SWMTC Youth Group Safeguarding Policy
TERMINOLOGY
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children refers to the process of protecting children from maltreatment, preventing the impairment of their mental and physical health or development, ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care and taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Child Protection refers to the processes undertaken to meet statutory obligations in respect of those children who have been identified as suffering or being at risk of suffering harm.
Staff refers to all those working for or on behalf of SWMTC, full time or part time, in either a paid or voluntary capacity.
Child refers to all young people who have not yet reached their 18th birthday.
Parent refers to birth parents and other adults who are in a parenting role, for example stepparents, foster carers and adoptive parents.
DSO: Designated Safeguarding Officer
The purpose and scope of this policy statement:
The purpose of this policy statement is:
• To protect children and young people within Saffron Walden Musical Theatre group (SWMTC) from harm.
• to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of Saffron Walden Musical Theatre Company Youth Group (SWMTCYG), including production staff and volunteers and students. This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England.
Key legislation: Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014
Key guidance: in England, the Department for Education (DfE) provides advice for local authorities and individuals working with children in all types of professional or amateur performances, paid sport and paid modelling (PDF) (DfE, 2015).
The National Network for Child Employment and Entertainment (NNCEE) has also produced a guide to child performance licensing in England (PDF) (NNCEE, 2020).
Please also see Appendix 11.
Supporting documents
Health and Safety Policy found on the SWMTC website
Digital Safety Policy found on the SWMTC website
Anti-Bullying Policy found on the SWMTC website
Appendix 1: role description for the designated safeguarding officer
Appendix 2: types of abuse
Appendix 3: Procedures for dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person including reporting
Appendix 4: managing allegations against staff and volunteers
Appendix 5: recording concerns and information sharing, records, retention and storage
Appendix 6: code of conduct for staff and volunteers including unsupervised and physical contact
Appendix 7: a) Disclosure and Barring Service and b) Chaperones
Appendix 8: codes of conduct for children and young people
Appendix 9: leaving rehearsals and performances
Appendix 10: Whistleblowing
Appendix 11: Policy development and related guidance.
We believe that:
• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
• the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take
• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse
• some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
• extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
• valuing, listening to and respecting them
• appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and young people, a deputy and a lead committee member for safeguarding/child protection
• adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently
· recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
· recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance [more information about this is available from the Information Commissioner’s Office: https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/
· sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families via our website and relevant communications
• making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern
• using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
• using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
• creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
• ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
• building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.
Creating a safe environment
Performing arts activities can take place in a variety of settings. SWMTC aims to:
make sure rehearsal or teaching rooms are open, accessible and well lit
provide separate changing areas for children of each gender and for adults
follow health and safety legislation and guidance.
We will ensure that:
any activity suitable for children to be involved in (for example no nudity, bad language or sexual content)
everything we do is appropriate for the youngest or most vulnerable person (this could be due to age or stage of the child’s development)
any physical contact is appropriate, justifiable, agreed by the child and approached sensitively.
We will ask for children’s opinions and encourage them to speak out about anything that’s worrying them.
The responsibilities of all
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
Every adult working for or on behalf of SWMTC has a general legal duty:
• to protect children from abuse;
• to be aware of SWMTC’s child protection procedures in this policy and guidance issued by SWMTC and to follow them;
• to know how to access and implement these procedures, independently if necessary;
• to keep a sufficient record of any concerns, discussions and decisions in accordance with this policy;
• to report any matters of concern in accordance with this policy without investigating further.
The SWMTC Committee has ultimate responsibility for SWMTC’s safeguarding policy and practice.
