The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC  Safeguarding policy

 

The Purpose and Scope of this Policy

The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC delivers services including training and coaching for children and young people and vulnerable adults. Within its work, The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC has a responsibility to promote the wellbeing and safety of all.

 

The purpose of this policy is:

• To safeguard and promote the wellbeing of the children and vulnerable adults with whom The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC works.

• To provide parents, carers, colleagues and other professionals with the overarching principles that guide the company’s approach to child protection.

 

The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC recognises it's duty to ensure that appropriate action is taken where a child or vulnerable adult is experiencing harm or is at risk of harm. This policy relates to all children up to 18 years of age. It also relates to vulnerable adults who may need to be safeguarded from harm.

 

This policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC, including directors, volunteers, employed staff and self-employed associates (referred to throughout as colleagues).

 

Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.

 

We believe that:

• Children, young people and vulnerable adults should never experience abuse of any kind, including neglect.

• We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and vulnerable adults, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

 

We recognise that:

• The welfare of the child is paramount.

• All children, regardless of age, disability, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation or gender reassignment have a right to equal 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.

• Abuse is a deliberate act of ill-treatment that can harm or is likely to harm a person’s safety, wellbeing and development. Abuse can be physical, sexual or emotional.

• Neglect also constitutes abuse and can defined as failing to provide or secure a child or vulnerable adult with the basic needs required for physical safety and wellbeing.

• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

• Adults aged 18 and over have the potential to be vulnerable for a variety of reasons which may be temporary or permanent. An adult may be vulnerable if he/she/Them/They:

  • Has a learning or physical disability or a reduction in physical or mental capacity.

  • Has a physical or mental illness, including addiction to alcohol or drugs.

  • Is receiving community services or healthcare because of age, health or disability, or is living in sheltered or residential accommodation.

  • Is unable, for any other reason, to protect themself against harm or exploitation.

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We will seek to keep children and young people and vulnerable adults safe by:

• Valuing, listening to and respecting them.

• Appointing a nominated Safeguarding Lead.

• Sharing concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, carers and vulnerable adults appropriately.

• Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment.

• Sharing information about child protection and safeguarding best practice with children, their families and colleagues via appropriate channels.

• Recruiting colleagues safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.

• Providing effective management for colleagues through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures.

• Using our procedures to manage any allegations against colleagues appropriately.

• Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place. · Providing a safe physical environment for children, young people, vulnerable adults and colleagues by applying health and safety measures set out in law and regulatory guidance.

• Recording and storing information professionally and securely.

 

Related policies and procedures

This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies and procedures, including:

• Privacy policy

• Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Statement

• Associate responsibilities, as set out in their contract

 

Responsibilities

The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC duties and responsibilities

• Ensure that colleagues in contact with children and vulnerable adults have the requisite knowledge, skill and qualifications to carry out their jobs safely and effectively.

• Ensure safe practice when working with other organisations, in particular that they have in place adequate safeguarding arrangements.

• Maintain an organisation that is safe for all colleagues, children and vulnerable adults and an environment where poor practice is challenged.

• Ensure that all colleagues working with children and vulnerable adults are vetted through the DBS scheme where applicable.

• Ensure that all colleagues receive a copy of this safeguarding policy, are appropriately trained and understand their responsibilities.

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Lead for safeguarding and child protection

Name: Mr Neil Cackett, Director: The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC

Phone: 07493026450

Email: esentialtheatrecompany@gmail.com

 

Responsibilities of the lead for safeguarding and child protection

The Safeguarding Lead is responsible for:

• Providing support and advice to colleagues on safeguarding matters relating to children and vulnerable adults.

• Ensuring that all colleagues have up to date training on child protection and safeguarding.

• Managing any referrals/cases through to resolution.

• Maintaining an overview of safeguarding issues and monitoring the implementation of this policy, in conjunction with the other directors.

• Deciding whether to refer reported matters to the police or local authority social care services. Where possible, referrals should be made the same working day or within 24 hours. The Safeguarding Lead will decide whether parents/carers should be informed of the referral.

• Following any serious safeguarding incident, the Safeguarding Lead and directors will review what happened and identify any learning to improve practice in future.

 

All colleagues have a responsibility to:

• Ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults with whom they work.

• Promote good practice, minimise and manage potential risks.

• Follow the guidance in this policy and report any and all safeguarding concerns using the correct procedure.

• Complete appropriate safeguarding training needed for their role.

 

If a colleague suspects that a child or vulnerable adult is being harmed by experiencing, or already has experienced, abuse or neglect and/or is likely to suffer harm in the future, they must report it to the Safeguarding Lead or company director, at the earliest opportunity.

