Policy Statement

The purpose of this policy statement is:

• to protect children and young people who receive our services from harm.
• to provide staff, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

Aims:

• To provide training and experiences for children and young people to develop their talent and gain confidence in the performing arts.
• To enable children to express themselves.
• To secure any child or young person on the Agency professional work.

True Stars Academy (The Organisation) is committed to provide a safe and fun environment for children, staff and visitors and promote a climate where children and adults will feel confident about sharing any concerns that they may have about their own safety or the well-being of others.

True Stars Academy believes that all children, regardless of age and background, have at all times and in all situations, the right to enjoy the activities of the group in a happy, safe and secure environment. We will ensure that this is the case by rigorously implementing this policy. This policy applies to all staff and volunteers at the Academy and other people who provide services for or attend the Academy.

Recruitment:

All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure unsuitable individuals are prevented from having any involvement with the Academy and Agency. Employee and volunteer recruitment procedures will include a reference check and a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, at the appropriate level;

• For all personnel with regular access to children where they are unlikely to be supervised, or
• For those that act in a supervisory role within the organisation, or
• For those with child protection responsibilities such as the designated or deputy designated persons.

If volunteers are unlikely to be left alone with children without a supervisor then no check should be carried out. When checks are deemed necessary they should always include self-declaration. All prospective employees/volunteers should be interviewed, for volunteers this need not be a formal interview.

Should any concerns arise following a DBS check then this will be passed onto the Child Protection Representative of the Academy and the local Children’s Safeguarding Board will be contacted for information and guidance.

There will be a probationary period of 3 months for new paid workers and volunteers and on-going supervision of paid workers and volunteers.

Training and supervision of staff and volunteers:

New staff will have a designated person (supervisor) that will ensure that a proper induction takes place. The supervisor will provide regular support and supervision to the new member of staff in all areas of their work including child protection. All new staff will read and understand this policy as part of their induction process. Staff will be able to identify the signs of abuse and will be confident about the steps to take and who to report any concerns.  Staff will keep a check on visitors and guests whether their visit is by invitation or unsolicited. This will ensure the welfare of the children is safeguarded at all times.

Creating a Safe and Caring Environment:

• Risk Assessment will be undertaken prior to any off-site visits or new types of activities.
• Employees/volunteers working with children will carefully plan activity sessions with the care and safety of children as their main concern including the use of activities at an appropriate age/ability level.
• When working with children with disabilities or special needs, employees/volunteers should try to plan appropriate sessions to ensure that all children are included.
• Wherever possible we will encourage an ‘open environment’ e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and discouraging the keeping of secrets.
• Employees/volunteers must treat all children/young people with respect.
• Employees/volunteers must not make racist, sexist or any other remarks which upset or humiliate
• Employees/volunteers must take care to avoid showing any favouritism.
• It is the responsibility of employees/volunteers to prevent the abuse of younger or weaker children by older or stronger children through bullying, cruelty or any other forms of humiliation.
• Arrangements for parents/carers dropping off and collecting children from the Academy or any activities/trips need to be clearly stated and agreed by parents/carers, children and employees/volunteers.
• We will not let children go home without an adult unless the parent has specifically said they may do so. We will not let a child go with another adult unless the parent has informed us that this will happen.

Behaviour guidelines for employees/volunteers:

