SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY
for
HARP EXAM BOOT CAMP
Introduction
HARP EXAM BOOT CAMP (the Organisation) is a for-profit organisation run for the following purpose:
Musical education
The Organisation is based at:
7 Cupar Road
London
SW11 4JW
The Organisation has adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects every adult working or helping there 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. 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 it 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 my Organisation. I am committed to ensuring that any child who comes into contact with my 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 Officers
The management and oversight of all child safeguarding matters is allocated to:
Harriet Adie
(the Allocated Safeguarding Officers)
Confidentiality and Data Protection
All personal information we may process relating to children, shall be processed and stored in accordance with GDPR guidelines.
Responding to a Safeguarding Concern
Where a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, any adult present should call 999. Thereafter, an available Allocated 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 an available Allocated 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 an Allocated 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 an available Allocated Safeguarding Officer as soon as practicable afterwards, and by no later than the end of the day
Upon receipt of any safeguarding concern, an Allocated 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 an available Allocated 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. I 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 an Allocated 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.
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks and Reporting
DBS checks under the appropriate legislation should be undertaken wherever required. The groups of people that will usually undertake DBS checks is:
Workshop leader
Safeguarding Children at Events and Activities
Responsibilities and Planning
Typically, I will arrange the following types of events and/or activities which could involve children:
A termly workshop focussing on boosting preparation for harp exams.
The Allocated Safeguarding Officers 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 Allocated Safeguarding Officers 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).
Venues
Any events or activities held by us will typically take place at:
Salvi Showrooms
14 Molasses Row
London
SW11 3UX
First Aid
I have the following first aid procedure within the Organisation:
In the reception area
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 an available Allocated Safeguarding Officer.
Consent Forms
I 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:
Consent forms will be obtained by email
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 my data protection privacy policy.
Supervision
For most activities and events, my procedure for supervision of children is as follows:
There is a maximum of 15 students present aged between 8 and 18, with one adult present in supervision.
Managing Behaviour of Children Generally
Whenever any adult engaged by me 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 an available Allocated Safeguarding Officer
Managing Risks Posed by Other Children
It is important for all adults engaged by me 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 me in the first instance as follows:
All children will be spoken to individually to ascertain the facts. Where appropriate the situation may also be discussed with the parents of the children involved.
Where any behaviour amounting to bullying continues following this, the following steps will be taken:
Any child or children found to be persistently bullying another child on the course will be banned from taking part in future workshops.
All steps in relation to the prevention or management of bullying should be taken in consultation with an Allocated Safeguarding Officer.
Photography
I operate a strict no photo policy during workshops. I will not take any photographs and ask that members of the public, parents or guardians and children do not take any photographs when attending BOOT CAMP events.
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 HARP EXAM BOOT CAMP and is due for review every 12 MONTHS.
Signed: ____Harriet Adie______ HARRIET ADIE (FOUNDER)
Date: 14th October 2022