Child Protection Policy
Go Theatre and all it subsidiaries are committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people. This policy sets out principles and responsibilities that should be adhered to when working with children and young persons. Go Theatre recognises its duty of care under the Children and Young Persons Act 2015.
Who does this policy apply to?
This policy applies to all people regardless of role and/or seniority, working for or with Go Theatre as a permanent member of staff, a contractor or freelancer, either in UK or abroad and includes all members of crew (‘staff’).
This policy shall be made available to all aforementioned and also to anyone who is a contributor on a production, workshop or regular Go Theatre and Dance sessions. In this policy, children and young persons refers to anyone under 18 years of age.
What does this policy contain?
This policy seeks to reflect the principles of UK legislation as set out at the end of this Policy. The key principles arising from the legislation are: The welfare of the child is paramount. No child or group of children must be treated any less favourably than others in being able to access services which meet their particular needs. All children without exception have the right to protection from abuse regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or beliefs.
What is the objective of this policy?
To ensure that Go theatre and all of its subsidiary companies are aware of their obligations when it comes to working with children. To inform all permanent staff, freelancers, contractors and contributors of the principles. To ensure staff know how to report concerns and non-compliance with this policy, as well as whom to speak to for advice and support in all matters relating to the safeguarding of children and young persons.
Responsibilities under this policy
All staff that work for Go Theatre with children have a responsibility for children and young persons that are involved in or work during session or on productions produced by Go Theatre. If there are any concerns, whether about a child’s welfare, an adult’s behaviour towards a child or young person, or in any way a non-compliance of this policy and the principles set forth within, all such staff have a responsibility to let a senior member of Go Theatre staff member.The responsibility applies regardless of how and when the information, suspicion or concern came to the staff member’s knowledge.
Principles of Good Practice
Go Theatre shall seek to:
* Treat children and young people with care, respect and dignity;
* Promote the welfare of children and protect them from abuse and harm;
* Recognise that those working for Go Theatre will be perceived by children and young people as trusted persons and therefore all staff must comply will this policy;
* Use its reasonable endeavours to be so transparent in its communication, so that the children and their parent/ legal guardian are given sufficient information to make an informed decision about being involved in the in regular sessions or productions;
* Assess the risks posed to children when undertaking activities;
* Ensure staff avoid physical contact with children and young people except for reasons of health and safety, and/or under supervision where appropriate;
* Ensure that staff understand their responsibilities in safeguarding children, and the procedure to follow if they have a concern about the welfare of a child;
* Respond to any concerns regarding the welfare of children appropriately, including the implementation of a disciplinary process as appropriate;
* Review this policy on a regular basis.
Risk Assessments and Background checks for staff and freelancers
Risk Assessments are generally carried out when a production is undertaken to ensure that Go Theatre has considered the physical and emotional welfare of people under 18 who will be taking part. The production teams / staff are required to consider the risks and potential harms that may arise from the child’s participation and to take steps to mitigate those.
Go Theatre will normally require a background check to be performed in order for staff to work with children on our programmes/ productions, and/or a self-declaration form.
A background check will enable Go Theatre to reveal a person’s criminal history (‘DBS Check’). The DBS Check applies to England and Wales, the Channel Island and the Isle of Man. The DBS equivalent in Scotland is Disclosure Scotland, whereas the equivalent in Northern Ireland is Access Northern Ireland. The need for enhanced disclosure checks shall be a commercial matter for Go Theatre to decide on a case by case basis.
Management Responsibility – Child Protection Officer
Go Theatre’s overall Child Protection Officer is Emma Jayne Parker, the Company Owner. The Child Protection Officer shall be the focal point for all child protection issues. Each of Go Theatre’s sessions or productions where necessary may nominate a senior member of staff working directly on that session or production who is the initial point of contact for all such issues, as notified to staff members.
Emma Jayne can be contacted at emmajayneparker@me.com and on 07759443371.
The Child Protection Officer or alternative senior member of staff should be contacted if staff believe that a child involved in a production or during regular session by Go Theatre may be at risk of harm, and/ or if anyone are told by a child or young person of a child welfare issue or if there are any concerns about an adult’s contact with children.
Safeguarding children during regular sessions or productions: Legal Requirements
Go Theatre productions will be required to obtain a license for working with children and young persons. In circumstances where Go Theatre is exempt from obtaining a license or it has chosen not to apply for a license, this decision will be documented. ’.
Safeguarding children online Abuse and exploitation of children can happen online, through social networks, sharing of information, playing games online and so forth. We recognise that it is our responsibility to a reasonable extent to safeguard children and young persons in services we host online and on social platforms, such as photos, film, and through information in conjunction with our regular sessions or productions. For more information on how to keep children safe online please refer to this website. https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
Data protection We acknowledge that children’s data merits special protection under the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act 2018 and may constitute special category data (depending on the circumstances). We take extra care when collecting and processing children’s and young persons’ data as they may be less aware of the risks involved in providing such data. We inform the children and young persons we work with, as well as their parent/ legal guardian, about their rights under the data protection legislation.
Documentation and record-keeping Go Theatre will document all decisions taken in regard to safeguarding when working with children and young persons. Go Theatre has the overall responsibility for this documentation.
Concerns and allegations Here are some numbers and/ or websites that might be useful if any a staff member has concerns about safeguarding and/ or a child or young person’s welfare. However if a staff member has a concern, whether they have been told something by a child or an adult, or they have become aware of a breach of this policy, or has seen or heard something that would raise this concern, they must report it without delay to Go Theatre’s Child Protection Officer or nominated person for that session or production as referred to in above.
How to handle a disclosure It is very difficult for a child to tell someone that they are being, or have been abused. A child needs to have someone they can trust in order to feel able to disclose abuse they may be experiencing. If a child comes to you to talk about abuse they are facing, it is important to listen and act in a way to support the child and keep him or her protected. You have a responsibility to keep children safe.
Disclosures can be direct or indirect. Most likely a disclosure will be indirect, which can mean the child does not share the details of the abuse without being prompted or does so in a roundabout way. The child may be hoping that the adult will get the “hint” they are offering.
If you receive a disclosure of harm from a child, you may feel reluctant to report this for a number of reasons. For example, the child may say that they do not want the disclosure to be reported, or you may take the view that the child is now safe and that the involvement of Go Theatre may not be desired by the child. You are not required to judge the truth of the claims or the credibility of the child. However, if you receive a disclosure of harm from a child, you must report the concern to Go Theatre’s Child Protection Officer.
Go Theatre’s Child Protection Officer Emma Jayne Parker
Contact number: 07759443371
Email:emmajayneparker@me.com
National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)
Childline Helpline for children and young persons (run by the NSPCC)
Helpline: 0800 1111
Helpline: 0808 800 5000
E-mail: help@nspcc.org.uk
Website: www.nspcc.org.uk
Report Concern Form: https:// forms.nspcc.org.uk/content/nspcc- -- report-abuse-form/