Safeguarding practitioners
Create a safe and professional environment by protecting practitioners, staff, and colleagues through strong policies, compliance, and accountability.
Safeguarding in aesthetics extends beyond patient care—it’s equally vital to protect practitioners, staff, and colleagues.
From implementing robust chaperoning practices to maintaining compliance with regulatory standards, safeguarding creates a safe and professional environment for everyone involved.
This chapter explores the measures practitioners can take to safeguard themselves against legal, reputational, and professional risks while promoting a culture of accountability and safety in their practices.
By prioritising strong policies, leadership, and the right insurance cover, aesthetic practitioners can protect their teams and provide the highest standards of care.
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Chaperoning isn’t just important for safeguarding patients; chaperones are essential in safeguarding both practitioners and patients during treatments involving intimate areas. Their presence reduces the risks of allegations and provides a support system for practitioners.
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Dr Lakhani comments, “In situations where there’s no chaperone, there's always a risk of a patient misinterpreting something. Plus, in rare cases, patients might make advances toward you.
It can happen, particularly with male patients, during intimate treatments. Having that extra layer of protection means you’re safeguarding yourself as much as your patient.”
Hamilton Fraser founder and CEO, Eddie Hooker, comments, “When you are on a one-to-one basis with a patient, and you are performing some of these intimate procedures, then there is always that opportunity for someone to end up making an unfounded or founded allegation against you.
This is the difficulty of these sorts of discussions: your word against theirs. That’s where your notes and your continual communication with them come in. Get them to confirm that your notes are accurate and sign them if possible.
Consider a chaperone or at least offer them the opportunity, especially if there is a need for the removal of clothing in those areas.”
While there’s yet to be a formal licensing scheme in place within aesthetics, menopause services and anything that is deemed “medical” can come under the scope of practice of the CQC.
Section 8(1) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 describes a regulated activity as “an activity involving, or connected with, the provision of health or social care”.
The activities listed in Schedule 1 of The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 are the regulated activities specified for the purposes of the Act.
Tracey Jones, a qualified nurse, clinic owner and founder of Inspire to Outstand, which has helped more than 500 clinics with CQC regulation matters, believes everyone offering menopause services and intimate health treatments should be CQC registered. She comments, “Services related to menopause or intimate health care fall under the scope of regulated medical activities. These treatments go beyond aesthetic enhancements and must be approached with the professionalism and oversight required of medical services.
“If you are performing intimate treatments, it is essential to have external oversight through CQC registration. Without it, there is no legal scrutiny of your practices, which leaves both the patient and the practitioner vulnerable.
“CQC registration provides an additional layer of safety for your patients, your insurance, and your regulatory compliance. It makes sure your processes meet required standards and supports the delivery of safe, high quality care.”
Understanding and adhering to regulations such as the CQC’s standards means that practitioners can safely offer treatments while protecting themselves from legal and reputational risks.
Strong leadership and clinic policies can standardise safeguarding practices, including mandatory DBS checks, safeguarding leads, and access to local safeguarding officers. Such measures mean that safeguarding remains a priority across all aesthetic practices.
Tracey comments, “Clinics should regularly update their safeguarding policies to include clear, accessible protocols for staff to follow when concerns arise.
“I choose to implement these standards in my clinic, not because they are mandatory but because they mean my team operates within a framework of ethical and professional practice, delivering safe and effective care.”
Survey insights: Workplace policies and leadership in safeguarding
The survey highlighted a lack of safeguarding leadership and clear policies in some aesthetic clinics:
54.8% of practitioners confirmed their workplace has clear safeguarding policies for intimate health treatments
27.6% of practitioners work in clinics without a designated safeguarding lead, while 6.9% were unsure if their workplace had one
To strengthen safeguarding in the sector, clinics must implement formal safeguarding policies, designated leads, and access to local safeguarding officers.
Technological solutions like CRM software assist in tracking, safeguarding, scheduling chaperones, and managing patient data securely.
You may also want to use age verification tools to help make sure treatments are only provided to eligible clients, mitigating risks of underage procedures and regulatory breaches.
A big part of safeguarding yourself and your practice is making sure you have the right insurance cover. Hamilton Fraser is proud to announce the launch of a new insurance product tailored to meet the needs of aesthetic practitioners providing menopause advice.
Available from 7 February, this product aligns with the growing demand for menopause related care and reflects our commitment to supporting practitioners in this vital area of women’s health.
The new menopause add on is an extension to the existing Hamilton Fraser medical malpractice policy, underwritten by Hiscox.
It provides comprehensive cover for practitioners offering menopause related activities, including consultations and prescriptions, with a specific focus on HRT—an area we’re now delighted to include in our policies.
