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Safeguarding Policy

Liverpool WaVeS Music CIC ref; as LWM Safeguarding Policy

Introduction:

LWM, recognises the responsibility it has for arrangements regarding safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults with care and support needs.

This policy applies to all members, volunteers or anyone working on behalf of LWM.

We believe that:

  1. Children, young people and adults with care and support needs should never experience abuse of any kind.
  2. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults with care and support needs, to keep them safe and to act in a way that protects them.

Purpose:

  1. To protect children, young people and adults with care and support needs who are members of the band.
  2. To provide members, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to good safeguarding practice.

We recognise that:

  1. The welfare of the child is paramount.
  2. All children have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
  3. Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.
  4. Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

In addition, LWM is aware that we also have safeguarding responsibilities towards adult members with care and support needs as defined under the Care Act 2014.

LWM needs to safeguard the adult if:

The adult is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect and, as a result of their care and support needs, are unable to protect themselves from either the risk or experience of abuse or neglect.

However, action can only be taken with the adult with care and support needs’ consent.

For further guidance please speak to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.

Legislation:

LWM has formed this policy and procedure in line with a number of legislative frameworks and guidance including:

  1. Children Act 1989 and Children Act 2004
  2. Care Act 2014
  3. Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government (2018)
  4. The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)
  5. Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and its subsequent legislation, Children and Young Persons Act 1963 (which requires the use of licenced chaperones when children perform in events when applicable).

Types of abuse:

  1. Abuse of a child or young person can occur in a number of ways, and a child or young person may experience more than one type of abuse.
  2. These may include physical, sexual or emotional abuse. A child or young person may also be neglected due to a lack of action to prevent harm.
  3. An adult with care and support needs may experience, or be at risk of, abuse or neglect in a number of defined ways including the above categories, but also financial, modern slavery and domestic abuse among others. If you are concerned about an adult with care and support needs, please speak to the Designated Safeguarding Officer in the first instance for further advice and guidance.

Prevention:

LWM recognises that high self-esteem, confidence, supportive friends and good lines of communication with a trusted adult help prevention of harm.

LWM will therefore:

Establish and maintain an ethos where children, young people and adults with care and support needs feel secure and are encouraged to talk and be heard.

Ensure children, young people and adults with care and support needs know who to speak with if they are worried or in difficulty.

Discuss safeguarding as a regular agenda item at management committee meetings including any changes to best practice which need to be implemented.

The Designated Safeguarding Officer, appointed by LWM, will ensure any concerns which are raised are acted on appropriately and detailed records kept.

Confidentiality

The work that LWM does with children, young people and adults with care and support needs necessarily involves contact with confidential information.

To ensure that all those attending and working for LWM can do so with confidence, LWM will ensure:

  1. Staff and/or volunteers will not discuss individual children, young people or adults with care and support needs for purposes other than planning rehearsals or events, or raising possible safeguarding concerns.
  2. Any safeguarding concern will be dealt with in the utmost confidence and information shared on an absolute ‘need to know’ basis. On most occasions, any concern will be discussed with the Designated Safeguarding Officer in the first instance who will then decide on the most appropriate course of action.
  3. Information given by parents will not be shared without permission.
  4. Parents and carers will have access to any information that SBL holds regarding their child(ren).
  5. Information given by staff / volunteers will not be shared without permission.
  6. Measures that ESB will use to keep children, young people and adults with care and support needs safe
  7. Adopting safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers. These will include procedures for anti-bullying and e safety

Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer for the organisation:

If a child or young person wishes to take part in LWM activities written permission will be obtained from parents/guardians where appropriate, and before the activity takes place. This is via the completion of a consent form which contains key contact information including in the event of an emergency and any medical information shared on a ‘need to know’ basis. This information is held securely and is only accessible by the Designated Safeguarding Officer and/or their appointed deputy (Responsible Adult) at a rehearsal or an event.

Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.

Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through regular support and training.

Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know. Children, young people, adults with care and support needs who give consent, parents and carers will be kept informed appropriately.

Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately. Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place.

LWM will allow parents and guardians to take photographs and video recordings for personal use only. There must be no identification of any individual. LWM requests that images or films are not shared publicly on social media platforms without seeking permission to do so.

