Equality & Diversity Policy

Child Therapy Service CIC & Child Therapy Practitioners Limited

Difference is not deficit. It never was.

Child Therapy Service CIC
Company No. 12067820

Child Therapy Practitioners Limited
Company No. 13945877

Registered address: 14 St. Gregory Close, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 7JL

Policy owner: Tracy Elizabeth Chadwick, Director of both entities

Contact: [email protected] | 01323 749434

Date adopted: June 2026
Last reviewed: June 2026
Next review due: June 2027
Review frequency: Annually as a minimum, or sooner following any complaint, incident, significant organisational change, service change, or update to relevant legislation or guidance.

Statement of Commitment

Child Therapy Service CIC and Child Therapy Practitioners Limited are committed to equality, diversity, inclusion, accessibility and dignity across every part of both organisations’ work.

This is not a compliance exercise. It is a reflection of who we are, what we believe, and how we work.

The BOUNCE Approach® is built on a neurodivergent-affirming, trauma-informed understanding of human development. At its core is the conviction that difference is not deficit, and that every nervous system, every identity, and every way of experiencing the world has inherent value.

Both organisations are committed to ensuring that no person experiences discrimination, harassment, victimisation, exclusion, or unfair treatment in connection with either organisation’s activities.

Both organisations will actively promote equality of opportunity, identify and reduce barriers to access, and make reasonable adjustments where required and practicable.

Corporate Structure and Equality Responsibility

Child Therapy Practitioners Limited owns the BOUNCE Approach® framework, intellectual property, digital platforms, training content, resources, and related infrastructure.

Child Therapy Service CIC delivers services, training, professional development, family support, and community-facing provision using licensed resources and systems.

Where the activities of both organisations overlap, equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility responsibilities apply to both organisations. Neither organisation can discharge its responsibilities by reference to the other.

For the purposes of this policy, references to “both organisations” mean Child Therapy Service CIC and Child Therapy Practitioners Limited.

Scope of This Policy

This policy applies across all activities carried out by or on behalf of either organisation, including:

• online training, CPD courses, webinars, workshops, and practitioner programmes
• the Learning Portal, live drop-ins, Q&A support, and live chat
• family coaching and professional support sessions
• the BOUNCE Approach® framework, resources, and licensed content
• the Child Therapy Service Directory
• the Snapshots wellbeing assessment platform
• school, local authority, NHS-related, and commissioned work
• in-person training, meetings, events, and site visits
• content creation, consultancy, administration, digital work, recruitment, contracting, and volunteering

This policy applies to directors, staff, contractors, consultants, volunteers, placement students, clients, families, children, young people, Directory users, listed practitioners, schools, commissioners, partner organisations, and members of the public engaging with either organisation.

Legal and Regulatory Framework

This policy has been written with regard to the following legislation, duties and principles:

• Equality Act 2010
• Human Rights Act 1998
• Children and Families Act 2014
• Special Educational Needs and Disability Regulations 2014
• Public Sector Equality Duty, where applicable to contracted public sector work
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
• United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• UK General Data Protection Regulation and Data Protection Act 2018, where relevant to fair and lawful handling of information

Both organisations will review and update this policy whenever relevant legislation, statutory guidance, regulation, or recognised good practice changes.

Protected Characteristics

Under the Equality Act 2010, both organisations recognise the following protected characteristics:

• age
• disability
• gender reassignment
• marriage and civil partnership
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation

Both organisations will not discriminate directly or indirectly against any person on the basis of a protected characteristic.

Both organisations also recognise that people may experience disadvantage or exclusion because of factors not limited to protected characteristics, including socio-economic barriers, caring responsibilities, trauma history, communication differences, sensory needs, digital exclusion, literacy needs, language barriers, and previous negative experiences of services.

Our Approach to Neurodiversity and Disability

Both organisations adopt a neurodivergent-affirming and social model approach to disability and neurodevelopmental difference.

This means we understand disability and neurodivergence as arising from the interaction between a person’s neurological, sensory, physical, communication, cognitive, or emotional profile and environments, systems, expectations, or barriers that are not designed with that profile in mind.

We do not view neurodivergence or disability as an inherent deficit within the individual.