Contact details
Designated Safeguarding Officer/Child Protection Officer:
Name: Jude Savill
Phone/email: 07974815614 cposwmtc@gmail.com
SWMTC Chair: Gemma Alexander, chair.swmtc@gmail.com
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. This policy was last reviewed on: 1 August 2024
Signed: ……Jude Savill………………………………………………………… Jude Savill DSO
Date: 1st August 2024……………………………………………………
APPENDIX 1: Role of the Designated Safeguarding OFFICER (DSO)
The DSO should:
• Refer all cases of suspected abuse, within 24 hours or one working day, and
· the police (cases where a crime may have been committed);
• liaise with the Committee to inform them of issues, especially ongoing enquiries under section 47 of the Children Act 1989 and police investigations;
• act as a source of support, advice and expertise to staff on matters of safety and safeguarding and when deciding whether to make a referral by liaising with relevant agencies;
• undergo training to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to carry out the role. Their knowledge and skills should be updated via regular training, at appropriate intervals, as and when required (but at least annually), to keep up with any developments relevant to their role;
• ensure each member of staff has access to and understands the SWMTC safeguarding policy and procedures, especially new and part time staff;
• keep detailed, accurate, secure written records;
• encourage among all staff a culture of listening to young people and taking account of their wishes and feelings;
• ensure the SWMTC Safeguarding Policy is reviewed annually and the procedures and implementation are updated and reviewed regularly, and work with the SWMTC Committee regarding this;
• ensure the Safeguarding Policy is available publicly.
APPENDIX 2: TYPES AND SIGNS OF ABUSE
1 Abuse is a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others (e.g. via the internet). They may be abused by an adult or adults or another child or children. Abuse, neglect and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events that can be covered by one definition or label and in most cases, multiple issues will overlap with one another.
Physical abuse: a form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.
Emotional abuse: the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, although it may occur alone.
Sexual abuse: involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.
Neglect: the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care- givers); or ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Child-on-child abuse
Child-on-child abuse is any form of physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse, or coercive control, exercised between children and within children's relationships. Child-on-child abuse can take various forms, including:
serious bullying (including cyber-bullying),
relationship abuse,
domestic violence,
child sexual exploitation,
youth and serious youth violence,
harmful sexual behaviour,
sexual abuse,
and/or gender-based violence.
The Review of Sexual Abuse in Schools and Colleges in 2021 found that instances of sexual harassment and online sexual abuse are so common that some children see no point in reporting them. It recommends that schools and colleges act as though sexual harassment and online sexual abuse is happening, even when there are no specific reports. SWMTC through their work as a youth group, whilst not a school or college, is a youth group and as such need to be aware of the possibility of such abuse.
Staff at SWMTC are asked to be alert for instances of abuse and not to dismiss anything as ‘banter’.
Staff should also be particularly vigilant for cast members who might struggle socially because of neurodiversity or gender identity making them more vulnerable to child-on-child abuse.
In the case of abuse by a participant, or group of participants, the key issues identifying the problem as abuse are:
• the frequency, nature and severity of the incidents;
• whether the victim was coerced by physical force, fear, or by a participant or group of participants significantly older than them or having power or authority over them;
• whether the incident involved a potentially criminal act, and whether if the same incident (or injury) had occurred to a member of staff or other adult, it would have been regarded as assault or otherwise actionable.
Where an allegation of abuse against one or more participants has been made or where you are concerned about child-on-child abuse, the child protection procedures set out in this policy should be followed and the DSO informed.
The participant(s) accused of abuse and the victim of abuse will both be treated as at risk and a referral will be made to children's social care in respect of either pupil if that participant is suffering or is at risk of harm.
Sharing nudes and semi-nudes
‘Sharing nudes and semi-nudes’ refers to the sending or posting of nude or semi-nude images, videos or live streams by young people under the age of 18 online. This could be via social media, gaming platforms, chat apps or forums. It could also involve sharing between devices via services like Apple’s AirDrop, which works offline.
Please refer to the Digital Safety Policy.
What to do if an incident of sharing nudes or semi-nudes comes to your attention:
• Report it to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) immediately.
• Never view, download, copy, print, store or share the imagery yourself, or ask the child to share or download – this is illegal. In exceptional circumstances, it may be necessary for the DSO only to view the image to safeguard the child or young person. That decision should be based on the professional judgement of the DSO.
• If you have viewed the imagery (e.g. if a child has shown you something before you could ask them not to), report this to the DSO.
• Do not delete the imagery or ask the child to delete it.
• Do not attempt to investigate the matter – this is the responsibility of the DSO.
