SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY
for
JAMZDANCE
Introduction
Jamz Dance take the safety of all children in our care’s safety as the main priority. Our aim is to create a safe place for your children to enjoy and learn whilst having fun. This policy is set out to ensure that you are aware we take our responsibilities seriousness and makes our standards freely available for you to review.
The purpose of this policy statement is:
- To protect children and young people who receive Jamz dance services from harm.
- To provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
- This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of JAMZdance.
We believe that:
- Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
- We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
- The welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse
- Some children 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, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:
- Valuing, listening to and respecting them
- Appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people, a deputy and a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding
- Adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers • developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
- Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently
- Recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- Recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance.
- Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions
- Making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern
- Using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
- Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
- Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
- Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance • building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.
JAMZDANCE (the Organisation) is a for-profit organisation run for the following purpose:
Music and movement and dance classes for children
The Organisation is based at:
Various different schools and nurseries/ pre-schools
The Organisation has adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects every adult working or helping at Organisation to support it and comply with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all staff, managers, trustees, directors, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of Organisation.
Purpose of the Policy
This policy is intended to protect children who receive any service from us, including those who are the children of adults who may receive services from us. Under this policy, the term children shall mean any person who is under eighteen years of age.
The Organisation believes that no child or young person should experience abuse or harm and is committed to the protection of children and young people. This policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding.
The Risks to Children
Children can be vulnerable to different forms of abuse and harm. It is important to recognise that abuse and harm of children can cover a wide range of circumstances and behaviours. For example, children can be at risk of:
– physical or emotional abuse
– neglect
– sexual abuse
– female genital mutilation (FGM)
– grooming and exploitation
– trafficking and modern slavery
– exposure to or infliction of domestic abuse
– bullying or cyber bullying
– exposure to other inappropriate content or behaviour, such as violence or criminal behaviour
– self-harm
– physical harm when engaging with activities without adequate supervision
The causal factors of any such harm and/or abuse can also be wide-ranging. For example, children can be placed at risk by family members or by members of the community.
Safeguarding Principles
Safeguarding children from harm and abuse is an essential responsibility for our Organisation. We are committed to ensuring that any child who comes into contact with our services is properly safeguarded. Every person under this policy must ensure that they play an active role in ensuring that children are properly safeguarded.
Every person under this policy holds responsibility for:
– remaining alert and aware of possible safeguarding risks to children
– guarding children against harmful environments with appropriate actions (for example, adequate supervision or ensuring safe environments)
– taking positive steps to maintain the safety and wellbeing of children engaging with us as an Organisation
– reporting concerns expeditiously and appropriately, in line with child protection procedures
– understanding the duty to report specific concerns (and understanding how this interplays with confidentiality)
– challenging any inappropriate or harmful behaviour of any other adult and reporting this accordingly
– acting appropriately in the presence of children
– not taking any inappropriate risks
– not smoking, drinking or taking any form of illicit substances in the presence of children
Safeguarding Officer
Any question, report or concern in relation to the safeguarding of children should be shared with our Safeguarding Officer:
Name: JAMIE BEIRNE
Email: jamzdance@live.co.uk
Telephone: 07929095405
Confidentiality and Data Protection
All personal information we may process relating to children, shall be processed and stored in accordance with our data protection privacy policy which can be located at: ON OUR WEBSITE.
Responding to a Safeguarding Concern
Where a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, any adult present should call 999. Thereafter, the Safeguarding Officer should be contacted as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Where there is a safeguarding concern but no immediate risk of serious harm, the adult who has heard or witnessed this concern should consult with the Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable and by no later than the end of that same day.
