Affirming Autism conducts adult autism assessments only. During the information-gathering process, interviews, and analysis, it may be evident that you or someone connected with you has been at risk or is currently at risk.

All healthcare practitioners have a duty of care to their patients, as set out by common law.

As Health and Social Care Professionals, we are deeply committed to our legal duties regarding the reporting of safeguarding concerns, risks, or potentially other disclosures related to criminality. This commitment is a cornerstone of our practice and ensures your safety and well-being. 

The points below, detail the legislative background to our duties and the circumstances under which we may be required to inform outside agencies about our concerns. 

1. We will always act within the law. If we have a legal duty to safeguard you or others, we[NH1] [2]  will undertake to safeguard.
2. If we safeguard you or another person, we will complete accurate records of this and retain this information for as long as it is required by law. If we safeguard you or another person, we may or may not inform you of this. Our decision will be risk-based. We will keep accurate records of our decision-making. 
3. If we have safeguarding concerns or make safeguarding disclosures, we will share this information with the relevant agencies if required by legislation. 
4. We will only share your information with outside agencies with your express permission or if required to by law or as required by our professional codes of conduct. 

The information below details the legislation and guidance for safeguarding we will use to inform our decision-making. This list is not exhaustive and may be changed at any time.

• Prevention of Terrorism Act (1989) and Terrorism Act (2000). We must inform the police if we have information (including personal information or confidential patient information) that may assist them in preventing an act of terrorism or help in apprehending or prosecuting a terrorist
• The Road Traffic Act (1988). We must inform the police, when asked, for any information that might identify any driver who is alleged to have committed an offence under the Act
• The Female Genital Mutilation Act (2003). We must report to the police when it appears that a girl under the age of 18 has been subject to genital mutilation
• The Care Act (2014) provides guidance on Safeguarding
• The Children Act (1989) (2004) as amended
• HCPC code of conduct https://www.hcpc-uk.org/standards/meeting-our-standards/raising-concerns-openness-and-honesty/
• NMC Code of Conduct. https://www.nmc.org.uk/standards/code/