Child Safeguarding Policy
Act II Theatre Company ensures all staff and volunteers, through induction, training and ongoing practice all staff and volunteers are made fully aware of their responsibilities and current legislation, and implement such practices.
To this end, ALL staff and volunteers who are in direct contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults require the following(or will be obtained for them if not already available)
All staff and volunteers are required to wear photographic ID badges whenever in contact with children. All staff and volunteers are made aware of changing laws and guidelines and made familiar with host venue child practices (e.g. South Holland Centre, Spalding)
Chaperones are assigned to students specifically by gender, and are given further instruction in the case of children with individual needs. All staff and volunteers work to the five principles of Every Child Matters (Enjoy and Achieve, Make A Positive Contribution, Be Healthy, Stay Safe, Achieve Economic Wellbeing)
Act II Theatre Company believes quality of teaching and training is an important aspect of child protection and wellbeing. Therefore, full time teaching staff are trained to degree-level in theatre, and all teaching conforms to good practice as advocated by the General Teaching Council.
Code of Conduct
All staff, students and volunteers are expected and obliged to follow this Code of Conduct, in principle and in practice, to ensure that children and young people are treated in an appropriate and acceptable manner. This also serves to protect the staff, students and volunteers from false allegations.
Key points:
IT IS POLICY OF ACT II THEATRE COMPANY TO TREAT INFRINGEMENTS OF THE ABOVE AS BREACH OF CONTRACT AND COULD RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Designated Persons
In the first instance, staff and volunteers should report any concerns to the Designated Child Protection and Safeguarding Officer: details below
Karl Gernert
Unit 1, Welland Business Park
Clay Lake
Spalding
Lincolnshire
PE12 6BL
01775766921
07949446728
[email protected]
If the staff member or volunteer is unsatisfied, then they should report their concerns either to the Designated Child Protection and Safeguarding Officer of the Venue (if they have one) or the Safeguarding Team at Lincolnshire County Council.
The Role Of The Chaperone
The duty of a chaperone is to accompany the children in their charge at all times, to ensure their safety, health and wellbeing and report ay concerns.
Chaperones are to be trained and licensed according to LCC guidelines.
Chaperones are expected and required to report any concerns using the channels detailed above.
Recognising Child Abuse
The following information is designed to better ascertain whether abuse has occurred. It is not the responsibility of the chaperone to determine if abuse has taken place, but it is their duty to report concerns.
Child abuse can be thought of as belonging to one of four categories.
PHYSICAL ABUSE
Most children will collect cuts and bruises in their daily life. These are likely to be in places where there are bony parts of their body, such as elbows, knees and shins. Some children though, may exhibit bruises that can almost only have been caused intentionally. An important indicator of physical abuse is where bruises or injuries are unexplained or the explanation does not fit the injury, or it appears on parts of the body where injury is less likely. A delay in seeking medical treatment when clearly necessary is also a cause for concern.
Bruising may be more or less noticeable on children with different skin tones or from different racial backgrounds.
Signs of physical abuse may include (but are not limited to):
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Emotional abuse can be hard to spot and difficult to measure, and often children who appear to be well cared for may be emotionally abused by being taunted, put down or belittled. Emotional abuse can also take the form of children not being allowed to mix/ play with other children.
SEXUAL ABUSE
Adults, who use children and young people to meet their own sexual needs and desires, abuse both girls and boys of all ages including infants and toddlers. Usually, in the cases of sexual abuse it is the child’s behaviour which may cause you to be concerned, although physical signs can also be present. In all cases, children who talk about sexual abuse do so because they want it to stop. It is therefore vitally important that they are listened to and taken seriously.
Changes in behaviour can also indicate sexual abuse could include:
Sexual abuse may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material, or watching sexual activities, or encouraging other children to behave in sexual ways.
NEGLECT
Neglect can be a difficult form of abuse to recognise, yet have some of the most lasting and damaging effects on children.
