To be read in association with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch’s (QTH) policies and procedures on:
· Role of the Designated Safeguarding Officer
· Good Practice Guidelines / Code of Behaviour
· Dealing with Disclosures and Concerns
· Safer Recruitment, Induction and Training
· Whistleblowing
· Anti-Bullying
· Health and Safety
· Complaints
· Managing Allegations
· E-Safety, Social Media and Technology
· Data Protection / Recording and Information Sharing
· Lone Working
Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Protection and Safeguarding Policy
Who does this policy apply to?
This policy applies to all employees, freelance workers, members of the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff, students, work placements or anyone working on behalf of Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch, and anyone who connects with its services.
The purpose of this policy is:
· To protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who connect with Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch and participate in its activities. This includes the children of adults who use its services.
· To provide employees and volunteers with the principles that guide QTH’s approach to safeguarding and child protection.
Policy Statement
Queen’s Theatre Hornchurch believe strongly that the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults is paramount and that a child, young person or vulnerable adult regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity should never experience abuse of any kind.
QTH acknowledges its responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and vulnerable adults and to keep them safe and for this reason is committed to work in a way that protects them.
Legal Framework
In England the law states that people who work with children and young people have a duty to keep them safe. This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:
· Children Act 1989
· United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
· Data Protection Act 1998
· Human Rights Act 1998
· Sexual Offenses Act 2003
· Children Act 2004
· Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
· Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
· Children and Families Act 2014
Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Protection and Safeguarding Policy:
December 2018 2
· Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years – Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational need or disabilities; HM Government 2014
· Information sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carer; HM Government 2015
· Working Together to Safeguard Children; a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government 2015
QTH recognises that:
· the welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989
· all children, young people and vulnerable adults, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
· some children, young people and vulnerable adults 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, vulnerable adults, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting welfare.
QTH will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
· ensuring that all young people and vulnerable adults are listened to, valued and respected
· ensuring that the creative work that carried out with children, young people and vulnerable adults promotes self-esteem and respect for others
· appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children, young people and vulnerable adults, a deputy and a lead board member for safeguarding.
· implementing protection and safeguarding practices through policies, procedures and a code of conduct for all employees, freelance workers, volunteers and anyone else engaged in the delivery of its activities
· putting in place a robust e-safety and social media policy and linking procedures
· provide effective management of those engaged in the delivery of QTH’s work through supervision, support and training
· using safe recruitment procedures, ensuring that all checks are carried out. This includes procedures to check the backgrounds and disclosures of all employees, volunteers, trustees, partners or contractors who will supervise, care for, or have significant direct contact with children and adults at risk with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
- recording and storing information professionally and securely
· disseminating protection and safeguarding procedures with those whom QTH works with including children, young people, vulnerable adults and their carers and families.
· sharing concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, vulnerable adults, parents, families and carers appropriately
· using procedures to manage any allegations against employees & volunteers appropriately
· creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring QTH has policy and procedure to help deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
· ensuring that QTH has effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
· ensuring that QTH works in a way that promotes the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults and which acknowledges that some children, including disabled children and young people or those from ethnic minority communities, can be particularly vulnerable to abuse
· ensuring that QTH provides a safe physical environment for children, young people, vulnerable adults, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
· providing relevant policies as a code of practice to anyone who hires the venue
Contact Details:
Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) – James Watson (Head of Learning and Participation) jamesw@queens-theatre.co.uk
Senior Lead for Safeguarding –
Children’s Safeguarding Team 01708 433222 (weekdays 9-5) / 01708 433999 (out of hours/weekends)
Havering Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) 01708 431653 / lado@havering.gov.uk
NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000
ChildLine 0800 1111
QTH is committed to reviewing its policy and good practice annually.
This policy was last reviewed on 18 December 2018. Written by: James Watson (Head of Learning and Participation); revised by Mathew Russell (Executive Director)
