terms of business
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Samantha Jayne Ltd ensures that:
Samantha Jayne Ltd has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in their classes from harm. All children have a right to protection, and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. Samantha Jayne Ltd will ensure the safety and protection of all children involved in their classes through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by Samantha Jayne Ltd.
A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).
Policy aims
The aim of the Revolution Performing Arts Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice:
Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgement about the appropriate action to take.
Abuse can occur within many situations. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order to harm them. A coach, instructor, teacher, official or volunteer will have regular contact with young people and be an important link in identifying cases where they need protection. All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines in this document.
When a child enters a club activity having been subjected to child abuse, performing arts can play a crucial role in improving the child’s self-esteem and confidence. In such instances Samantha Scott will work with the appropriate agencies to ensure the child receives the required support.
Good practice guidelines
All personnel are encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to promote children’s welfare and reduce the likelihood of allegations being made. The following are common sense examples of how we create a positive culture and climate:
Good practice means:
The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable it should be with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge in the club or the child’s parents. For example, a child sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent fails to arrive to pick a child up at the end of a session:
The following should never be sanctioned. We never:
If any of the following occur you should report this immediately to the appropriate officer and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents of the child are informed:
Recruitment and training of staff and volunteers Samantha Jayne Ltd recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. Preselection checks include the following:
All employees will be required to undergo an interview carried out to acceptable protocol and recommendations. All employees and volunteers receive an induction, during which:
In addition to preselection checks, the safeguarding process includes training after recruitment to help staff and volunteers to:
Samantha Jayne Ltd will assure all staff/volunteers that it will fully support and protect anyone, who in good faith reports his or her concern that a colleague is, or may be, abusing a child.
Where there is a complaint against a member of staff there may be three types of investigation:
Action if there are concerns
1. Concerns about poor practice:
Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. This includes the following people:
Information should be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws (e.g. that information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure).
Internal enquiries and suspension
Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event (e.g. by an adult who was abused as a child or by a member of staff who is still currently working with children).
Where such an allegation is made, the club should follow the procedures as detailed above and report the matter to the social services or the police. This is because other children, either within or outside sport, may be at risk from this person. Anyone who has a previous criminal conviction for offences related to abuse is automatically excluded from working with children. This is reinforced by the details of the Protection of Children Act 1999.
Action if bullying is suspected
If bullying is suspected, the same procedure should be followed as set out in ‘Responding to suspicions or allegations’ above.
Action to help the victim and prevent bullying in performing arts:
To ensure that this information is as helpful as possible, a detailed record should always be made at the time of the disclosure/concern, which should include the following:
- When booking any coaching programme or consultations the full payment is required at booking to begin to begin the programme. Payment plans are also available. We have a non-refund policy. Payments must be paid by the date stated on the invoice. After this date interest is added and coaching ceased until payment is made.
- Should you need to change your appointment then 48 hours notice must be given to make this possible.
- When signing onto any of our coaching packages a contract will be sent for you to sign. Should you wish to end the coaching contract one months notice is required.
- All materials used in any challenge, programme or coaching session are copyrighted to Samantha Jayne and therefore the sharing or using of the materials with other people will result in legal action being taken.
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Samantha Jayne Ltd ensures that:
- the welfare of the child is paramount
- all children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse
- all suspicions and allegations of abuse and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
- all staff have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate officer.
Samantha Jayne Ltd has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in their classes from harm. All children have a right to protection, and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. Samantha Jayne Ltd will ensure the safety and protection of all children involved in their classes through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by Samantha Jayne Ltd.
A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).
Policy aims
The aim of the Revolution Performing Arts Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice:
- providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of Revolution Performing Arts
- allow all staff to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.
- to ensure all action is taken in line with the following legislation/guidance: South West Child Protection Procedures (SWCPP), http://www.online-procedures.co.uk/swcpp/
Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgement about the appropriate action to take.
Abuse can occur within many situations. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order to harm them. A coach, instructor, teacher, official or volunteer will have regular contact with young people and be an important link in identifying cases where they need protection. All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines in this document.
