Rhodes to Wellness Coaching
Last updated: September 2026
Rhodes to Wellness Coaching is committed to providing a safe, respectful and supportive environment for everyone who participates in our coaching services or educational programmes.
Safeguarding means taking reasonable steps to protect children, young people and adults who may be at risk of harm, abuse, exploitation, neglect or other circumstances that may compromise their safety or wellbeing.
Safeguarding is a shared responsibility. I take concerns seriously and will respond to them thoughtfully, respectfully and in accordance with applicable legislation, professional responsibilities and the requirements of the organisations with which I am accredited or affiliated.
This policy applies to:
This policy applies to both online and in-person services.
I aim to create an environment where people are treated with dignity, respect and compassion.
This includes:
Participants are never required to disclose personal trauma or sensitive personal information as part of coaching or course participation.
A safeguarding concern may arise when there is reason to believe that a person may be experiencing, or be at risk of experiencing:
A concern may arise through something a person says, something that is observed, or information shared by another person.
A safeguarding concern does not require proof of abuse or harm. Where a genuine concern exists, it should be taken seriously and appropriately assessed.
If a client or student shares information that raises a safeguarding concern, I will aim to:
The person making the disclosure will not be expected to prove what has happened.
Confidentiality is an important part of creating a safe coaching and learning environment.
Information shared during coaching or course participation will generally be treated as confidential and will not be shared unnecessarily.
However, confidentiality cannot always be guaranteed where there is a serious concern about someone's safety or the safety of another person.
Information may need to be shared where:
Where possible and appropriate, I will explain to the individual what information may need to be shared and why.
During individual coaching sessions, clients may discuss difficult experiences, relationships, emotions or circumstances that are personally sensitive.
Coaching is not a substitute for emergency services, psychotherapy, medical care or crisis intervention.
If a coaching conversation raises a serious safeguarding concern, I may pause or redirect the session and take appropriate steps to support safety.
Where a client's needs fall outside my scope of practice, I may recommend that they seek support from an appropriately qualified healthcare, mental health or other professional.
The safety and welfare of both people and horses are important considerations during Equimotional Equine Wellbeing Sessions.
Participants will be provided with appropriate safety guidance and expectations before engaging with the horses.
I will take reasonable steps to ensure that activities are appropriate for the participant and the environment.
Participants are expected to follow safety instructions and communicate if they feel uncomfortable, unsafe or unable to continue an activity.
Horse welfare is also a safeguarding consideration. Activities will be conducted with respect for the horse's physical and emotional wellbeing, and activities may be stopped or modified when necessary.
The Equimotional Coaches Course includes education relating to vulnerability, emotional awareness, trauma-informed practice, boundaries, safeguarding and working with people in potentially vulnerable circumstances.
Students are expected to:
Students are not expected to act as therapists or crisis workers as a result of completing the course.
Where a student raises a safeguarding concern about themselves or another person during the course, I will respond in accordance with this policy and the requirements of the parent Training Provider and IPHM.
Rhodes to Wellness Coaching does not routinely provide services to children or young people unless appropriate arrangements, consent and safeguarding measures have been established in advance.
Where services involve anyone under the age of 18, additional safeguarding considerations and procedures will apply.
Where appropriate, parental or guardian consent will be obtained before services are provided to a minor.
Maintaining appropriate professional boundaries is an important part of safeguarding.
Rhodes to Wellness Coaching does not permit relationships with clients or students that could exploit, manipulate or otherwise compromise the professional relationship.
This includes maintaining appropriate boundaries around:
Any physical contact during an in-person or equine session will be appropriate to the activity and based on consent.
Where a safeguarding concern arises, relevant information may be documented.
Records will be factual, objective and limited to information that is reasonably necessary.
Safeguarding records will be stored securely and handled in accordance with the Rhodes to Wellness Coaching Privacy Policy and applicable privacy legislation.
If someone is in immediate danger or there is an urgent risk of serious harm, emergency services or the appropriate emergency authority may need to be contacted.
Rhodes to Wellness Coaching is not an emergency or crisis service.
In an emergency, individuals should contact their local emergency services or an appropriate crisis service rather than relying on coaching or course support.
Anyone who has a safeguarding concern relating to a Rhodes to Wellness Coaching service, student, client or participant is encouraged to raise the concern as soon as reasonably possible.
Concerns can be raised directly with:
Janet Rhodes
Rhodes to Wellness Coaching
rhodescoaching@gmail.com
Concerns will be treated seriously and handled as appropriately and confidentially as possible.
If a safeguarding concern or allegation relates directly to the owner or educator of Rhodes to Wellness Coaching, the concern should be raised with the appropriate external authority or, where applicable, the parent Training Provider or accrediting organization.
This ensures that concerns can be reviewed independently where appropriate.
This Safeguarding Policy will be reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to reflect changes in legislation, professional standards, IPHM requirements or the services provided by Rhodes to Wellness Coaching.
Policy owner: Janet Rhodes, Rhodes to Wellness Coaching
Review date: September 2027
If you have an immediate safety concern: call 911.
If the concern involves a child: In Saskatchewan contact the Ministry of Social Services for children off reserve. For children on reserve contact First Nations Child and Family Services.
If the concern involves an adult at risk: identify the appropriate Saskatchewan service/authority.