In practice, both organisations commit to:

• designing content, training and resources that are accessible and affirming
• using neurodivergent-affirming language
• respecting individual language preferences
• challenging deficit-based framing where appropriate
• recognising masking, sensory differences, shutdown, demand avoidance, fatigue and communication differences as legitimate nervous system responses
• making reasonable adjustments wherever required and practicable
• supporting access for disabled and neurodivergent children, adults, families, professionals, staff and contractors

Both organisations are Disability Confident Committed employers and are committed to improving accessibility and participation for disabled and neurodivergent people.

Reasonable Adjustments and Accessibility

Both organisations are committed to making reasonable adjustments to reduce barriers and support safe, fair and meaningful access.

Reasonable adjustments may include, where practicable:

• alternative communication methods
• additional processing time
• captioned video content where reasonably practicable
• downloadable written materials
• plain-language explanations
• flexible attendance or access options
• remote access options
• shorter or paced sessions
• breaks during training, coaching or meetings
• sensory adjustments to lighting, sound, seating or participation expectations
• alternative formats for documents where reasonably practicable
• clear instructions and predictable structure
• support with access to digital platforms where reasonable and possible

Access needs should be shared in advance wherever possible so that suitable adjustments can be considered.

Where a requested adjustment is not possible, both organisations will seek to explain why and consider whether an alternative adjustment can reasonably be offered.

Digital Accessibility

Because much of the work of both organisations is delivered digitally, online accessibility is a central equality responsibility.

Both organisations aim to make digital platforms, resources and communications as accessible as reasonably practicable.

This includes consideration of:

• mobile-responsive design
• clear layout and readable formatting
• plain language where appropriate
• accessible downloadable materials
• alternative text for images where appropriate
• captioned or transcript-supported content where reasonably practicable
• reduced unnecessary visual clutter
• clear navigation
• compatibility with reasonable user accessibility settings
• support for people with literacy, dyslexia, visual processing, executive function, sensory or communication needs

Digital accessibility will be reviewed as part of platform development, content creation and user feedback processes.

Equality in Employment, Contracting and Volunteering

Both organisations are committed to equality of opportunity in employment, contracting, consultancy, volunteering and placement arrangements.

Both organisations will not discriminate in recruitment, selection, terms of engagement, opportunities for development, allocation of work, treatment, or ending of any working relationship on the basis of a protected characteristic.

In practice, both organisations commit to:

• advertising opportunities in ways that are accessible and inclusive where possible
• assessing candidates on skills, experience, values and suitability for the role
• making reasonable adjustments during recruitment and engagement processes
• supporting flexible working arrangements where reasonably practicable
• considering caring responsibilities, disability, neurodivergence, health needs and access needs where relevant
• creating a working environment where people feel respected, safe and valued
• taking concerns about discrimination, harassment or unfair treatment seriously

Any person who believes they have experienced discrimination, harassment, victimisation or unfair treatment in connection with a working relationship with either organisation is encouraged to raise this with the Director.

Equality in Service Delivery

Both organisations are committed to providing services that are accessible, inclusive and equitable.

This includes:

• designing training, resources and coaching to support a range of learning styles, communication preferences and access needs
• offering remote access where appropriate to reduce barriers linked to geography, mobility, fatigue, anxiety or caring responsibilities
• reviewing digital platforms and materials for accessibility
• providing alternative formats where reasonably practicable
• considering pricing, membership, team licensing and access structures in line with the CIC’s social purpose
• ensuring that the Directory platform promotes inclusive practice and clear expectations for listed practitioners
• responding to access concerns, complaints and feedback promptly and fairly

Both organisations seek to ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion considerations are embedded within organisational decision-making, service development, procurement, recruitment, training, content creation and service delivery.

Inclusive Content, Language and Representation

Child Therapy Practitioners Limited, as the creator and owner of the BOUNCE Approach® framework and associated content, has a particular responsibility to ensure that training, resources, publications and digital content are inclusive in language, representation and framing.

Child Therapy Service CIC, as the public-facing service provider, has a particular responsibility to ensure that delivery, access, communication and support are inclusive and responsive to the communities it serves.