When a child enters a club activity having been subjected to child abuse, performing arts can play a crucial role in improving the child’s self-esteem and confidence. In such instances Samantha Scott will work with the appropriate agencies to ensure the child receives the required support.
Good practice guidelines
All personnel are encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to promote children’s welfare and reduce the likelihood of allegations being made. The following are common sense examples of how we create a positive culture and climate:
Good practice means:
- Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets).
- Treating all young people/disabled adults equally, and with respect and dignity.
- Always putting the welfare of each young person first.
- Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust which empowers children to share in the decision-making process.
- Making performing arts fun, enjoyable and promoting team work, fairness and objectivity.
- Being an excellent role model.
- Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism..
The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable it should be with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge in the club or the child’s parents. For example, a child sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent fails to arrive to pick a child up at the end of a session:
- avoid spending time alone with children away from others
- avoid taking or dropping off a child to an event or activity.
The following should never be sanctioned. We never:
- engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay
- allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
- allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged
- make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun
- reduce a child to tears as a form of control
- fail to act upon and record any allegations made by a child
- do things of a personal nature for children or disabled adults, that they can do for themselves
- invite or allow children to stay with you at your home unsupervised.
If any of the following occur you should report this immediately to the appropriate officer and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents of the child are informed:
- if he/she seems distressed in any manner
- if a child misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done.
Recruitment and training of staff and volunteers Samantha Jayne Ltd recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. Preselection checks include the following:
- All volunteers/staff complete an application form. The application form will elicit information about an applicant’s past and a self disclosure about any criminal record.
- Consent will be obtained from an applicant to seek information from the Criminal Records Bureau.
- Two confidential references, including one regarding previous work with children. These references must be taken up and confirmed through telephone contact.
- Evidence of identity (passport or driving licence with photo).
All employees will be required to undergo an interview carried out to acceptable protocol and recommendations. All employees and volunteers receive an induction, during which:
- A check should be made that the application form has been completed in full (including sections on criminal records and self-disclosures).
- Their qualifications should be substantiated.
- The job requirements and responsibilities should be clarified.
- Child protection procedures are explained and training needs are identified.
- They should sign up to the Samantha Jayne Ltd Child Protection Policy.
In addition to preselection checks, the safeguarding process includes training after recruitment to help staff and volunteers to:
- Analyse their own practice against established good practice, and to ensure their practice is not likely to result in allegations being made.
- Recognise their responsibilities and report any concerns about suspected poor practice or possible abuse.
- Respond to concerns expressed by a child or young person.
- Work safely and effectively with children.
- Performing Arts staff to attend a recognised 3-hour good practice (run by Swindon’s LSCB) and child protection awareness training workshop, to ensure their practice is exemplary and to facilitate the development of a positive culture towards good practice and child protection.
- Relevant personnel to receive advisory information outlining good practice and informing them about what to do if they have concerns about the behaviour of an adult towards a young person.
- Relevant personnel to gain a national first aid training (where necessary).
- Attend update training when necessary. Child Protection training is refreshed every two years.
Samantha Jayne Ltd will assure all staff/volunteers that it will fully support and protect anyone, who in good faith reports his or her concern that a colleague is, or may be, abusing a child.
Where there is a complaint against a member of staff there may be three types of investigation:
- a criminal investigation
- a child protection investigation
- a disciplinary or misconduct investigation.
Action if there are concerns
1. Concerns about poor practice:
- If, following consideration, the allegation is clearly about poor practice; Samantha Jayne Ltd Child Protection Officer will deal with it as a misconduct issue.
- If the allegation is about poor practice by the Samantha Jayne Ltd Child Protection Officer, or if the matter has been handled inadequately and concerns remain, it should be reported.
- Any suspicion that a child has been abused by either a member of staff or a volunteer should be reported to the Samantha Jayne Ltd Lead Child Protection Officer (Samantha Scott Tel: 07948372965 – 24 hours), who will take such steps as considered necessary to ensure the safety of the child in question and any other child who may be at risk.
- The Samantha Jayne Ltd Child Protection Officer will refer the allegation to the social services department who may involve the police. Children Services Referral Team – Telephone number 01793 466903. Out of hours telephone number 01793 436699.
- The parents or carers of the child will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the social services department.