• Do not share information about the incident with anyone other than the DSO.
• Do explain to them that you need to report it and reassure them that they will receive support and help from the DSO. The child(ren) involved will be spoken to (if appropriate). Parents will be informed at an early stage and involved in the process unless there is good reason to believe that involving parents would put the child at risk of harm. At any point in the process, if there is a concern a child has been harmed or is at risk of harm, a referral could be made to Children’s Social Care and/or the police.
An initial review will consider the initial evidence and aim to establish:
• whether there is an immediate risk to a child;
• if a referral should be made to the police and/or children’s social care;
• if it is necessary for the DSO to view the imagery in order to safeguard the child – in most cases, imagery should not be viewed;
• what further information is required to decide on the best response;
• whether the imagery has been shared widely and via what services and/or platforms;
• any relevant facts about the participants involved that would influence risk assessment;
• if there is a need to contact another school, college, setting or individual;
• whether to contact parents or carers of the participants involved - in most cases parents should be involved.
An immediate referral to police and/or children’s social care should be made if at this initial stage:
• the incident involves an adult;
• there is reason to believe that a child has been coerced, blackmailed or groomed, or if there are concerns about their capacity to consent;
• the imagery involves sexual acts and any child in the imagery is under 13;
• there is reason to believe a participant is at immediate risk of harm owing to the sharing of the imagery, for example, the participant is presenting as suicidal or self-harming. If none of the above applies, then the DSO may decide to respond to the incident without involving the police or children’s social care (the DS) can choose to escalate the incident at any time if further information/concerns come to light). The decision to respond to the incident without involving the police or children’s social care would be made in cases when the DSO is confident that they have enough information to assess the risks to pupils involved and the risks can be managed within SWMTC’s own pastoral support and disciplinary framework and, if appropriate, local network of support.
Signs of abuse
Possible signs of abuse include (but are not limited to):
• the child says they has been abused or asks a question or makes a comment which gives rise to that inference;
• there is no reasonable or consistent explanation for a child's injury; the injury is unusual in kind or location; there have been a number of injuries; there is a pattern to the injuries;
• the child's behaviour stands out from the group as either being extreme model behaviour or extremely challenging behaviour; or there is a sudden or significant change in the child's behaviour;
• the child asks to drop activities with a particular Staff or production member and seems reluctant to discuss the reasons;
• the child appears neglected, e.g. dirty, hungry, inadequately clothed;
• the child is reluctant to go home, or has been openly rejected by his / her parents or carers;
• the child runs away or goes missing
• mental health issues.
APPENDIX 3a: Disclosure and reporting
What to do if someone makes a disclosure (‘The Six Rs’)
1) Ready? Someone may want to talk to you at any point. If this involves safeguarding, you must be prepared to listen immediately.
2) Receive The child has chosen you. You are in a position of trust. Listen carefully to what they say. Do not show shock or disbelief. Take it seriously.
3) Reassure
• Tell the child that they have done the right thing in talking
• Do not make promises you cannot keep (e.g. ‘it will be alright now’) • Do not promise confidentiality – you have a duty to refer
• Reassure the child that information will only be shared with those who need to know
• Alleviate guilt – the child is not to blame
4) Respond
• Listen to the child to establish whether you need to refer the matter, but do not interrogate them
• Ask open questions e.g. ‘is there anything else you want to tell me?’
• Do not ask leading questions i.e. ‘did he/she do X to you?’
• Do not criticise the alleged perpetrator • Do not ask the child to repeat the matter to another member of staff
• Explain that you will need to talk to the DSO
5) Record
• Make brief notes at the time if you can, and write these up as soon as you can
• Keep your original notes
• Record the date, time, place and the actual words used by the child (if you can)
• Record statements and actions rather than your own interpretations
6) Report Immediately contact the DSO or, if unavailable, another Designated Person. The DSO may have to make your record available to Children’s Services.
APPENDIX 3b: Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
1 If a staff member has any concerns about a child’s welfare, they should act on them immediately and speak to the DSO (or another Designated Person in DSO’s absence).
