Safeguarding Policy

The Athelstan Players will encourage the development of an ethos that embraces difference and diversity and respects the rights of all children, young people and adults, regardless of age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity. The Athelstan Players acknowledges its duty to act appropriately to any allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse.

Responsibilities

The Management Committee will:

Develop best practice in relation to providing a safe and secure environment for children, staff, members, and visitors and promote a climate where children and adults will feel confident about sharing any concerns which they may have about their own safety or the well-being of others.
Ensure that members working with children and vulnerable adults understand their legal and moral obligations to protect them from harm, abuse, and exploitation.
Ensure that members understand their responsibility to work to the principles detailed in the group’s Child and Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policies and Procedures.
Provide opportunities for members to develop their skills and knowledge in relation to the care and protection of children/young people and vulnerable adults.
Ensure that the designated Safeguarding Officer understands his/her responsibility to refer any concerns to the statutory agencies (ie the Police and/or Social Care).
Endeavour to keep up to date with national developments relating to the care and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Ensure that members understand their obligations to report care or protection concerns about a child/young person/vulnerable adult, or a members’ conduct towards them, to the groups designated person for Safeguarding.
Take seriously any allegation or suspicion of abuse, and deal with it appropriately by following agreed procedures.
Ensure that all procedures relating to the conduct of members are implemented in a consistent and equitable manner.
Review and update Safeguarding Policies and procedures annually.

Working with children/young people and vulnerable adults

Particular vigilance will be exercised in respect of children/young people and vulnerable adults, who could be vulnerable by virtue of disability, special educational needs, homelessness, refugee/asylum seeker status, the effects of previous abuse, being young carers and those who are in the care system.

Vulnerable adults – harm to vulnerable adults includes:

Discriminatory abuse: such as racist, sexist, disability related.
Situational abuse: arising when pressures have built up and/or because of difficult or challenging behaviour.
Emotional/Psychological abuse: arising through the action, or inaction, of others that causes distress or mental anguish, including mocking, coercion, denial of privacy, bullying, demeaning, intimidating, harassing, threatening harm, humiliating, slurs, excessive or unwanted familiarity, shouting, swearing, name-calling, being disrespectful, making eg racist, sexist, or sarcastic comments.
Financial abuse: usually associated with the misuse of money, valuables, theft, fraud or exploitation.
Physical abuse: any physical contact that results in discomfort, pain, or injury; such as hitting, slapping, pushing, shaking.
Sexual abuse: ranging from sending inappropriate messages via emails or social media, inappropriate touching, to coercion or force to take part in sexual acts.

All members are in a position of trust and must ensure that the relationships they form with children/young people and vulnerable adults are appropriate. All members are responsible for adhering to the Safeguarding Policy and should act upon any concern no matter how small or trivial it may seem; reporting instances of actual or suspected abuse to the Designated Person(s) with responsibility for Safeguarding. This policy will be regularly monitored by the Committee and will be subject to annual review.

Appendix 1 Child Safeguarding Policy

The Athelstan Players, (the group) recognises its duty of care under the Children and Young Persons Act 2008, the Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014, the Protection of Children Act 1999, the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 and The Children’s Act 2004.

Safeguarding is the action and processes taken to promote the welfare of all members of the group and protect any children working with the group from harm. Child protection is part of this process and focuses on protecting children from physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, grooming or online abuse.

Amateur theatre needs children for specific productions and, more importantly, because they often form the cast, crew and audience of the future. The Government sees amateur theatre as an integral part of its agenda to get more young people involved in the wider society. Whilst we all believe it could never happen to us, it has to be recognised that abuse does exist within local amateur groups, and we must do our best to ensure that children engaged in, or visiting, our performances are protected from the small minority of those who would wish them harm. Children need to feel safe and respected; their parents need to be confident about their child’s welfare. Members of the Group also need guidelines in order to fulfil their responsibilities.

Definition of a child

A child is defined as anyone under the age of 18 years.
However, regulations relating to children in theatrical performances apply only up to the age of 16. A child requires a performance licence until the last Friday in June following their 16th birthday (if license is necessary to production length).
Young people between the ages of 16–18 need to be treated differently from children under 16.