- If the Samantha Jayne Ltd Child Protection Officer is the subject of the suspicion/allegation, the report must be made to the appropriate Manager or in his/her absence a Child Protection Officer who will refer the allegation to Social Services.
Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. This includes the following people:
- the Samantha Jayne Ltd Child Protection Office
- the venue (if appropriate) where the premises takes place
- the parents of the person who is alleged to have been abused
- the person making the allegation
- social services/police
Information should be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws (e.g. that information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure).
Internal enquiries and suspension
- The Samantha Jayne Ltd Child Protection Officer will make an immediate decision about whether any individual accused of abuse should be temporarily suspended pending further police and social services inquiries.
- Irrespective of the findings of the social services or police inquiries Samantha Jayne Ltd will assess all individual cases to decide whether a member of staff or volunteer can be reinstated and how this can be sensitively handled. This may be a difficult decision; particularly where there is insufficient evidence to uphold any action by the police. In such cases, the Samantha Jayne Ltd must reach a decision based upon the available information which could suggest that on a balance of probability; it is more likely than not that the allegation is true. The welfare of the child should remain of paramount importance throughout.
- Consideration should be given to the kind of support that children, parents and members of staff may need. Use of helplines, support groups and open meetings will maintain an open culture and help the healing process. The British Association for Counselling Directory is available from The British Association for Counselling, 1 Regent Place, Rugby CV21 2PJ, Tel: 01788 550899, Fax: 01788 562189, E-mail: bac@bacp.co.uk, Internet: www.bacp.co.uk .
- Consideration should be given to what kind of support may be appropriate for the alleged perpetrator.
Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event (e.g. by an adult who was abused as a child or by a member of staff who is still currently working with children).
Where such an allegation is made, the club should follow the procedures as detailed above and report the matter to the social services or the police. This is because other children, either within or outside sport, may be at risk from this person. Anyone who has a previous criminal conviction for offences related to abuse is automatically excluded from working with children. This is reinforced by the details of the Protection of Children Act 1999.
Action if bullying is suspected
If bullying is suspected, the same procedure should be followed as set out in ‘Responding to suspicions or allegations’ above.
Action to help the victim and prevent bullying in performing arts:
- Take all signs of bullying very seriously.
- Encourage all children to speak and share their concerns (It is believed that up to 12 children per year commit suicide as a result of bullying, so if anyone talks about or threatens suicide, seek professional help immediately). Help the victim to speak out and tell the person in charge or someone in authority. Create an open environment.
- Investigate all allegations and take action to ensure the victim is safe. Speak with the victim and the bully(ies) separately.
- Reassure the victim that you can be trusted and will help them, although you cannot promise to tell no one else.
- Keep records of what is said (what happened, by whom, when).
- Report any concerns to the Samantha Jayne Ltd Child Protection Officer or the school (wherever the bullying is occurring).
- Report your concerns to the Club Child Protection Officer, who should contact social services or the police as soon as possible or the school. See 4. below for the information social services or the police will need :
- If the Club Child Protection Officer is not available, the person being told of or discovering the abuse should contact social services or the police or the school immediately.
- Social Services and the Club Child Protection Officer will decide how to involve the parents/carers.
- Maintain confidentiality on a need to know basis only.
- See 4 below regarding information needed for social services.
To ensure that this information is as helpful as possible, a detailed record should always be made at the time of the disclosure/concern, which should include the following:
- The child’s name, age and date of birth of the child.
- The child’s home address and telephone number.
- Whether or not the person making the report is expressing their own concerns or those of someone else.
- The nature of the allegation. Include dates, times, any special factors and other relevant information.
- Make a clear distinction between what is fact, opinion or hearsay.
- A description of any visible bruising or other injuries. Also any indirect signs, such as behavioural changes.
- Details of witnesses to the incidents.
- The child’s account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred.
- Have the parents been contacted?
- If so what has been said?
- Has anyone else been consulted? If so record details.
- If the child was not the person who reported the incident, has the child been spoken to? If so what was said?
- Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? Record details.
- Where possible referral to the police or social services (Swindon’s LCSB) should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours and the name of the contact who took the referral should be recorded.