2 The DSO or another Designated Person will always be available to discuss safeguarding concerns. If in exceptional circumstances, none of these is available, this should not delay appropriate action being taken: anyone can make a referral to police or social services.
3 Staff should take personal responsibility for sharing information, being mindful that early information sharing is vital for effective identification, assessment and allocation of appropriate service provision. Fears about sharing information must not be allowed to stand in the way of the need to promote the welfare, and protect the safety, of children.
4 The DSO will work with external safeguarding partners and other agencies in line with Working Together to Safeguard Children. The DSO will refer to advice from trusted agencies if considering whether police involvement is necessary (e.g. NSPCC: When to call the police).
If a child is in danger
1 If a child is in immediate danger or is at risk of harm a referral should be made to children’s social care and/or the police immediately.
Anyone can make a referral.
Where referrals are not made by the DSO, the DSO should be informed as soon as possible that a referral has been made.
APPENDIX 4: Allegations against staff
The procedures for dealing with allegations against staff aim to strike a balance between the need to protect children from abuse and the need to protect staff from false or unfounded allegations.
These relate to situations where the member of staff has:
• behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child;
• possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or
• behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates he or she would pose a risk of harm if he or she works regularly or closely with children.
All such allegations must be dealt with as a priority without delay, with the procedures applied with good and careful judgement.
APPENDIX 5: Record Keeping & Retention
1 All concerns, discussions and decisions made, and the reasons for those decisions, should be recorded in writing. This record should include the date, time and place of the conversation and detail of what was said and done by whom and in whose presence. The record should be signed by the person writing it. If in doubt about recording requirements, staff should discuss with the DSO (or another Designated Person) and/or follow the procedure outlined above.
2 SWMTC keeps records in line with its Privacy Statement. Safeguarding records are generally kept for a long period of time. In particular, SWMTC keeps:
• a permanent record of historical Safeguarding policies and procedures;
• child protection files indefinitely, if a referral has been made or if there is a risk of future claims;
• records of unfounded allegations against members of staff at least until the staff member’s retirement or 10 years, whichever is longer; and
• records of low-level concerns about staff for at least 3 years, and longer if a review justifies longer term retention.
APPENDIX 6: Conduct of Staff
Staff are expected to:
• implement and follow this Safeguarding Policy, Digital Safety Policy and Anti-Bullying Policy and Health and Safety Policy
• understand that our responsibility to safeguard children requires that we all appropriately share any concerns that we may have about children;
• support each child’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and resilience;
• foster an environment in which children and young people feel safe, secure, valued and respected, feel confident and know how to approach adults if they are in difficulties;
• assist in the monitoring of children known or thought to be at risk of harm;
• ensure that detailed and accurate written records of concerns about a child are made and submitted to the DSO even if there is no need to make an immediate referral.
Unsupervised Contact
SWMTC will attempt to ensure that no adult has unsupervised contact with children. NSPCC guidelines for adult to children ratio for ages 13-18 are one adult to 10 children, but strongly recommend that there are always at least two adults present at all times when working with children of any age.
• If possible, there will always be two adults in the room when working with children.
• If unsupervised contact is unavoidable, steps will be taken to minimize risk. For example, work will be carried out in a public area, or in a designated room with a door open.
• If it is predicted that an individual is likely to require unsupervised contact with children, he or she may be required to obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check.
Physical Contact
• All adults will maintain a safe and appropriate distance from children.
• Adults will only touch children when it is absolutely necessary in relation to the particular activity.
• Adults will seek the consent of the child prior to any physical contact and the purpose of the contact shall be made clear.
APPENDIX 7: a) Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks
• The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) exists to help employers and organisations make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children and young people at risk. A DBS check forms one part of the wider safeguarding process. It helps organisations to determine whether a person is a suitable candidate for a particular role by providing information about their criminal history.