The physical and behavioural signs of neglect may include:
The above lists are merely a guide. Please be aware other factors, such as close bereavement or a new baby in the family or problems with parents or carers could also be a factor.
The Role Of The Designated Child Protection and Safeguarding Officer
The Designated Officer will collect the details of the child (name, age, sex, address, names of parents/guardians) and details of the suspicions or concerns.
With the exception of the trivial or clearly malicious reports, the Designated Officer will telephone the LA in the first instance. This will be followed up with a written report to the LA within 48 hours. This is to be followed up if no reply is received within 3 working days.
The Designated Officer will determine (in conjunction with the individual making the initial report) whether other Company Members or parents are to be informed.
If a disclosure or allegation relates to a staff member or volunteer, the person in question will be suspended for an initial period of up to 10 days. This is to allow Social Services to carry out and investigation and is not a disciplinary action. The Designated Officer will keep the staff member or volunteer informed of any appropriate developments and have Company support available when required.
If Social Services decide that no further child protection action is required the staff member / volunteer is informed in writing and immediately re-instated.
If more time is needed to complete an investigation, further 10 day suspensions may be added if necessary.
No re-instatement shall occur until investigations have reached their full and satisfactory conclusion.
LAST AMENDED 10/2022
To this end, ALL staff and volunteers who are in direct contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults require the following(or will be obtained for them if not already available)
- An Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau / Disclosure and Barring Service check
- A Chaperone’s Licence from Lincolnshire County Council (which requires provision of references)
All staff and volunteers are required to wear photographic ID badges whenever in contact with children. All staff and volunteers are made aware of changing laws and guidelines and made familiar with host venue child practices (e.g. South Holland Centre, Spalding)
Chaperones are assigned to students specifically by gender, and are given further instruction in the case of children with individual needs. All staff and volunteers work to the five principles of Every Child Matters (Enjoy and Achieve, Make A Positive Contribution, Be Healthy, Stay Safe, Achieve Economic Wellbeing)
Act II Theatre Company believes quality of teaching and training is an important aspect of child protection and wellbeing. Therefore, full time teaching staff are trained to degree-level in theatre, and all teaching conforms to good practice as advocated by the General Teaching Council.
Code of Conduct
All staff, students and volunteers are expected and obliged to follow this Code of Conduct, in principle and in practice, to ensure that children and young people are treated in an appropriate and acceptable manner. This also serves to protect the staff, students and volunteers from false allegations.
Key points:
- Company members should always behave appropriately around children and young people, using appropriate language and never making suggestive comments in front of, about, or to, a child even in fun.
- Company members should encourage the upholding of high standards in the way children deal with each other.
- Other than through authorised means, Company members should not photograph / record children
- All incidents or allegations made by children to be recorded and referred to Nominated Child Protection Officer
- Children to be in the presence of a licensed chaperone at all times.
- Company members should avoid physical contact except on occasions where it is deemed necessary and appropriate (e.g. staging a dance / fight). In this case, verbal consent must be given and purpose of contact made clear.
- Children are not to be transported in vehicles, except when agreed by parents/carers
- Under no circumstances should Company members meet children outside the agreed working environments and times.
- Company Members should not assist children in things of a personal nature they can do themselves
- Any accidents involving children should be recorded
- Company members should avoid smoking in front of children, even in designated areas.
- Children and adults are not to share toilets, unless no alternative is available.
IT IS POLICY OF ACT II THEATRE COMPANY TO TREAT INFRINGEMENTS OF THE ABOVE AS BREACH OF CONTRACT AND COULD RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION
Designated Persons
In the first instance, staff and volunteers should report any concerns to the Designated Child Protection and Safeguarding Officer: details below
Karl Gernert
Unit 1, Welland Business Park
Clay Lake
Spalding
Lincolnshire
PE12 6BL
01775766921
07949446728
[email protected]
If the staff member or volunteer is unsatisfied, then they should report their concerns either to the Designated Child Protection and Safeguarding Officer of the Venue (if they have one) or the Safeguarding Team at Lincolnshire County Council.