Where any child makes a disclosure relating to harm or abuse to an adult, it is important for that adult to:
– listen calmly and carefully, showing that their their views are taken seriously
– provide an appropriate and honest level of reassurance
– avoid interrogating children and asking probing, intrusive and/or leading questions
– avoid making false promises regarding secrets and confidentiality with the child (because any concern of abuse/harm must be shared with the Safeguarding Officer and any subsequent safeguarding referral)
– make a confidential written record of the discussion either during the discussion or immediately afterwards. The record should include the key details of the disclosure together with any relevant times, dates, places and people concerned. Audio and video recordings of children making disclosures should be avoided
– refer all relevant information to the Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable afterwards, and by no later than the end of the day
Upon receipt of any safeguarding concern, the Safeguarding Officer shall consult with any other relevant persons and will make any appropriate referrals to the relevant authorities, such as the applicable Local Authority Children’s Services department.
Reporting Concerns About Other Adults
Where any person has a concern regarding the conduct of an adult connected to the Organisation, which poses or may pose a safeguarding risk to children such as:
– harming a child either physically or emotionally
– exposing a child to behaviour which may cause physical or emotional harm
– engaging in criminal activity concerning a child
this must be raised in the first instance with the Safeguarding Officer (or where this is not appropriate, a different senior member of the organisation) so that the next appropriate steps may be agreed and actioned. We recognise that there could be circumstances where a person may need to report a matter that has taken place in a setting outside of the person’s engagement with the Organisation.
Usually, any appropriate steps following a safeguarding referral in respect of an individual connected to the Organisation will include either:
– further initial enquiries
– escalation to the applicable Local Authority Children’s Services department for assessment and/or the police for investigation
– instigation of any appropriate disciplinary, formal investigation processes and suspension of any person concerned within the Organisation
– a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service, or any other relevant regulatory bodies
Any person within the Organisation who has allegations made against them shall be informed properly in a formal meeting of the particulars of the allegations and the relevant next steps which shall be taken. Such a meeting should ordinarily be held by the Safeguarding Officer. On certain occasions, such a meeting may not be convened until this has been approved by any authorities involved (such as the police or the relevant Local Authority).
Any person from within the Organisation who has allegations made against them shall be treated fairly. All enquires, investigations and decisions taken shall be just and fair, with the safety of any child concerned at the heart of the process.
Any person from within the Organisation who makes an allegation against another person from within the Organisation shall be listened to, taken seriously and shall be treated fairly and justly throughout the process of enquiries, investigations and decision making.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks and Reporting
DBS checks under the appropriate legislation should be undertaken wherever required. The groups of people we will usually undertake DBS checks in relation to are:
All staff at JAMZdance
Wherever we deem it is necessary and appropriate to remove any individual from a position of work in a activity which is regulated under the relevant legislation, we shall also be obliged to make a referral to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Safeguarding Children at Events and Activities
Responsibilities and Planning
Typically, we may arrange the following types of events and/or activities which could involve children:
dance classes
The Safeguarding Officer shall hold ultimate responsibility for the safety and appropriateness of the event. They may however appoint a delegate for some responsibilities the purpose of a specific event.
Although the Safeguarding Officer and any appointed delegates will hold ultimate responsibility for overseeing the safety for events and activities, all individuals under this policy must also play an active role in ensuring the safety of children at all times.
Appropriate background checking shall be undertaken for any adult engaged by us in connection with an event or activity involving children, wherever this is required by law (see the relevant section above).
For certain types of events or activities, we may issue an additional code of conduct, policy, or some specific other requirements which is specific to that occasion. Any such additional documentation will be made available to all those concerned (staff members, parents, guardians etc.) in advance. They should be read carefully and adhered to.
Venues
Any events or activities held by us will typically take place at:
community centres and schools
We have carried out a health and safety risk assessment of this location in reference to its safety and suitability for children. Where any events or activities are held at any other location we shall also carry out a risk assessment.
The fire safety procedure at this location can be found in the following location:
Fire safety procedures will be explained to each teacher for each school
First Aid
We have the following first aid procedure within the Organisation:
All staff first aid trained and you can email JAMZdance for these
Any accident or injury concerning a child should be brought to the attention of the nearest first aider and should thereafter be formally reported to the Safeguarding Officer.
