Child Protection Policy

Introduction

This document is a statement of the principles and procedures for child protection at all Moore Arts: Millom activities. It has been constructed in consultation with Soundwave, in line with the recommendations of the Cumbria County Council Child Protection Policy:

11.16 Cultural and Leisure Activities
Cultural and leisure services provide and enable a wide range of facilities and services for children. By the nature of these activities, leisure staff, volunteers and others contracted by departments are in various degrees of contact with children. Such departments should therefore have in place procedures which are linked with local Child Protection Committee (ACPC) procedures, detailing referral and other responses to information that may arise concerning child protection concerns, and the requirements for staff training for those working with children. Working practices and procedures should be adopted that minimise situations where abuse of children may occur, such as unobserved contact. It is also good practice to draw up and disseminate widely codes of practice for coaches, parents and children’s participation in activities provided by departments.

1. Aims
All children and young people have the right to grow up in a safe and caring environment, which includes the right to protection from all types of abuse. They have the right to expect adults in positions of responsibility to do everything possible to foster these rights.

This policy aims to ensure that all children and young people participating in activities run by Moore Arts: Millom or using its facilities will do so safely and be treated with respect and understanding.

2. Policy
This policy applies to all activities where children and young people under the age of 18 years are present, and to all members of staff and volunteers working on such activities. Many of the principles involved will apply equally to activities with vulnerable adults.

There are three main elements to our Child Protection Policy – prevention, protection and support.

Moore Arts: Millom will take all reasonable steps to protect the rights, health and well-being of children and young people who take part in any activities organised by Moore arts: Millom. What is a reasonable level of care will vary according to the age of the young people involved, the circumstances (including length, intensity and location) of the project and the extent to which it is a partnership with other agencies.

The policy addresses issues relating to the potential abuse of young people by
1 staff
2 other young people
3 third parties.

Child Protection issues can be emotive, and Moore Arts: Millom will offer suitable impartial support to any member of staff affected by this policy, whether directly or indirectly. Child Protection training will be made available to all members of staff who are regularly working with children and young people.

Moore Arts: Millom aims to ensure as far as possible that anyone working with children or young people on our behalf is safe and suitable to do so in terms of child protection. Any suggestion of a person’s unsuitability to work with children or young people must be reported immediately to the Moore Arts: Millom director, and investigated.

3. Procedure

a) Prevention and protection

In most circumstances, effective child protection can be ensured by good health and safety practice combined with clear codes of behaviour strictly adhered to. A well-planned project is likely to create few circumstances where young people are vulnerable. Consideration should be given to the following:

1. Vulnerability to staff
1 As a basic principle, risks are minimised when staff working with young people are in sight of another responsible adult; one-to-one teaching should always take place in a room with a glass panel in the door.
2 Staff should have a clear code of behaviour; an example is given at Appendix 1, which can be adapted to fit different circumstances.
3 In general, physical contact between staff and young people is likely to be inappropriate; even in the few circumstances where it can be justified, it is open to misinterpretation.
4 Attendance registers must be kept up to date and be accurate as they may be needed for legal purposes
5 All notes must be clear, brief and factual without interpretation or recommendation
6 All workers must establish a written record of any injuries, behaviour or conversations, which led to suspicion that a child may have been abused. These should be dated, times and signed. Data for records may have been obtained from:-
o A disclosure by a child
o Observed behaviour
o Third party reports
7 All adults who have access to children or vulnerable adults, including parents or others in a support role, must undergo appropriate checks, thereby reducing the risk of deliberate harm coming to individuals in those groups by ensuring that only appropriate individuals have access to them:
o An “enhanced” disclosure check on every person who, due to the nature of their work, can reasonably find themselves in direct contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults. This includes all deliverers and all other practitioners/staff who may act in an educational capacity.
o A “standard” disclosure check on every person who works within an environment (Moore Arts: Miilom) where there is the possibility that they may find themselves in direct contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults.
8 All workers (employed and self-employed) will be required to either undergo, or provide evidence that they have undergone, checks and re-checks based on the following timescale:
o Enhanced Disclosures – every 3 years
o Standard Disclosures – every 5 years
9 Where the check has not been received, or is no longer current, the adult will not work unaccompanied on an activity involving children or young people.

Copies of disclosure information will be retained separately from the individuals personnel file by the Moore Arts: Millom Director, in a lockable storage container with access strictly controlled and limited to those who are entitled to see it as part of their duties.

Disclosure information is only used for the specific purpose for which it was requested and for which the applicant’s full consent has been given.

Disclosure information is not kept for any longer than absolutely necessary; this is generally for a period of six months, to allow for the consideration and resolution of any disputes or complaints.

Once the retention period has elapsed the Disclosure information (including any photocopies) will be destroyed by secure means i.e. shredding. Moore arts: Millom will retain a record of the check and its outcome as evidence that appropriate vetting has been undertaken. This record will include the name of the individual, the post they undertake, the date of the check and its outcome and the Disclosure reference number.