Eligibility: Exclusively available to existing Hamilton Fraser insurance customers, primarily targeting doctors and nurses. Referrals from other segments may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Scope of cover: Includes advice on menopause care, consultations, and prescriptions. Note that it’s designed for advice, not treatment.
Application process: Practitioners will complete a detailed question set. A “yes” to all qualifying questions enables access to the add on.
Listening to the industry's needs: Hamilton Fraser is proud to offer this level of cover, developed in response to feedback from customers at the 2024 Menopause in Aesthetics (now Menopause in Practice) conference.
The demand for menopause related support is growing, driven by increased awareness and advocacy.
By extending our medical malpractice policy to include HRT and menopause consultations, we’re supporting practitioners in addressing this need safely and ethically.
Thinking about getting covered? Enquire now and our team will be in touch to guide you through the next steps on how you can empower your patients with menopause related advice insurance.
“Our job is to protect practitioners and, in turn, their patients because without insurance, there’s no recourse for the patient if something goes wrong,” says Hamilton Fraser founder and CEO Eddie Hooker.
“The aesthetics industry is rapidly evolving. A decade ago, menopause treatments were hardly discussed in clinics.
Most women relied solely on their GP or didn’t recognise the conditions they were experiencing. But times are changing, and insurance providers like us are stepping up to meet these new demands."
“It’s easy to get lost in the noise online, with so many quotes and policies available. Practitioners often don’t have clarity on the specific cover they need or the requirements for offering these types of treatments. That’s why we’re introducing this menopause add on. It’s designed to provide tailored protection for practitioners offering advice on menopause care, including HRT consultations.
“If you’re insured with Hamilton Fraser, reach out to us to learn more. This add on doesn’t come as standard, and that’s for a good reason - advising on menopause carries its own set of unique risks.
"My team has decades of experience handling these situations, and we’re here to guide you through the process. Whether it’s a phone call or a quick email, taking the time to confirm your policy details is essential for your peace of mind and your patient’s safety.”
It is clear there is a need not only to safeguard vulnerable patients but also that aesthetic practitioners need to be vigilant about their own practices to minimise the risk of any allegations being made against them.
This needs to be a collective effort involving practitioners, patients, and regulatory bodies.
The survey revealed strong demand for more safeguarding support among aesthetic practitioners:
79.3% want regular safeguarding workshops and seminars
75.9% would like access to expert advice or consultation services
65.5% emphasised the need for more comprehensive training programmes
These findings reinforce the urgent need for standardised safeguarding training and policy development across the aesthetics industry. By making safeguarding an integral part of clinic operations, practitioners can improve patient safety, protect themselves, and raise overall standards in aesthetics.
Whether this is making sure anyone performing intimate treatments has an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check or putting chaperoning policies in place within the clinic, safeguarding is a topic that needs to be on the agenda.
Hamilton Fraser is the UK's leading cosmetic insurance partner.
Get a quote online or call the team on 0800 634 3881.
The Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP) has established a comprehensive set of safeguarding guidelines to support aesthetic practitioners in maintaining high standards of care and ethical practice. You can read the full document here.
These guidelines align with the JCCP Code of Conduct and serve as a vital resource for managing safeguarding responsibilities, particularly when working with vulnerable adults.
The JCCP emphasises the importance of ethical principles in safeguarding, including:
Avoiding harm: Prioritising patient safety and minimising risks
Candour and honesty: Maintaining transparency in communication with patients
Personal accountability: Taking responsibility for actions and decisions to uphold public trust
Respect for human rights and social justice: Recognising the dignity and rights of all individuals
Practitioners are reminded that abuse can take many forms, including physical, psychological, sexual, financial, or discriminatory harm, as well as neglect. Safeguarding requires practitioners to remain vigilant and responsive when encountering:
Preliminary evidence of abuse: Recognising signs or disclosures of harm
Digital and social media risks: Identifying potential abuse or exploitation shared online
In cases where a concern arises, the JCCP advises practitioners to:
Assess the weight of evidence proportionately
Discuss concerns with the Local Authority Safeguarding Officer for advice
Take action in the best interest of the patient or individual at risk.
While safeguarding necessitates transparency, confidentiality remains paramount. Practitioners should:
Document decisions, actions, and their rationale in full
Share information only when required by law, court directive, or when the benefits of disclosure outweigh the risks
The JCCP recognises that many practitioners work in private practice or independently, which may pose unique challenges. Regular supervision, as outlined in the JCCP Code of Conduct, provides a critical space for practitioners to:
Discuss safeguarding issues with peers or supervisors
Reflect on decisions and guarantee ethical alignment
Access guidance to navigate complex cases effectively
Download JCCP and CPSA's code of practice here
