follow-up connected.

Concern details

Record the date and a factual account of what was observed, said or disclosed.

Fact and interpretation

Use structured notes to distinguish direct information from professional opinion or interpretation.

People informed

Record who was consulted or informed, when contact occurred and the purpose of the communication.

Actions and follow-up

Document decisions, actions taken, agreed next steps and subsequent developments.

Confidentiality has foreseeable limits

Clients should be informed in advance about foreseeable limits to confidentiality, including safeguarding responsibilities and disclosures required or authorised by law. When information is shared, the practitioner should consider what is necessary, proportionate and consistent with applicable law, policy and the client agreement.

Safeguarding responsibilities vary by client group, setting, nation, law and organisational policy. Always follow the procedures and escalation routes that apply to your work.

Maintain a useful chronology

A concern may develop across several contacts. Keeping disclosures, observations, consultations, decisions and actions in a chronological history can support continuity, supervision, accountability and any later review.

Records should remain factual, adequate and relevant. Avoid speculation, unnecessary sensitive detail or language that obscures whether something was witnessed, reported by another person or professionally inferred.

Professional sources

PracticeKit is an administrative record-keeping tool, not a safeguarding decision-support system or emergency service. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by BACP.

Keep the full concern history clear

Create a consistent record while retaining responsibility for every professional decision.

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