Recording and storing information securely and in line with GDPR requirements.

SBL Safeguarding Procedure:

This procedure applies to all children and young people up to the age of 18 years, and adults (18 years and over) with care and support needs who are unable to protect themselves from abuse or neglect because of these needs.

SBL will ensure that all staff and volunteers are aware of the need for maintaining appropriate and professional boundaries in their relationships with children, young people and adults with care and support needs.

Staff should not be alone with children or adults with care and support needs at any time, unless it is in an emergency situation or through a pre-arranged appointment. In the case of the latter, a parent, guardian or licenced chaperone should also be available.

Recognising abuse and taking action:

The adult who becomes aware of a concern should consider the immediate risk to the child and/or other young people.

In the case of an adult with care and support needs, their need to understand what has happened should be considered. No safeguarding concern can be raised without their express consent. For further guidance, speak with the Designated Safeguarding Officer.

Immediate danger:

  • If a child is suffering from harm, and is in immediate danger; the adult should:
  1. Contact the Police and/or other emergency services immediately.
  2. Explain to the child or young person (age appropriately) what they are doing and why.
  3. Speak to the Designated Safeguarding Officer (contact details below) as soon as the child is safe from harm. The Designated Safeguarding Officer will liaise with the relevant bodies and take any further necessary action.
  4. There should be no discussion with any other person. The information shared should be treated with the utmost confidentiality.
  5. The adult who deals with the immediate concern should complete a written account of what they saw or were told as soon as possible after the incident, and this is to be shared with the Designated Safeguarding Officer as soon as possible. This record will be kept securely and in line with GDPR requirements.

Concerns about a child, young person or adult with care and support needs:

If any member, staff or volunteer working on behalf of LWM witnesses, suspects or is informed of possible abuse against a child, young person or adult with care and support needs, they should immediately report it to the Designated Safeguarding Officer.

If the Designated Safeguarding Officer is not available, this information needs to be shared with the Responsible Adult at the event who will take appropriate action to immediately safeguard the child or young person if required.

If a child makes a disclosure to you as the Responsible Adult at an event:

Listen to and acknowledge what they are saying. Allow them time to talk freely and do not ask leading questions. Use open questions such as what, how, where, when.

Stay calm and do not show that you are shocked or upset.

Tell the child they have done the right thing by telling you.

Explain what will happen next and that you will have to pass this information on to the Designated Safeguarding Officer. Do not promise to keep it a secret.

Write up the conversation as soon as possible in the child/young person’s own words. Stick to the facts, and do not put your own judgement on it. If possible, reflect back to the child what you have recorded to ensure it is an accurate record of what they have said to you.

Sign and date the record and pass it to the Designated Safeguarding Officer as soon as possible via the SBL email address.

If an allegation is made against an LWM member of staff or volunteer:

This must be reported without delay to the Designated Safeguarding Officer. If the allegation is against the Designated Safeguarding Officer, then the SBL leader must be informed.

An accurate written record of the allegation should be made which is factual and not based on opinion. This should be dated and signed. This should be forwarded to the Designated Safeguarding Officer without delay who will then take appropriate action.

Key contact information

In an emergency situation, call 999.

For non-emergency safeguarding concerns, contact the Designated Safeguarding Officer.

In the event of needing further immediate support, NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 or

help@nspcc.org.uk

Definitions:

Designated Safeguarding Officer

The key purpose of this role is to support LWM with all matters of a safeguarding nature and ensure it adheres to all current legislation and best practice.

They are responsible for reporting and taking action on any safeguarding concerns with the relevant authorities and will be the link between LWM and such agencies.

The LWM Management will be appraised of any concerns at the earliest opportunity on a ‘need to know’ basis. Where cases are raised with the local authority and/or police, the SBL Management will co-operate fully with any enquiries made.

To ensure all people working with children and young people, whether in a paid or voluntary capacity, are appropriately checked for suitability. This will include ensuring up to date Disclosure and Barring Checks for all staff and those acting in a voluntary capacity.

Responsible Adult


LWM could not exist without the support of parents and carers who provide assistance in so many different ways. LWM ensures the safety of all children and young people at rehearsals through the provision of a ‘Responsible Adult’.

 This adult will have agreed to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to check their suitability to support children and young people.