Learn to Sing with Potteries Theatre Company

Policies

Child protection Policy

Aims and principles.

Everybody shares some responsibility for promoting the welfare of children, as a parent or family member, a concerned friend or neighbour, an employer, staff member or volunteer.  Members of the community can help safeguard children if they are mindful of children'’ needs and willing and able to act if they have concerns about a child’s welfare.”

Working together to safeguard children, DoH / Home Office / DfEE / National Assembly of Wales 1999

This Policy document relates to all young persons under the age of 18 years who are members of The Potteries Theatre Company.

Named Child Protection Co-ordinator: - Debbie Baxter

In the absence of the Child Protection Co-ordinator, Amy Blaize will be responsible for notifying Social Services in an emergency.

The role of the Child Protection Co-ordinator.

  • Receive completed child protection forms from staff / volunteers.
  • Keep a “Strictly Confidential” file for all recordings related to Child Protection and potential abuse.
  • Discuss concerns with Social Services if needed.
  • Contact Social Services / Police / NSPCC as and when necessary.
  • Liase with the Chairman following any allegations against a worker or volunteer.

The role of the individual worker / volunteer.

  • Once an incident / disclosure has occurred, the individual worker / volunteer will contact the named Child Protection Co-ordinator without discussing the matter with anyone else.
  • Responding to disclosure
  • Listen to the young person, rather than directly question him or her.
  • Never stop a young person who is freely recalling significant events.
  • Reassure the young person that they have done the right thing by talking to you.
  • Don’t promise confidentiality you have a duty to refer a young person who is at risk.
  • Try to alleviate any feeling of guilt that the young person displays.
  • React to the young person only as far as is necessary for you to establish whether or not you need to refer the matter. Do not "interrogate" them for full details.
  • Do not ask leading questions.
    Do not criticise the perpetrator.
  • Do not ask the young person to repeat everything to another worker / volunteer. In the event of a disclosure, the next person a young person should discuss the issue with should be a social worker.
  • Explain what you have to do next an who you will need to speak to.
  • Inform the designated person for Child Protection.
  • Try to see the matter through yourself and keep in contact with the young person.
  • Allegations against workers / volunteers
  • Follow the guidelines as for responding to disclosures.

Record keeping

  • Make a brief note at the time of the disclosure and write these up as soon as possible and at the latest within 24 hours.  Do not destroy original notes in case they are required by a court.
  • Using a Child Protection Record Sheet (available from the named Child Protection Co-ordinator) record the date, time and context, along with what was said (using the young person’s own words and terminology) and any noticeable non-verbal behaviour. Complete the diagram to indicate the position of any physical injury.
  • Be objective in your recording include statements and observable things rather than your interpretations or assumptions.
  • Record all subsequent events up to the time of the substantive interview.
  • All original notes an d recordings will be kept in a “Strictly Confidential” file.  The only persons to have access to this file will be :
    • The named Child Protection Co-ordinator
    • Social Services
    • The Police
    • The NSPCC

Confidentiality

It is important that all confidential matters relating to the potential abuse are not discussed with anyone other than the Child Protection Co-ordinator.

  • Daily notes / record keeping are not to be used to note potential abuse, but it can be indicated that a strictly confidential recording exists.

Support

  • Try to see the matter through yourself and keep in contact with the young person.
  • If a Social Services interview is to follow, ensure that the young person has a “support person” (possibly yourself) present if they wish.
  • Get support for yourself, without disclosing confidential information about the young person to colleagues. The Management Committee are available for support if required.

Health & Safety

The Potteries Theatre Company abide by health and safety rules and regulations at venues and make sure that all participants in the company are aware of the procedures.

All premises are checked before participants enter to make sure they are in a safe condition.

Committee Members /Executive committee members and Chaperones to be aware of the nearest fire exits/ first aid bag and emergency procedures.

Committee Members /Executive committee members and Chaperones are given a list of emergency contacts for all members of company.

All first aid forms/ emergency contacts are present at every rehearsal. Members of the company are first aid trained.

The company is uniformed and so all members are required to wear Potteries Logo tops to all rehearsals and events (also meeting child protection laws).

At every rehearsal there are chaperones present. No child leaves the building during rehearsals or afterwards until a parent is present and a hand over procedure takes place.

We ensure that all members of the company listen to instructions issued in the event of an emergency.

Members are encouraged to inform Committee Members /Executive committee members or Chaperones of any situation which may affect their safety.

All equipment (music etc) is checked regularly.

The Potteries Theatre Company are committed to ensuring that risk assessments are undertaken, control measures implemented and systems are constantly monitored and reviewed when participating in any event.

We have strict Child protection guidelines in place.

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to promoting an inclusive environment, which meet the needs of the community, and which everyone is able to use.

All our members are responsible for equal opportunities.

We believe that every member has the right to be treated as an individual. As a result, we value and celebrate difference.

We aim for all members to have the opportunity to reach their full potential.

No member will be discriminated against be it for their skin colour, culture, gender, ability or religion etc.

The Potteries Theatre Company aims to encourage and develop respect of  difference and to value everyone as an individual.