2. Vulnerability to other young people

1 Young people should be given a clear code of behaviour which emphasises that the health, safety and welfare of participants in a project is everyone’s responsibility; in an extended project, young people should be expected to sign up to an agreed code of behaviour – an example is given at Appendix 2.
2 Any behaviour by one young person which affects the well-being of another can be a form of abuse, and should be addressed firmly and in most cases publicly; inaction through fear of making things worse is almost never justified.
3 In circumstances (such as a residential) where participants spend time unsupervised, staff need to be particularly vigilant, and the young people need to feel able to report unacceptable behaviour.
4 When dealing with an incident, staff need to consider whether to inform the parents/carers of the victim or perpetrator; in making this decision, it should be remembered that parents have a right to be kept informed of issues affecting their children, and of how these issues are dealt with, especially in the case of serious or repeated incidents.

3. Vulnerability to third parties

1 It is essential to have clear lines of communication with parents/carers, in order to communicate essential information quickly, especially for:
o emergencies
o missing young people
o cancellation of the activity
o other unforeseen problems.
2 The beginning and end of sessions can be a time when young people are at risk. Regular sessions need clear, consistent procedures to minimise that risk, that are appropriate to the age group:
o A member of staff needs to take responsibility for the signing-in and collection of younger pupils – a collection book signed by the collecting adult is recommended;
o The group leader has a duty of care for all participants from when they arrive until they leave at the end of the session / event. It is therefore important that the precise whereabouts of all participants is known at all times.
o Participants should not be allowed to leave a session prematurely, without prior agreement (preferably in writing) from their parent / carer.
o Procedures need to be in place for parents to communicate about changes to normal arrangements, for example when a different adult is collecting a participant.
3 Staff need to be able to identify any young people who are absent, other than for drop-in sessions, with procedures for checking immediately on unexpected absences. There should be clear expectations of young people’s levels of commitment and the need to inform staff of unavoidable absences in advance. Parents should be notified of any patterns of unusual, or unexpected, non-attendance, or of young people absenting themselves from sessions prematurely. If the young person may be in immediate danger of harm (to themselves or others) the police should be informed.
4 There must be clear procedures and lines of responsibility in the case of the unavoidable delay or cancellation of a session, or the absence of staff. The duty of care towards young people cannot be compromised by such circumstances.

b) Support

Any staff working with young people may find themselves in the position of discovering or suspecting that a young person in their care is the victim of abuse. This can sometimes lead to difficult emotional pressures or apparent conflicts of interest.

1. Practice when abuse is disclosed or suspected

Child abuse can cover a wide range of issues including neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse. (See Appendix 3.) All allegations, reports or suspicions of abuse will be treated seriously and with sensitivity.

Staff cannot promise confidentiality to any child who may disclose abuse to them. A member of staff who suspects that a child is experiencing abuse will discuss this with the Directo or Moore Arts: Millom. A careful record will be made of any concerns or relevant incidents. Appropriate action will be discussed, and where there are reasonable grounds (e.g. behaviour, physical symptoms or signs) the Director will inform Social Services that there is a suspicion of abuse and on what grounds.

Disclosure from a child
If a child discloses abuse, staff will give the child the opportunity to talk in private, but in sight of other workers. The member of staff will make a careful written record of all that is said at the earliest possible opportunity and arrange an urgent meeting with the Director. The written account will stored at in a safe file in the offices of Moore Arts: Millom. The Director is responsible for reporting disclosure to Social Services, and such action as is taken will be recorded and the notes kept with all other materials relating to the incident. (See Appendix 4).

Confidentiality
When a child discloses abuse to a worker, the worker must tell the child that it may be necessary to inform someone else so that the abuse can be dealt with. Keeping ‘secrets’ with a child when you have been told about an abusive situation is only adding to the abuse. You can only promise to act in the best interests of the child and keep them informed of what is happening.

Immediate Action
Any member of staff who believes that a child may be suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm through physical or sexual abuse must make a referral to Social Services, through the Director, or if the staff member deems it to be urgent, then directly to Social Services. (See Appendix 4).

Protection of staff
Staff need to be made aware of child protection issues through training, including the need to protect themselves from allegations of abuse. (See Appendix 1).

Allegations of abuse against members of staff
Any allegation of abuse against a deliverer of Moore Arts: Millom programme will be considered a disciplinary issue and dealt with through appropriate disciplinary procedures. The worker should not work with children whilst an investigation is carried out to the satisfaction of the company. This does not imply guilt but is imposed to protect the worker during the investigation and is in line with Local Authority guidelines.

Confidentiality
Personal information about Moore Arts: Millom customers held by professionals is confidential and would not normally be disclosed without the consent of the person concerned unless it is necessary to safeguard a child or children.

4. Sources of Information and Legal Compliance
4.1 Sources of information
1 DfES Study Support website
2 DfES Health and Safety of Pupils on Educational Visits

5. Review
This policy will be reviewed by the Moore Arts: Millom Director and Trustees on at least a 2 yearly basis. Latest date for review: 30th April 2009