Becoming the Mother – Safeguarding Policy
Version 1.0 · October 2026
1. Purpose and scope
This policy sets out how Becoming the Mother keeps mothers, children and staff safe from harm in every setting where Rebecca Barnes works.
It applies to all work delivered by Becoming the Mother, including:
• Mother Circles, workshops and one-to-one sessions
• Embodied Processing and Conscious Connected Breathwork
• The Grief Space for Mothers retreats
• Work in residential family centres, family hubs and supervised contact settings
• Staff training and workforce wellbeing sessions for employers, charities and social care teams
• Sessions and retreats in hotels, spas, gyms and other venues
• Online sessions
It covers adults (including adults at risk), children who may be present or referred to, and any staff or volunteers working alongside Becoming the Mother.
2. Policy statement and principles
Becoming the Mother believes everyone has the right to be safe from abuse, neglect and exploitation, and that safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
This policy is guided by:
• The Care Act 2014 and its six safeguarding principles: empowerment, prevention, proportionality, protection, partnership and accountability
• The Children Act 1989 and 2004, and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023
• The Domestic Abuse Act 2021
• UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018
All work is trauma-informed. That means:
• Safety, choice and consent come first in every session
• Mothers decide what they share, and can step out of any practice at any time
• No one is pushed to disclose or relive difficult experiences
• Concerns are handled calmly, respectfully and without judgement
Becoming the Mother provides non-clinical wellbeing support. It does not diagnose or treat, and it works alongside medical, mental health and statutory services, never instead of them.
3. Roles and responsibilities
Rebecca Barnes, Founder, is the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Becoming the Mother.
As DSL, Rebecca will:
• Make sure this policy is followed in all work
• Respond to any safeguarding concern promptly and record it accurately
• Make referrals to the right services when needed
• Keep her own safeguarding training and DBS check up to date
• Review this policy every year
Working within host organisations. When working in another organisation's setting (for example a residential family centre, charity, hotel, gym or employer), Rebecca will:
• Ask for the organisation's safeguarding policy and the name of its safeguarding lead before work begins
• Follow that organisation's procedures alongside this policy
• Report any concern to the host's safeguarding lead without delay, unless doing so would put someone at greater risk
Where a mother is already supported by a social worker, key worker or health professional, Rebecca will work in partnership with them, within the limits of confidentiality set out in section 7.
4. Recognising concerns
A safeguarding concern can arise from something a person says, something seen or heard, or a change in someone's behaviour.
Concerns may include:
• Risk to a mother's own safety: thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or signs of serious perinatal mental illness such as postpartum psychosis
• Domestic abuse: physical, emotional, sexual, financial or coercive control
• Abuse or neglect of a child: physical, emotional or sexual abuse, or neglect
• Abuse of an adult at risk: including exploitation, modern slavery, self-neglect or financial abuse
• Discriminatory, institutional or organisational abuse
Because much of this work involves trauma, grief and big emotions, distress in a session is normal and is not in itself a safeguarding concern. The question Rebecca asks is: is anyone at risk of significant harm?
5. Responding to a disclosure or concern
If someone shares something worrying, Rebecca will stay calm, listen and make sure they feel heard.
Do:
• Listen without interrupting, and take what is said seriously
• Reassure them they were right to share it
• Ask only open, gentle questions to understand any immediate risk, such as "Are you safe right now?"
• Explain honestly what will happen next, and who may need to be told
• Write down what was said as soon as possible, in the person's own words
Don't:
• Promise to keep it a secret
• Investigate, question in detail or ask leading questions
• Confront anyone who may be causing harm
• Delay acting if someone is at immediate risk
In a group setting, Rebecca will gently pause the conversation and offer to talk privately, so the person is protected and the group is not exposed to details.
6. Reporting and referral
The level of risk decides how quickly Rebecca acts and who she contacts.
1. Immediate danger to life: call 999 straight away. For a mental health crisis without immediate danger, contact NHS 111 (option 2 for mental health) or the person's GP or perinatal mental health team.