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It is not the responsibility of The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC to decide whether or not abuse or neglect has taken place. It is the responsibility of colleagues to act if there is cause for concern, so that the appropriate agencies can investigate and take any action necessary.

 

In an emergency

In an emergency situation where an individual is causing or threatening actual physical self-harm or harm to another, colleagues must seek immediate assistance from the emergency services – Police, Ambulance, Fire Brigade. In all circumstances the colleague should seek to remove themselves from any form of danger to themselves and not attempt to resolve the incident.

 

 

Supporting and supervising colleagues

The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC will provide supervision and support for colleagues in their work with children, young people and vulnerable adults, and for areas directly linked to the content of our programmes.

 

Professional boundaries and code of conduct

Colleagues must not:

• Meet or travel with a child or vulnerable adult on their own.

• Ask overly personal questions (unless specifically related to a work project, in which case it must be documented).

• Send/give out material that could be considered offensive.

• Suggest or imply a personal relationship could develop.

• Have physical contact.

• Sell to or buy items from children or vulnerable adults.

• Engage in social media contact or private contact with children or vulnerable adults.

 

Online safety for clients and colleagues

All colleagues must take care when communicating with others online. Electronic communication is an easy way to communicate with young people, but it does bring risks and dangers. It may be informal which can create the potential for misunderstanding and blurring of boundaries.

 

Electronic communication with children, young people and vulnerable adults should only be used:

• With children whose parents/carers have given explicit consent in writing on the The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC consent form.

• By those who have Enhanced DBS clearance.

 

When communicating with children or vulnerable adults between sessions, colleagues must abide by the following principles:

• Any electronic communication with a young person should be copied to the parent.

• Communication should be made in clear, unambiguous language (rather than abbreviations and ‘text language’).

• Electronic communication (including texts) should be used for information-giving purposes only.

 

Under no circumstances should colleagues:

• Use electronic communication with primary school age children. In these instances, the communication should be sent to the parent/carer for them to pass on.

• Share any personal information with children or vulnerable adults.

• Request or respond to any personal information from the child or vulnerable adult other than that which is necessary and appropriate for the work in hand.

• Take images or videos of children or young people or make a video call without the specific written permission of parents/carers and a Director of The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC .

• Ask children to reveal personal email addresses or mobile phone numbers.

• Use language which could be deemed as flirtatious, sexual or showing favouritism.

• Initiate or accept friend requests from under 18s or vulnerable adults using a personal social media profile.

 

Allegations management

The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC recognises its duty to report concerns or allegations against its colleagues within the organisation or by a professional from another organisation.

 

The process for raising and dealing with allegations is as follows:

• Any colleague or associate of The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC is required to report any concerns or suspicions of abuse, harm or neglect in the first instance to the Safeguarding Lead. A written record of the concern will be completed and reviewed by the company directors.

• Concerns will be investigated by the Safeguarding Lead to conclusion.

 

Confidentiality and managing information

Information will be gathered, recorded and stored in accordance with the Privacy Policy.

 

All colleagues must be aware that they have a professional duty to share information with other agencies in order to safeguard children and vulnerable adults. The need to safeguard children and vulnerable adults may override confidentiality interests. However, information will be shared on a need to know basis only, as judged by the Safeguarding Lead.

 

In any work with children and/or vulnerable adults it is important to be clear about confidentiality and about the limits of confidentiality. This should be discussed with children and/or vulnerable adults at the beginning of any piece of work and reminders and information given from time to time. All colleagues must be aware that they cannot promise service users or their families/carers that they will keep secrets.

 

While personal information held by professionals and agencies is subject to a legal duty of confidence and should not normally be disclosed without the subject’s consent, The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC has a clear safeguarding responsibility. This means that, where necessary to protect welfare, it will breach confidentiality to raise concerns.

 

Records must be kept securely, and access must be restricted. The Safeguarding Lead and directors have a particular responsibility in maintaining the confidentiality of these records and must ensure that the records, or any information they contain, are made available only to relevant parties. The transfer of information - verbally, through the mail or electronically should be managed in such a way that confidentiality is maintained.

 

Policy review

The eSENtial Theatre Company CIC is committed to reviewing our policy and practice regularly. This policy was last reviewed on:  7th December 2022

 

NSPCC Child Protection Helpline (24 hours) To report or discuss concerns about a child’s welfare. Tel: 0808 800 5000 or textphone: 0800 056 0566 or email: help@nspcc.org.uk