The Role Of The Chaperone
The duty of a chaperone is to accompany the children in their charge at all times, to ensure their safety, health and wellbeing and report ay concerns.
Chaperones are to be trained and licensed according to LCC guidelines.
Chaperones are expected and required to report any concerns using the channels detailed above.
Recognising Child Abuse
The following information is designed to better ascertain whether abuse has occurred. It is not the responsibility of the chaperone to determine if abuse has taken place, but it is their duty to report concerns.
Child abuse can be thought of as belonging to one of four categories.
PHYSICAL ABUSE
Most children will collect cuts and bruises in their daily life. These are likely to be in places where there are bony parts of their body, such as elbows, knees and shins. Some children though, may exhibit bruises that can almost only have been caused intentionally. An important indicator of physical abuse is where bruises or injuries are unexplained or the explanation does not fit the injury, or it appears on parts of the body where injury is less likely. A delay in seeking medical treatment when clearly necessary is also a cause for concern.
Bruising may be more or less noticeable on children with different skin tones or from different racial backgrounds.
Signs of physical abuse may include (but are not limited to):
- Unexplained bruising, marks or injuries
- Bruises which reflect hand marks or fingertips
- Cigarette burns
- Bite marks
- Broken bones
- Scalds
EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Emotional abuse can be hard to spot and difficult to measure, and often children who appear to be well cared for may be emotionally abused by being taunted, put down or belittled. Emotional abuse can also take the form of children not being allowed to mix/ play with other children.
SEXUAL ABUSE
Adults, who use children and young people to meet their own sexual needs and desires, abuse both girls and boys of all ages including infants and toddlers. Usually, in the cases of sexual abuse it is the child’s behaviour which may cause you to be concerned, although physical signs can also be present. In all cases, children who talk about sexual abuse do so because they want it to stop. It is therefore vitally important that they are listened to and taken seriously.
Changes in behaviour can also indicate sexual abuse could include:
- Sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour e.g. becoming aggressive or withdrawn
- Sexual knowledge or conversation which is beyond their age or development level
- Sexual drawings or language
- Saying they have secrets they cannot tell anyone about
- Substance or drug abuse
- Suddenly having unexplained sources of money
- Acting in a sexually explicit way towards adults
Sexual abuse may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material, or watching sexual activities, or encouraging other children to behave in sexual ways.
NEGLECT
Neglect can be a difficult form of abuse to recognise, yet have some of the most lasting and damaging effects on children.
The physical and behavioural signs of neglect may include:
- Constant hunger sometimes stealing food from other children
- Constantly dirty or smelly
- Inappropriate dress for the conditions
- Complaining of being tired all the time
- Having few friends
- Mentioning their being left alone or unsupervised
The above lists are merely a guide. Please be aware other factors, such as close bereavement or a new baby in the family or problems with parents or carers could also be a factor.
The Role Of The Designated Child Protection and Safeguarding Officer
The Designated Officer will collect the details of the child (name, age, sex, address, names of parents/guardians) and details of the suspicions or concerns.
With the exception of the trivial or clearly malicious reports, the Designated Officer will telephone the LA in the first instance. This will be followed up with a written report to the LA within 48 hours. This is to be followed up if no reply is received within 3 working days.
The Designated Officer will determine (in conjunction with the individual making the initial report) whether other Company Members or parents are to be informed.
If a disclosure or allegation relates to a staff member or volunteer, the person in question will be suspended for an initial period of up to 10 days. This is to allow Social Services to carry out and investigation and is not a disciplinary action. The Designated Officer will keep the staff member or volunteer informed of any appropriate developments and have Company support available when required.
If Social Services decide that no further child protection action is required the staff member / volunteer is informed in writing and immediately re-instated.
If more time is needed to complete an investigation, further 10 day suspensions may be added if necessary.
No re-instatement shall occur until investigations have reached their full and satisfactory conclusion.
LAST AMENDED 10/2022