Safeguarding Procedures and Safeguarding Policy
At StageCraft Theatre School we are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children.
The purpose of Stagecraft theatre Schools safeguarding policy is to ensure every child at our organization is safe and protected from harm.
Safeguarding and Promoting the Welfare of Children
Defined for the purposes of this guidance as:
protecting children from maltreatment;
preventing impairment of children’s health or development;
ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of
safe and effective care; and
taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
Part of safeguarding and promoting welfare is CHILD PROTECTION. This refers to the activity that is undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering, or are likely to suffer, significant harm.
Additional Guidance :
Appropriate Physical Contact in Dance/ Drama.
Physical contact in a dance/drama class is sometimes required to correct the posture or position of a student.
Teaching dance/drama is a physical activity and a teacher will sometimes need to make physical contact with a student to show an idea or to correct the student’s position. This can include: • Lifting • Adjusting arms, legs, rib cage, hips, feet, hands • Moving one student in relation to another.
Where contact is needed, we will remain sensitive to the student’s wishes and put their welfare first. In all cases, we will say why and how we will be correcting the student’s position before making any contact. We encourage students to report any concerns.
Our organization fully recognizes the contribution it can make to protecting children from harm and supporting and promoting the welfare of all children.
The elements of our policy are prevention, protection and support.
We believe that no child or young person should be the subject of neglectful or abusive behaviour. We will promote and maintain the welfare of every child in our care and seek to protect them from harm regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief or any other form of identity or creed.
We will create a safe and welcoming environment for all.
This policy applies to all our staff, volunteers, visitors and covers children under the age of 18.
This means we will always work to:
protect children from maltreatment
prevent impairment of children’s health or development
ensure that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the
provision of safe and effective care
take action to enable all children to have the best outcomes
This policy will give clear direction to staff, volunteers, visitors and parents about the expected behaviour and our legal responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all children at our organization.
To protect children and young people in our care we will:
Value and respect children and listen to what they have to say
Work with children, parents and relevant organizations.
Share our policy with all staff, parents and students.
Ensure all required checks are made when hiring staff and that those in regular contact with children hold a current Ontario Police check
Provide appropriate training and support to all staff.
Take responsibility for children and young people’s safety when in our care.
Seek permission from parents before taking images (photographs or film) of students and inform them how and where the images will be used.
Report suspected neglect or abuse to the nominated member of staff, relevant organization, or police.
And ensure that this policy is regularly updated.
Our Procedures for Handling Disclosures:
A child may decide to disclose information that may indicate they are suffering from abuse or neglect. A child chooses to speak to an adult because they feel that they will listen and that they can trust them. The adult needs to listen to what the child has to say, and be very careful not to ‘lead’ the child or influence in any way what they say.
It is important that the adult remembers to:
Stay calm
Listen and be supportive
Not ask any leading questions, interrogate the child, or put ideas in the child’s head, or jump to conclusions
Not stop or interrupt a child who is recalling significant events
Never promise the child confidentiality – it must be explained that information will need be to be passed on to help keep them safe
Avoid criticizing the alleged perpetrator
Tell the child what must be done next (the safeguarding process must be followed)
Record what was said immediately as close to what was said as possible. Also record what was happening immediately before the child disclosed. Be sure to sign and date the record in ink.
Contact the designated person immediately
Seek support
We are clear that the Local Authority and Police must lead any investigation in to any allegation regarding safeguarding.
Full details on this process can be found on the attached link at the top of the page.
General Procedures:
When new staff, volunteers or regular visitors join our organisation they will be informed of the safeguarding arrangements in place. They will be given a copy of our legal duty to assist our colleagues in other agencies with Safeguarding enquiries and what happens should we have cause to make a referral to Children’s Services.
Parents will sign a consent form at the start of their child’s involvement with the organisation, which includes any vital health or otherwise notable information. It also requests permission for photographs to be taken for promotional purposes only.
This will also include a statement making parents/carers aware by signing they consent to us sharing information with the relevant authorities if we have concerns about the welfare of their child/children, but that we do not have to seek consent if there are serious concerns about harm or likely harm to their child/children.
Staff Training:
The Designated Officer should be used as a first point of contact for concerns and queries regarding any safeguarding concern in our organisation.
Every new member of staff or volunteer will have an induction period of 1 month that will include essential safeguarding information.
The induction will also remind staff and volunteers of their responsibility to safeguard all children
All staff and volunteers will be asked to read this policy yearly after it has been reviewed and updated if necessary. They will sign to say they have read and understood the policy.
Safer Staff and Volunteers:
All adults who come into contact with our children have a duty of care to safeguard and promote their welfare. There is a legal duty placed upon us to ensure that all adults who work with or on behalf of our children are competent, confident and safe to do so.
We ensure that we:
Carefully consider the job description and person specification
Circulate all vacancies widely
Define our selection criteria
Ask for a written declaration with regards to criminal convictions, spent or otherwise
Ask for identification
Ask for originals of any qualifications
Ask for at least two references, including the last employer
Our aim is to provide a safe and supportive environment which secures the well-being and very best outcomes for our children. We do recognize that sometimes the behaviour of adults may lead to an allegation of abuse being made.
Allegations sometimes arise from a differing understanding of the same event, but when they occur they are distressing and difficult for all concerned. We also recognise that many allegations are genuine and there are some adults who deliberately seek to harm or abuse children.
That the Children Board’s procedures are followed.
All adults who come into contact with children will be made aware of the steps that will be taken if an allegation is made. We will seek appropriate advice from the Local Authority Designated
We ensure we adhere to the principles of safer recruitment as per our policy
Ask for a written application
Gain enhanced checks where current Government guidance requires us to
Organise a comprehensive induction period which includes familiarisation with our safeguarding policies, procedures
We will take all possible steps to safeguard our children and to ensure that the adults in our organisation are safe to work with our children. We will always ensure that the Ontario Safeguarding
Officer within 24 hours of a concern or allegation being made.
Staff will not investigate these matters. We will seek and work with the advice that is provided. Should an allegation be made against the Designated Safeguarding Officer, this will be
reported by the staff member or volunteer raising the concern directly to the AUTHORITIES
These are sensible steps that every adult should take in their daily professional conduct with children.