• DBS disclosures are required for anyone working in a regulated activity. Relevant Regulated Activity is unsupervised activities with children or young people to train, teach, instruct, supervise, or provide advice/guidance on well-being. This work is only Regulated Activity if done regularly or intensively, which means being carried out by the same person frequently (once a week or more), or on 4 or more days in a 30 day period. A person who manages or supervises a regulated activity is also counted as undertaking a Regulated Activity. If the person is providing occasional or temporary services, they are not in a Regulated Activity.
• Before an organisation considers asking a person to apply for a criminal record check through DBS, they are legally responsible for ensuring that they are entitled to submit an application for the job role.
The three levels of DBS checks are:
Standard Checks
Reveals information relating to spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings from the Police National Computer (PNC). To be eligible for a standard check the position must be specified in the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
Enhanced Checks
Reveals information relating to spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings from the PNC. To be eligible for an Enhanced Check the position must be specified in the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 AND regulations made under the Police Act 199, which includes work with children.
Enhanced Checks (with Barred List)
Used to check against lists of people prohibited from working with children and vulnerable adults. These are known as ‘Barred Lists’ (see below). To be eligible for an Enhanced Check with Children’s and/or Adults Barred List Check, the position must meet the criteria and fall within the DBS definition of Regulated Activity (see below).
The minimum age at which someone can apply for a DBS check is 16. Organisations wishing to undertake a check should choose between three routes depending on the nature of the role.
Regulated Activity Definition
Regulated Activity is work a person who appears on the DBS Barred Lists is prohibited from doing. This includes work that involves close and unsupervised contact with vulnerable groups, including young children.
The DBS has recently reduced the scope pf Regulated Activity, so that some roles that previously needed a Barred List Check, no longer do so. However, those posts taken out of Regulated Activity remain eligible for Enhanced Checks. In reducing the scope there is now greater role for organisations in deciding whether a person is a suitable candidate for a particular role. To do this effectively they must also use other safeguarding measures rather than rely on legal provisions alone.
Activities that place a staff member in regulated Activity with Children are:
1. Unsupervised activities; teach, train, instruct, care for or supervise children, or provide advice/guidance on well-being, or drive a vehicle only for children.
2. Work for a limited range of establishments (‘specified places’), with opportunity for contact. E.g. schools, children’s homes, childcare premises,. Not work done by supervised volunteers.
3. Relevant personal care; e.g. washing or dressing; or health care by or supervised by a professional, even if done once.
4. Registered childminding and foster-carers.
5. Work under 1. Or 2. Is Regulated Activity only if done regularly. ‘Regularly means carried out by the same person frequently (once a week or more)or on four or more days in a 30-day period (or in some cases overnight).
6. Activity under 3. And 4. Does not have a frequency restriction and is Regulated Activity even if performed only once.
7. Broadly speaking, the new definition of Regulated Activity relating to children no longer includes certain activities done on an irregular or ad-hoc basis or some activities properly supervised by someone who themselves is in Regulated Activity.
Appendix7: b) Chaperones
Chaperones will be appointed by SWMTC for the care of children during the production process. By law the chaperone is acting in loco parentis and should exercise the care which a good parent might be reasonably expected to give to a child. The maximum number of children in the chaperone’s care shall not exceed
Chaperones are required to hold volunteer or professional chaperone licences. They will be required to supply photographic proof of this licence and will have it on view whilst caring for the children at all performances.
Chaperones will be made aware of SWMTC’s Child Protection Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
Chaperones will not usually have unsupervised access to children in their care. If unsupervised access is unavoidable, or if this is a requirement of the local authority, a criminal record disclosure will be sought through DBS.
Where chaperones are not satisfied with the conditions for the children, they should bring this to the attention of the producer. If changes cannot be made satisfactorily, the chaperone should consider not allowing the child to continue.
If a chaperone considers that a child is unwell or too tired to continue, the chaperone must inform the producer and not allow the child to continue.
Under the Dangerous Performances Act, no child of compulsory school age is permitted to do anything which may endanger life or limb. This could include working on wires or heavy lifting. Chaperones should tell the producer to cease using children in this way and should contact the local authority.
During performances, chaperones will be responsible for meeting children at the stage door and signing them into the building.
Children will be kept together at all times except when using separate dressing rooms. Chaperones will be aware of where the children are at all times.
