The Athena Programme

Please see our important customer notice regarding temporary email disruptions between 21st–26th May while we carry out essential system updates.
If your enquiry is urgent during this period, please contact us by phone and our team will be happy to help.
Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Mental health is not separate from safeguarding, it is central to it.

This Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re highlighting the important links between mental health, the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and why understanding them is essential for safe, person-centred practice.

Safeguarding is about more than compliance. It’s about protecting rights, dignity and wellbeing.

Swipe through to learn more →

Read our blog: https://lnkd.in/ec4UFEK2

As we approach Mental Health Awareness Week 2026, it’s an important reminder that mental health and safeguarding are deeply connected.

Across health, social care and community settings, we continue to see how mental health can directly impact vulnerability, decision-making and a person’s ability to access support. That’s why understanding the link between mental wellbeing, the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) is essential for safe, person-centred practice.
Safeguarding is not just about responding to risk, it’s about recognising it early, understanding it fully, and acting in a way that protects dignity, rights and independence.

At The Athena Programme, we support professionals and organisations to build confidence in exactly these areas through practical, applied training and consultancy.

To support Mental Health Awareness Week, we’re also offering 10% off all MCA & DoLS training bookings made this week.

If you’re looking to strengthen practice, refresh knowledge or invest in your team’s confidence, now is the right time.

Deaf individuals can face increased risk due to communication barriers, inaccessible services and missed opportunities to disclose harm.

It’s not hearing loss that creates risk, it’s when safeguarding systems don’t adapt.

Next week is Deaf Awareness Week. A timely reminder to reflect on how inclusive your safeguarding practice really is.

🔗 Read the blog: https://theathenaprogramme.co.uk/blog/deaf-awareness-week-and-safeguarding-4th-may-10th-may-2026-why-inclusive-practice-saves-lives/

📩 Get in touch to discuss training for your team

You could be a Safeguarding Champion in 4 days.

This time next week, you could be confidently supporting safeguarding across your organisation and helping to create a safer culture.

Our next remote Safeguarding Champions training is nearly here 👇

📅 5th May

If you're looking to strengthen safeguarding practice, support your DSL, and take a more proactive role, this course is for you.

Limited places remaining.

More fantastic feedback from our Individual Safer Recruitment training course delivered by Claire Weymouth ⭐

Our Safer Recruitment training supports organisations to make informed and responsible recruitment decisions, helping to prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children, young people and adults at risk.

Next session: 14th May 📅

This week marks National Stalking Awareness Week.

Stalking is often minimised or explained away, but it is a serious safeguarding concern.

This week is an opportunity to reflect on how we recognise stalking in practice, and the importance of identifying patterns of behaviour, not just isolated incidents.

The signs are not always obvious, but the impact is real.

Because safeguarding is not just about policy —
it is about protecting people.

Safeguarding training for foster carers isn’t optional , it’s a mandatory requirement to help protect vulnerable children.

Mental Capacity and DoLS are fundamental to safeguarding practice.
Understanding how to support decision-making, and when to act in someone’s best interests, is essential for protecting vulnerable adults and upholding their rights.

📅 Next training date: 18th May

Our Safeguarding Investigation Skills training provides a structured and professional approach to safeguarding investigations, supporting fair, unbiased and independent decision-making across safeguarding and other civil enquiries.

Next date: 11th May

We love sharing feedback like this 👏

A big thank you to our associate trainer Christina for delivering such an insightful Safeguarding Supervision session.

Our Safeguarding Supervision course supports designated leads, managers and safeguarding teams to develop the skills, confidence and reflective practice needed to improve safeguarding outcomes and the quality of work across organisations.

If you’re looking to strengthen your supervision practice, upcoming dates are available.