2. Working in a host organisation: tell the host's safeguarding lead the same day, and agree who will make any referral.
3. A child at risk of significant harm: refer to the local authority children's services where the child lives, the same day.
4. An adult at risk of abuse or neglect: refer to the local authority adult services where the adult lives, the same day.
5. Domestic abuse: share information about the National Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) and local services. Where there is a risk of serious harm, or a child is affected, refer as in steps 3 and 4.
6. Less urgent concerns: discuss with the person where safe to do so, signpost to support, record the concern and review it.
Where it is safe and appropriate, Rebecca will tell the person she is making a referral and why. She will not do this if it could increase the risk to them or to a child.
If Rebecca is unsure whether a referral is needed, she will seek advice from the local authority's safeguarding team or the host organisation's safeguarding lead.
7. Recording, confidentiality and information sharing
What mothers share in sessions is kept confidential, except where someone is at risk of significant harm.
Confidentiality. At the start of every group or one-to-one, Rebecca explains the limits of confidentiality in plain words: what is shared stays private unless she is worried someone is at risk of serious harm, in which case she may need to tell someone who can help.
Recording a concern. Rebecca will record:
• The date, time and setting
• What was said or seen, in the person's own words where possible
• Any action taken, who was contacted, and when
• The outcome and any follow-up
Records are factual, signed and dated, and kept separate from general session notes.
Storage. Records are stored securely: password-protected digital files or a locked cabinet. They are kept only as long as needed and in line with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.
Sharing information. Information is shared only with people who need it to keep someone safe, and only what is necessary. Consent is sought where safe to do so, but it is not required where a child or adult is at risk of significant harm.
8. Safe practice
Rebecca follows these practices so every session is as safe as possible.
• DBS check: Rebecca holds a current Basic DBS check, and an Enhanced DBS check has been applied for. Once issued, it will be renewed regularly or kept current through the DBS Update Service.
• Insurance: Professional Indemnity and Public Liability insurance is held and kept up to date.
• Breathwork screening: everyone completes a health screening form before Conscious Connected Breathwork. People with relevant conditions (for example pregnancy, epilepsy, heart conditions, recent surgery or a history of psychosis) are offered gentler, regulating breathwork instead, or advised to check with their GP first.
• Consent and choice: all practices are invitational. People can opt out, adapt or stop at any time.
• Professional boundaries: Rebecca does not form personal relationships with people she supports in a professional role, and does not accept significant gifts.
• Children in sessions: where children or babies are present, their care stays the responsibility of their parent or the host setting's staff, unless agreed otherwise in writing.
• Lone working: when working alone, Rebecca lets a trusted person know where she is and when she expects to finish.
• Online sessions: Rebecca uses secure, private links, asks participants to join from a safe and private space, and agrees what to do if a connection drops during a difficult moment.
9. Training, supervision and review
Rebecca keeps her safeguarding knowledge current through regular training and reflective support.
• Safeguarding adults and children training, most recently completed within the last year and refreshed at least every three years
• Trauma-informed practice through the Seasons of Matrescence™ and Embodied Processing certifications
• Regular reflective supervision to support safe practice and her own wellbeing
This policy is reviewed every year, and sooner if the law, guidance or the nature of the work changes.
Next review due: October 2027
10. Key contacts
Refer to the local authority where the child or adult lives. For work outside Southampton and Hampshire, look up that area's contacts before the session.
• Designated Safeguarding Lead: Rebecca Barnes, 07402 170407, rebecca@becomingthemother.com
• Emergency (immediate danger): 999
• Police (non-emergency): 101
• NHS mental health crisis: 111, option 2
• Southampton children (Children's Resource Service): professionals 023 8083 2300; out of hours 023 8023 3344
• Southampton adults: 023 8083 3003
• Hampshire children (Children's Services): 0300 555 1384; out of hours 0300 555 1373
• Hampshire adults: 0300 555 1386; out of hours 0300 555 1373
• National Domestic Abuse Helpline (24 hours): 0808 2000 247
Out of hours, or if unsure which service to call, contact the police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.
Signed: Rebecca Barnes, Founder and Designated Safeguarding Lead (signed electronically)
Date adopted: October 2026