• Safety of children and employees/volunteers is of prime consideration at all times. All accidents involving anyone should be recorded in the organisation’s accident book immediately or as soon as practically possible.
• Employees/volunteers are responsible for familiarising themselves with building/facility safety issues such as, fire procedures, location of emergency exits, location of emergency telephones and first aid equipment, who the first aid response person is.
• There will be an annual fire practice for all children and staff.
• Employees/volunteers are responsible for reporting suspected cases of child abuse to the appropriate individuals and/or agencies.
• Employees/volunteers will be expected to keep participant contact details on record for all organised sessions.
• Where necessary appropriate employees/volunteers should have access to any parent consent/emergency consent forms for all children taking part in any activities (this information should be confidential].
• Employees/volunteers are expected to promote, demonstrate and incorporate the values of fair play, trust and ethics throughout their activities.
• Employees/volunteers should ensure that they are adequately insured, to protect against claims of negligence, through the Academy or their own personal insurance if acting as a self employed agent.
• Employees/Volunteers should set examples of appropriate behaviour. As young people learn by example, volunteers should avoid using sarcasm or discrimination, direct criticism, labelling and unnecessary competition or comparison.
• Good behaviour should be positively encouraged.
• Employees/volunteers should avoid situations in which they risk putting themselves or the young person at risk. This includes being alone with a young person unnecessarily.
• Employees/volunteers should offer respect to the young person at all times and strive to be sensitive to their feelings.

Employees/volunteers should never:

• Engage in or allow rough physical activities, inappropriate touching or physical punishment of a child.
• Humiliate, frighten or reduce any young person to tears.
• Allow children to use inappropriate language.
• Make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child.
• Let a child’s allegation go either unchallenged and/or unrecorded.
• Do things of a personal nature for a child. If you do have to do things of a personal nature for a child eg take to the toilet, support, lift, etc particularly if they are very young or a child with additional needs, then you should obtain the full consent of their parents and permission from your Child Protection Representative. In an emergency situation, which requires this type of help, parents and CPR, should be fully informed as soon, as is practicable.
• Undertake any tasks involving children for which they feel inadequately trained or have concerns

When working with children with special needs or a disability and where appropriate employees/volunteers will:

• Discuss and agree with parent/carer and child/young person the care they require and the physical contact that is necessary.
• Communicate with the child/young person about what they are doing and give choices where possible, particularly if you are assisting a disabled child/young person.
• Avoid taking on the responsibility of tasks for which they are not appropriately trained.

Photography, video, etc:

• Permission from parent/carers will be obtained using the Academy’s consent form on joining before taking photographs or videos.
• If permission is obtained then photos/footage may only be shot in open and appropriate areas
• No personal information about children will be linked to the images unless permission is given by a parent/carer.
• Photographs should only be taken by an authorised person who has a suitable reason related to the child or the Academy e. they are a parent, a relative, or a member of staff
• Where press or professional photographers are used the Academy’s expectations should be made clear to them in relation to safeguarding children and the use of any images. Such photographers should not be allowed unsupervised access to any child.

Admission Procedures:

Each child and young person should be formally registered at the Academy. The information includes an information/consent form which their parent/guardian must complete. These forms have vital information about health and emergency contacts and should be kept securely.  A register of all children attending, contact address and telephone numbers for emergencies will be kept for each session.

Designated Safeguarding Officer:

There will be a named Child Protection Representative for the Academy.  In the event of any concerns regarding a child then the CPR will be informed at the earliest available opportunity. If necessary the CPR will inform the relevant Social Services Department without delay and the Principal of the Academy. The CPR will also ensure that the child protection procedures are kept up to date and reviewed.

Named Person:

Children and parents/carers will have a ‘named person’ to whom they may report any worries or concerns.  The current CPR for the Academy is the Principal.  Contact details are at the end of this policy.

Responding to disclosures of abuse:

It is not the responsibility of employees/volunteers to deal with suspected abuse but it is their responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate person. It is important that all employees/volunteers should be aware of their responsibilities if child abuse is suspected.

If you notice any social changes in the behaviour of a child, worrying marks or bruises or hear a child/children talking about things which give cause for concern, then your first responsibility is to the child. It is not safe to assume that someone else will take action.  As an adult you have a duty to take appropriate action.  Recognising and coping with child abuse is very stressful and the person reporting the concern will not have to cope alone.

