SAFEGUARDING

We recognise that:

• The welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take 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.
• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by valuing, listening to and respecting them, and:

• Appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people.
• Adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for our team.
• Implementing safe and effective online safety practices and related procedures.
• Recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
• Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our people and the children and young people that we work with, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
• Obtaining written permission from parents/ carers to take photographs of their children participating in our workshops or performances beforehand.
• Obtaining the appropriate licences or exemptions where children are participating in our productions.
• Ensuring parents, guardians or chaperones supervise children at all times where they are participating in our productions.

We will build and maintain a safeguarding culture where we treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns, ensuring that our full-time, part-time, contract and freelance staff:

• Are recruited and selected using inclusive practices that also ensure all necessary checks are made.
• Have access to our safeguarding and other policies so that they all know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes and apply them confidently and competently.
• Are supported with effective management, guidance and training.
• Obtain a Disclosure and Barring Service check where they are required to have direct contact with children (through our workshops, for example.)
• Provide a safe physical environment for our people, and the children, and young people we work with, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.
• Are not alone with a child or young person at risk at any time.
• Are trained to understand a number of ways in which concerns can be raised including – direct allegation from a child or young person, third party allegation, appearance, behaviour, pay or drawing that raises concerns, reports of historical abuse.

We will ensure that children, young people and their families coming into contact with our productions know where to go for help if they have a concern by:

• Sharing our safeguarding policy and child protection procedures with children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately.

If abuse is suspected, alleged or indicated, all members of staff will:

• Ensure the immediate safety of the child or adult that may be at risk.
• Gather and preserve evidence relating to the person at risk and the immediate scene.
• Record and report to the responsible person.
• The responsible person fully documents evidence and events, adhering to our policy.
• An internal investigation will commence immediately and any external parties involved as appropriate, including police, local authorities and/ or NSPCC.

Nominated child protection lead – Tala Lee-Turton.

Responsibilities:

• To ensure that all staff and freelancers are aware of what to do if they have a safeguarding concern.
• To ensure that policies are fully implemented.
• To ensure that concerns are acted upon, recorded and referred on where necessary.
• To record any reported incidents and ensure this information is kept in a safe and secure place.

Phone/email: +44 7896 843319 tala@talaleeturton.com

NSPCC Helpline – 0808 800 5000