Both organisations commit to:

• using language that is respectful, affirming and clear
• recognising that language evolves over time
• remaining responsive to individual preferences and community perspectives
• avoiding unnecessary deficit-based language
• representing diverse families, identities, cultures, communication styles, needs and lived experiences where appropriate
• reviewing content for unintentional bias, exclusionary assumptions or inaccurate framing
• responding thoughtfully to feedback about representation, access and language

Both organisations recognise that inclusive practice is not achieved through wording alone. It requires ongoing reflection, listening, repair and willingness to adapt.

Preventing and Responding to Discrimination, Harassment and Victimisation

Both organisations take discrimination, harassment and victimisation seriously.

Discrimination may be direct or indirect. It includes treating someone less favourably because of a protected characteristic, or applying a policy, practice or requirement that places someone with a protected characteristic at a particular disadvantage without lawful justification.

Harassment means unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.

Victimisation means treating someone unfairly because they have raised a concern, made a complaint, supported another person’s complaint, or asserted rights under equality law.

Neither organisation will tolerate discrimination, harassment, victimisation, bullying, exclusionary practice, or unfair treatment in connection with its work.

Concerns may relate to staff, contractors, volunteers, clients, families, Directory members, professionals, partner organisations, commissioners, members of the public, or any person connected to either organisation.

Reporting Concerns and Complaints

Any person who experiences or witnesses discrimination, harassment, victimisation, unfair treatment, exclusion, or accessibility barriers in connection with either organisation is encouraged to report this to the Director.

Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01323 749434

All concerns will be taken seriously, handled sensitively, and responded to promptly.

Concerns will be reviewed fairly, proportionately and without prejudice.

Any person raising a genuine concern under this policy will not be disadvantaged for doing so.

Where a concern is upheld, appropriate action may include:

• informal resolution where appropriate
• apology or repair
• reasonable adjustment
• review of policy, practice or communication
• additional guidance, training or supervision
• restriction, suspension or termination of access, listing, contract or working relationship
• referral to another agency or professional body where appropriate

Where a concern also raises safeguarding, health and safety, professional conduct, criminal, or data protection issues, the relevant policy or reporting route will also be followed.

Equality and the Child Therapy Service Directory

The Child Therapy Service Directory is intended to help families, schools, professionals, local authorities and organisations find child-focused support and services.

Both organisations expect listed practitioners and services to act in ways that are inclusive, respectful and non-discriminatory.

Directory listings may be refused, removed, suspended or restricted where equality, safeguarding, professional conduct, accuracy, accessibility or suitability concerns arise.

Where concerns are raised about discriminatory practice by a listed practitioner or service, both organisations may review the listing and, where appropriate, refer the matter to a relevant professional body or statutory agency.

Users of the Directory remain responsible for carrying out their own due diligence before commissioning or engaging a practitioner or service.

Monitoring and Continuous Improvement

Both organisations are committed to monitoring and improving equality, diversity, inclusion and accessibility across their activities.

This may include:

• reviewing complaints, concerns and feedback
• reviewing requests for reasonable adjustments
• reviewing barriers to access or participation
• reviewing recruitment, contracting and volunteering practices
• reviewing training content, resources and digital materials
• reviewing Directory standards and feedback
• considering equality implications when developing new services, content or systems
• seeking feedback from clients, families, professionals, staff, contractors and communities
• reviewing this policy annually or sooner where required

Both organisations recognise that equality and inclusion are ongoing responsibilities. They require attention, curiosity, humility and willingness to change where practice can be improved.

Related Policies

This policy should be read alongside the following policies where applicable:

• Safeguarding Policy
• Health & Safety Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions
• Directory Conduct Policy
• Directory User Policy
• Snapshots Governance and Quality Policy
• Access Policy
• Complaints Policy
• Data Retention Policy

Policies are available at: childtherapyservice.org.uk/policies

Contact

Policy owner: Tracy Elizabeth Chadwick, Director
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 01323 749434
Post: 14 St. Gregory Close, Eastbourne, East Sussex, BN20 7JL

External support and advice:

• Equality Advisory Support Service: 0808 800 0082
• ACAS: 0300 123 1100

Review

This policy is reviewed annually as a minimum. It will also be reviewed following any complaint, incident, significant organisational change, change to service delivery, or update to relevant legislation, guidance or recognised good practice.

Signed on behalf of Child Therapy Service CIC and Child Therapy Practitioners Limited:

Tracy Elizabeth Chadwick
Director, Child Therapy Service CIC & Child Therapy Practitioners Limited
June 2026