Download safeguarding, Child Protection & Crisis Policy (Click here)

This policy outlines how safeguarding, child protection, and crisis situations are managed by Leah, in line with Play Therapy UK (PTUK) ethical standards and the school’s safeguarding policy.

Leah will follow the school’s safeguarding policy of which the agreed play therapy is taking place and report all concerns immediately to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). Confidentiality is maintained wherever possible but will be broken if there is a risk of harm to the child or others.

Any safeguarding disclosure will be discussed with Leah’s clinical supervisor, in addition to following school reporting procedures.

LivetoPlay does not provide out-of-hours or emergency crisis support.

Download Professional Standards Policy (Click here)

The purpose of this policy is to set out the professional standards, ethical responsibilities and boundaries that apply to my practice as a PTUK-registered Play Therapist, self-employed practitioner and business owner of LivetoPlay, providing play therapy within UK schools.

The policy aims to ensure that LivetoPlay:

• Remains child-centred, ethical and professionally accountable.

• Is consistent with PTUK requirements and ethical principles.

• Is undertaken within my professional competence and scope of practice.

• Maintains appropriate professional boundaries with children, families, schools and members of the public.

• Promotes the safety, dignity, rights and wellbeing of children.

• Maintains confidentiality and appropriate information governance.

• Provides clear expectations regarding communication and contact.

• Ensures appropriate professional conduct when using social media and other public platforms.

• Supports continuing professional development, supervision and reflective practice.

• Separates professional responsibilities from personal relationships and activities.

• Supports safe and effective management of my self-employed business.

Download Practice Data Protection and Retention Policy (Click here)

I am committed to protecting the privacy, confidentiality and personal information of every child, young person, parent/carer, family and professional involved in play therapy.

As a school-based PTUK Play Therapist, I receive and process information about children and families that may be personal, sensitive and highly private. I recognise the trust placed in me when this information is shared and will treat it with care, respect and confidentiality.

This policy explains:

• What information I collect

• Why I collect it

• How I store and protect it

• Who I may share it with

• When confidentiality may need to be broken

• How long information is kept

• What happens to records when therapy ends

• How parents and children can exercise their information rights

• What happens if information is accidentally lost or disclosed; and how data protection responsibilities are shared between LivetoPlay and the school.

Download Health and Safety Policy (Click here)

This policy sets out the arrangements used to identify, assess and manage health, safety and clinical risks associated with providing play therapy within UK primary schools.

I am committed to providing a safe, appropriate and professionally managed therapeutic environment for everyone involved.

The policy covers:

• Risk assessment and management

• Therapist competence and scope of practice

• Lone working

• Suitability of the therapy room

• Safe storage and use of therapeutic resources

• First aid

• Infection prevention and control

• Fire and emergency evacuation

• Accidents, incidents and interruptions to therapy

• Safeguarding and complex presentations

• Communication and responsibilities between Leah and school

Leah works in accordance with relevant legislation and statutory guidance, PTUK ethical and professional requirements, and the individual school's health and safety, safeguarding and emergency procedures.

Download Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Policy (Click here)

As a PTUK-registered Play Therapist, I am committed to ensuring that every child and family accessing my service is treated with dignity, respect, fairness and compassion, regardless of their individual circumstances, identity, background or beliefs.

I recognise that children and families are individuals and that their experiences, culture, identity, family structure, communication needs, religion, disability and other characteristics may influence how they experience therapy.

I will seek to provide an inclusive therapeutic environment in which children feel accepted, heard and valued. I will not discriminate unfairly and will take reasonable and proportionate steps to reduce barriers to accessing and participating in play therapy.

This policy applies to my clinical practice, communication with children and families, relationships with schools and professionals, business activities, marketing, social media, supervision, CPD and professional decision-making.

Download Clinical Governance and Supervision Policy (Click here)

This policy sets out the arrangements I have in place to maintain safe, ethical, competent and high-quality play therapy practice as a PTUK-registered Play Therapist working independently within primary schools.

As a self-employed practitioner and business owner, I recognise that I have responsibility for maintaining my own professional standards, competence, governance arrangements and regulatory compliance.

I will work within my professional competence, training and experience and will seek supervision, training, consultation or referral on where a child's needs fall outside my competence.

Download Lone Working Policy (Click here)

This policy sets out the arrangements and safeguards for the safe delivery of Play Therapy where the Leah is working alone with a child on school premises.

The policy is intended to protect the Play Therapist, children and school staff and to support safe, professional practice.

Leah will take all reasonable and practicable steps to minimise risks associated with lone working and will comply with the school's agreed procedures while on school premises. The school retains responsibility for the overall safety and security of its premises, pupils and staff, including its emergency, safeguarding, fire and first-aid arrangements.

Download complaints policy (Click here)

Leah is committed to providing a safe, honest, respectful and ethical professional service to children, parents/carers, schools and other professionals.

Leah recognises that individuals may occasionally have concerns about the service provided, a decision made, communication, professional conduct or the therapeutic process.

Leah welcomes appropriate feedback and will seek to resolve concerns fairly, respectfully, promptly and transparently.

This policy explains:

• What constitutes a complaint.

• The difference between informal and formal complaints.

• How a complaint can be made.

• Who should be contacted.

• What information should be provided.

• How Leah will respond to a complaint.

• The role of clinical supervision.

• Confidentiality.

• Safeguarding concerns.

• Escalation to PTUK.

• The role of PTUK as the professional membership and register body.

• How complaints may ultimately affect professional registration.

This policy applies to complaints relating to Leah’s professional practice as a PTUK-registered Play Therapist.

Download Privacy Notice (Click Here)

As a Play Therapist registered with PTUK, I operate within UK schools to provide therapeutic services to children. To deliver these services safely, effectively, and professionally, I must collect, process, and retain personal data and special category data.

As the owner and practitioner of LivetoPlay, I am responsible for ensuring that personal information processed by the practice is handled lawfully, securely and appropriately.

I understand the significant trust placed in me as a practitioner who receives vulnerable and highly personal information about children and families.

I will therefore:

• Respect confidentiality;

• Collect only information that is relevant and necessary;

• Keep information accurate;

• Protect information from inappropriate access;

• Use secure systems wherever possible;

• Only share information when there is a lawful and appropriate reason;

• Keep records for an appropriate period;

• Securely dispose of information when it is no longer required;

• Respond appropriately to requests for information; and

• Continuously review my data protection practice.

This Privacy notice which explores how I collect, uses, stores and protects personal data. This notice should be read alongside PTUK’s Data Protection Policy and LivetoPlay’s Practice Data Protection and Retention Policy.