Definition of child abuse

“Children may be in need of protection where their basic needs are not being met, in a manner appropriate to their age and stage of development, and they will be at risk through avoidable acts of commission or omission (this means children at risk through either something a person has done to them OR something a person is failing to do for them) on the part of their parent(s), sibling(s) or other relative(s), or a carer (ie the person(s) while not a parent who has actual custody of the child.”

Safeguarding Policy Statement

Everyone within the group has a responsibility for the safeguarding of children and must be aware of, and adhere to, the policy and procedures in force. The group is committed to a practice which protects children from harm. All members of the group accept and recognise their responsibility to be aware of the types of abuse which cause children harm.

The Group believes 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 should be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
All members and employees of the group should be clear on how to respond appropriately.

The Group will ensure that:

Written permission is received from parents/carers for their children to engage in theatre activities and that relevant information is provided in relation to their specific needs (eg social, medical, educational needs).
Members who are in positions of trust in respect of children and young people, are aware of the law relating to sexual activity with under 18’s.
All children will be treated equally and with respect and dignity. Constructive feedback rather than negative criticism will be given.
There is a balanced relationship, based on mutual trust, which empowers children to share in
decision making processes.
Bullying is not accepted or condoned.
All adult members of the Group provide a positive role model for dealing with other people.
Action will be taken to stop any inappropriate verbal or physical behaviour.
It keeps up to date with Health and Safety legislation.
It is informed about changes in legislation and policies for the protection of children.
It undertakes relevant development and training.
It holds a register of every child involved with the Group and retains a contact name and number close at hand in case of emergencies (with due regard for data protection issues).
All adults with substantial access to children have been appropriately vetted and cleared.

Responsibilities of the Child Safeguarding Officer/s

Know how to contact the local authority social services in case a concern needs to be reported. (Appendix 1)
Undertake a risk assessment and monitor risk throughout the production process. (Appendix 2)
Engage in effective recruitment of chaperones and other individuals with responsibility for children, including appropriate vetting (if necessary, in consultation with the local authority).
Ensure the Policy is distributed to all cast and crew of a production involving children.
Ensure that children are supervised at all times throughout the production process.
Ensure the Policy is reviewed annually and clearly displayed or published.

Parents

The Athelstan Players believe it to be important that there is a partnership between parents and the group. Parents are encouraged to be involved in the activities of the group and to share responsibility for the care of their child.
All parents will be given a copy the group’s Child Safeguarding Policy.
The group will communicate directly with parents; children will not be asked to convey verbal messages.
All parents have the responsibility to collect (or arrange collection of) their child after rehearsals or performances. It is NOT the responsibility of the group to take children home.

Working with children – Good Practice guidelines

Respect all children, as befits their age and their right to privacy.
Be aware of speech, tone of voice and body language.
Ensure the child has a nominated person with whom they can speak, in confidence.
Do not bully, scapegoat, or ridicule a child.
Avoid showing favouritism to any one child.
Avoid inappropriate verbal or physical behaviour eg sexually suggestive comments or physical or sexually provocative activities.
Be aware that someone might misinterpret our actions even if they are well-intentioned.
Do not allow children to involve you in excessive attention seeking that is overtly physical or sexual in nature.
Never give a lift to a child when alone. When this is not avoidable, ask the child to sit in the back of the car.
Do not invite a young person to your home.
Do not allow unknown adults access to children.

Unsupervised Contact – protecting the child and the adult

All cast and crew of a production involving children will be sent a copy of the Policy and advised on its contents, which they must read and respond that they have read and understood it.
The Group, and production director, will attempt to ensure that no adult has unsupervised contact with children.
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 minimise risk. For example, work will be carried out in a public area, or in a designated room with the door open.
If it is predicted that an individual is likely to require unsupervised contact with children, s/he will be required to obtain a criminal record disclosure (DBS check). The relevant DBS Referral Form and guidance can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dbsreferrals-form-andguidance
Adults will only touch children when it is absolutely necessary ie in relation to the particular activity/role in a production.
The director will make clear to the child, and to the adult actors, the purpose of any physical contact and will ensure the child understands and consents prior to the rehearsal.

