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Clinical Responsibility Policy

Effective Date: January 2024
Last Review Date: January 2026

1. Purpose

This policy outlines how clinical responsibility is defined, shared, and managed within Overcome to ensure safe, ethical, and effective delivery of services.

2. Service Context

Overcome is a mental health coaching service, not a formal clinical treatment service.

  • We support adults experiencing mild to moderate mental health difficulties
  • We do not assess, diagnose, or treat severe or complex mental health conditions
  • We do not provide crisis or emergency mental health services

All work is delivered within a clearly defined, low-risk scope.

3. Overall Responsibility

Overcome holds organisational and legal responsibility for the services provided.

  • Appropriate insurance is in place
  • Systems for supervision, safeguarding, and escalation are maintained
  • Senior management oversee service delivery and decision-making

4. Roles and Responsibilities

Coaches

Coaches are responsible for:

  • Working within their training and scope of practice
  • Delivering structured coaching sessions
  • Maintaining professional standards (e.g. confidentiality, reliability)
  • Monitoring client wellbeing within sessions
  • Promptly escalating any concerns or risks

Coaches are not expected to independently manage high-risk situations.

Clinical Supervisors

Clinical supervisors are expected to:

  • Provide guidance through group and individual supervision
  • Support case discussion and decision-making
  • Act as the Safeguarding Lead
  • Provide oversight of risk and client suitability

Senior Management

Senior management are expected to:

  • Respond to escalations and incidents
  • Ensure appropriate systems and policies are in place

5. Supervision Structure

  • Weekly group supervision (internal supervisor)
  • Monthly group supervision (external supervisor)
  • Additional one-to-one supervision available as needed

Supervision supports:

  • Clinical decision-making
  • Risk management
  • Professional development

6. Escalation and Decision-Making

Clinical responsibility is shared and collaborative.

  • Coaches must escalate concerns to a clinical supervisor and/or senior management
  • A 24/7 on-call system is available for urgent situations
  • In high-risk situations:
    • Managers and/or supervisors join sessions in real time
    • Decisions are made jointly
    • The coach remains supported throughout

7. Risk and Safeguarding

  • Clients are screened prior to entering the service
  • High-risk or complex cases are not accepted
  • A formal safeguarding protocol is in place

Where risk arises:

  • Coaches follow escalation procedures
  • Supervisors and management guide decision-making
  • Emergency services may be contacted where necessary

8. Scope of Practice

  • Coaching is informed by evidence-based approaches (CBT, ACT, MI)
  • Coaches do not deliver formal therapy or clinical interventions
  • Coaches do not diagnose mental health conditions

9. Monitoring and Review

Clinical responsibility is monitored through:

  • Ongoing supervision
  • Safeguarding oversight
  • Incident and escalation review
  • Outcome measures (e.g. PHQ-9, GAD-7)

This policy is reviewed annually or as required.