Children are not to leave the theatre unsupervised by chaperones unless in the company of their parents, or unless signed permission from parents has been received.
Children will be adequately supervised while going to and from the toilets.
Chaperones should be aware of the safety arrangements and first aid procedures in the venue, and will ensure that children in their care do not place themselves and others in danger.
Chaperones should ensure that any accidents are reported to and recorded by SWMTC.
Chaperones should examine accident books each day. If an accident has occurred, the producer is not allowed to use that child until a medically qualified opinion has been obtained (not just the word of the parent or child).
Chaperones should have written arrangements for children after performances. If someone different is to collect the child, a telephone call should be made to the parent to confirm the arrangements.
Children should be signed out when leaving and a record made of the person collecting.
If a parent has not collected the child, it is the duty of the chaperone to stay with that child or make arrangements to get them home.
APPENDIX 8: Role of Parents and Children
1 The nature of SWMTC work means that parents and young people work with us for relatively short periods of time. However, SWMTC will work throughout this time to develop a trusting relationship with its parents.
Parents are asked on the Personal Information Forms for each activity to make known any and all pertinent information that might affect our ability to support effectively the health and development of their children.
Parental support for safeguarding is particularly important in areas such as:
• the notification of changes to family circumstances, ill health and bereavement;
• compliance with SWMTC guidance on the use of technology (see Digital Safety Policy)
• raising concerns in a timely manner.
• follow procedures on collecting of children as laid out in Appendix 8.
APPENDIX 9: Leaving rehearsals and performances
1 Permissions on leaving rehearsals and performances are gathered and recorded by the show producer.
2. Children must sign in and out of performances
3. All parents have the responsibility to collect (or arrange collection of) their children after rehearsals or performances. It is NOT the responsibility of SWMTC to take children home.
Health and safety
1 First Aid provision is covered in the separate Health & Safety Policy
2 Every production run by SWMTC will have a corresponding risk assessment.
3 Accidents
To avoid accidents, chaperones and children will be advised of “house rules” regarding health and safety and will be notified of areas that are out of bounds. Children will be advised of the clothing and footwear appropriate to the work that will be undertaken.
• If a child is injured while in the care of SWMTC, a designated first-aider will administer first aid and the injury will be recorded in SWMTC’s accident book. This record will be countersigned by the person with responsibility for child protection.
• If a child joins the production with an obvious physical injury a record of this will be made in the accident book. This record will be countersigned by the person with responsibility for child protection. This record can be useful if a formal allegation is made later and will also be a record that the child did not sustain the injury while participating in the production
APPENDIX 10: Whistleblowing NSPCC Guidelines
If anyone has concerns about a child in the company, always talk to your DSO or Producer if possible first.
If someone is unable to speak to the DSO or Producer or remain concerned about how child protection issues are handled in the company they can share your concerns by whistleblowing.
Whistleblowing is when someone reports wrongdoing on the basis that it is in the public interest for the wrongdoing to be brought to light. This is usually something they've seen at work but not always. The wrongdoing might have happened in the past, be happening now, or be something the whistleblower is concerned may happen in the near future (Gov.uk, n.d.).
We have a dedicated Whistleblowing Advice Line. You can use it to get free advice and support. Contact the Whistleblowing Advice Line if:
· your or another organisation doesn’t have clear safeguarding procedures to follow
· concerns aren’t dealt with properly or may be covered up
· a concern that was raised hasn’t been acted upon
· you're worried about being treated unfairly.
You can contact the Whistleblowing Advice Line on:
APPENDIX 11: Policy Development and Guidance
This policy has been developed in accordance with the principles established by the Children Act 1989, and with regard to the following:
• “Keeping Children Safe in Education” (KCSIE) September 2023
• “What to do if you are worried a Child is being Abused” March 2015
• “Working Together to Safeguard Children” December 2023
• Children Act 2004
• Equality Act 2010 • Human Rights Act 1998
• Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (October 2022)
• Review of sexual abuse in schools and colleges (June 2021)
NSPCC: https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/safeguarding-child-protection/for-performing-arts