Consent Forms
We shall always obtain written consent from a parent or guardian for any event which takes place with children in attendance without their responsible parent or guardian present. Consent will be obtained via:
booking forms online
Consent forms will include emergency contact details and will set out any specific safety needs/requirements for children.
All consent forms will be kept secure and shall be stored in accordance with our data protection privacy policy.
Supervision
For most activities and events, our procedure for supervision of children is as follows:
All children will be signed in and assigned to teacher
Where we hold any events or activities whereby a child attends alongside their parent or guardian, parents and guardians should ensure that children are properly supervised.
Managing Behaviour of Children Generally
Whenever any adult engaged by us is faced with challenging or inappropriate behaviour from a child or with conflict between children, they must:
– treat each child fairly and equally
– approach the situation in a calm and neutral manner
– only ever use physical restraint/intervention in order to protect the immediate safety of a person, for example to prevent an injury or harm either to the child or others
– wherever it is justified to physically restrain a child or to physically intervene, the amount of force used should be kept to the absolute minimum taking into account the risk posed
– make a written record of the incident and ensure this is reported appropriately to the Safeguarding Officer
Further details regarding our procedures for managing behaviour can be located in our behaviour policy:
Upon request
Managing Risks Posed by Other Children
It is important for all adults engaged by us to recognise that children can face harm from their peers. This can commonly take the form of bullying. Bullying can be defined as any behaviour which is:
– repeated; and
– has the intention of hurting somebody either physically or emotionally.
Bulling can sometimes be motivated by prejudices based on certain groups, for example gender, race, religion or sexual orientation. Bullying can often include:
– physical harm perpetrated against another child
– name calling and threats
– cyberbullying (threats and abusive comments made via technology)
Any instance of bullying or concern relating to possible bullying between children at any event or activities arranged by us will usually be dealt with by us in the first instance as follows:
All children and relevant staff shall be spoken to individually to ascertain facts. Where appropriate, children will receive a first warning and relevant support/ education.
Where any behaviour amounting to bullying continues following this, the following steps will be taken:
The child or children who have been found responsible for persistant behaviour which amounts to bullying of another child shall be banned from attending class.
All steps in relation to the prevention or management of bullying should be taken in consultation with the Safeguarding Officer.
Photography
Our Photographs
On some occasions, we may take photographs featuring children. We recognise that photography of children carries risks, such as:
– the potential for images to be re-used, shared or adapted in a damaging or inappropriate manner
– the general risk of sharing images and the impact this could have on child’s public image as they grow older
In view of these risks, we will:
– always ask for written permission from a child and their parent/guardian before taking and sharing any image of them
– always ensure that a child and their parent/guardian are properly informed how an image will be used and shared
– always ensure that a child’s identity is protected as far as is possible within any published material
– ask that parents, guardians, children and any other person connected to them who may wish to share any of our published images which features other children to refrain from doing so unless they have the permission of the other children and their parent/guardian
– always store photos in accordance with our data protection policy.
Members of the Public
We ask that any members of the public attending our premises, events or activities do not take photographs.
Further information is contained in our photography policy which can be found:
Consent for photographs will be online when you book child onto a class.
Other Policies
We have referred within this document to the following other important policies which should be read in conjunction with this policy:
– Our data protection policy
– Our first aid policy
– Our photography policy
– Our behaviour policy
Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up in accordance with all relevant and applicable legislation and guidance available to the Organisation in the jurisdictions it operates within.
This Policy is approved and robustly endorsed by JAMZDANCE and is due for review every YEAR.
Signed: __________J.Beirne_____________________ JAMIE BEIRNE (Safeguarding Officer)
Date: 5th September 2022
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
If you think a child is at immediate risk of significant harm telephone Children’s Social Care (Hants Direct: 0300 555 1384) and/or the Police: 101 (999 if an emergency)immediately.
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000
Local Safeguarding Children Partnership
https://www.hampshirescp.org.uk
Reporting a concern
https://www.hampshirescp.org.uk/report-a-concern/
Threshold Guidance