Managing sensitive information

Permission will be sought from the parents for use of photographic material featuring children for promotional or other purposes.
Members of the cast/crew will not, at any time, take photographs on their mobile phones that include any pictures of children in the production.
The Group’s web-based materials and activities will be carefully monitored for inappropriate use.
Members of the cast/crew are strongly discouraged from exchanging personal details with children in the production.
The Group will ensure confidentiality in order to protect the rights of its members, including the safe handling, storage and disposal of any sensitive information such as criminal record disclosures.

Suspicion of abuse

If you see or suspect abuse of a child while in the care of the Group, please make this known to the chaperone. If you suspect that the chaperone is the source of the problem, you should make your concerns known to the Child Safeguarding Officer and Chair of the Management Committee.
Please make a note of what you witnessed, as well as your response, for your own records in case there is a follow-up investigation in which you are involved.
If a serious allegation is made against any member of the group, chaperone, venue staff etc, that individual will be suspended immediately until the investigation is concluded. The individual will be excluded from the theatre, rehearsal rooms etc and will not have any unsupervised contact with any other children in the production.

Disclosure of abuse

If a child confides in you that abuse has taken place:

Remain calm. However difficult it is to listen to the child, think how hard it is for them to say it.
Acknowledge the age of the child
Try to remain neutral and not show emotion, (anger, disbelief, disgust), as the child may stop talking for fear of upsetting you further. You have been chosen because the child feels they can talk to you.
Listen carefully to what has been said. Allow the child to tell you at their own pace and ask questions only for clarification. If the matter is to be investigated further it will be done so by professionals.
Do not ask questions that suggest a particular answer.
Do not ask the child to repeat themselves over and over, they may think you do not believe them.
Never trivialise or exaggerate child abuse issues.
Reassure the child that you are glad that s/he has told you what happened and that ‘they did the right thing’ in telling someone.
Be honest and tell the child that you cannot promise to keep their disclosure a secret; you must talk to someone else that can help.
Tell the child what you are going to do next; make it clear that you will need to share this information with others, but you will only tell the people who need to know and who should be able to help.
Immediately, or as soon as is possible, contact and share the information with the appointed Child Safeguarding Officer and Chair of the Committee.

Recording

In all situations, including those in which the cause of concern arises from a disclosure made in confidence, the details of an allegation or reported incident will be recorded, regardless of whether or not the concerns have been shared with a statutory child protection agency.
Everything the child discloses must be written down. This is confidential and should only discussed with the Child Safeguarding Officer, or in his/her absence, the Chair of the Committee.
An accurate note shall be made of the date and time of the incident or disclosure, the parties involved, what was said or done and by whom, any action taken to investigate the matter, any further action taken eg suspension of an individual, where relevant the reasons why the matter was not referred to a statutory agency, and the name of the person reporting and to whom it was reported.
The record will be stored securely and shared only with those who need to know about the incident or allegation.

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 the Group, a designated first-aider will administer first aid and the injury will be recorded in the Group’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.

Chaperones

A set of guidelines for chaperones will be provided. They should be considered as crew and included in all briefings.
Chaperones will be appointed by the Group 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 a chaperone’s care shall not exceed 12.
All children must be signed in on arrival.
Chaperones will be aware of where the children are at all times and adequately supervise them while going to and from the toilets. Children will not be allowed to enter the adult dressing rooms.
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.
Children are not to leave the hall unsupervised by chaperones unless in the company of their parents.
Children should be signed out when leaving and a record made of the person collecting. If someone different is to collect the child, a telephone call should be made to the parent to confirm the arrangements if not done so in advance.
If a parent has not collected the child, it is the duty of the chaperone to stay with that child or make arrangements to take them home.

This policy will be regularly monitored by the Committee and will be subject to annual review.

Based on the NODA Model Child Protection Policy