If a child spontaneously talks of experiences which give cause for concern staff and volunteers at the Academy should:

1. Explain to the child that if he/she discloses information which leads you to believe they are being harmed or abused, you will be unable to keep it confidential.
2. Listen to the child without questioning him/her. Be aware of your own reactions as showing disapproval may stop the child from continuing with their disclosure.
3. Do not try to stop the child from recalling events. Make a note of what is said, in what context, the setting, the timing and which people were present.
4. Reassure the child, tell them that they are right to tell you [do not promise to keep it a secret as it is your responsibility to inform others].
5. Stay calm – ensure the child is safe and feels safe.
6. Accept what you have been told. [This should not be seen as believing or disbelieving what you have been told]
7. Reassure the child and stress that they are not to blame.
8. Tell the child that you will offer support but you will have to pass the information on.
9. Do not question the child and/or rush into details that may be inappropriate.
10. Monitor the individuals concerned; encourage them to continue to take part in the Academy’s activities.
11. Do not make promises you cannot keep.
12. Do not approach or contact the alleged abuser[s].

Reporting Procedures:

• Inform the CPR or in their absence, the deputy designated person immediately. Remember that confidentiality is of the utmost importance.
• Record the concern or incident. The record must include the date and time the disclosure was made, the names of the people involved, what was said and done by whom and any action taken. Once completed this must be passed to the CPR and stored in accordance with data protection legislation.
• If the matter is urgent and the designated people cannot be contacted, then contact social services or the police (999).
• The CPR will contact the appropriate authorities including the Duty Social Worker in the area where the child lives as soon as possible once an incident report is received.

Concerns would normally be shared with parents/carers as soon as possible. However, there could be circumstances when this could put the child at greater risk or there may be concerns that parents/carers will not respond appropriately. The designated or deputy designated person must be consulted and make a decision about this. Every effort will be made by Social Services to respect the anonymity, if requested, of the person reporting the abuse, however, if allegations result in Court proceedings this may not be possible.

Secure handling of information policy; The General Data Protection Act 2018

This policy follows the General Data Protection Act 2018 principles as set out in the Organisation’s Data Protection Act Policy. The Data Protection Act controls how personal information is used by organisations, businesses or the government. Everyone responsible for using data has to follow strict rules called ‘data protection principles’:

The six principles of data protection in GDPR are that data must be treated in a way that is:

1. Lawful, fair and transparent

There has to be legitimate grounds for collecting the data and it must not have a negative effect on the person or be used in a way they wouldn’t expect.

2. Limited for its purpose

Data should be collected for specified and explicit purposes and not used in a way someone wouldn’t expect.

3. Adequate and necessary

It must be clear why the data is being collected and what will be done with it. Unnecessary data or information without any purpose should not be collected.

4. Accurate

Reasonable steps must be taken to keep the information up to date and to change it if it is inaccurate.

5. Not kept longer than needed

Data should not be kept for longer than is needed, and it must be properly destroyed or deleted when it is no longer used or goes out of date.

6. Integrity and confidentiality

Data should be processed in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unauthorised or unlawful processing, loss, damage or destruction, and kept safe and secure.

Allegations against staff or volunteers:

• As with any allegation of abuse this information must be passed on to the Child Protection Representative.
• If the allegation is against the CPR, concerns should be reported to the deputy designated person or most senior member of staff.
• Full support and protection will be given to any staff / volunteer who in good faith (without malicious intent) reports their concerns about a colleague’s practice, or the possibility that a child / young person may be being abused.
• Ensure the safety of the child / young person.
• A decision will be made by the management as to whether that person can continue working with the organisation while the investigation is being carried out.

Review

True Stars Academy will ensure that issues of child protection receive continuous attention and will regularly review the way that we operate to support this principle. The child protection policy should be reviewed annually and when there are any changes in legislation.

This policy was last reviewed on:  29^th Jan 2021

Contact Details of Child Protection Representative:

Brooke Kinsella MBE

brooke@truestarsacademy.com

07507 110 491

Deputy Designated Person:

Corinne Murphy

corinne@truestarsacademy.com

Contact numbers for reporting

●      Child protection team  – Melissa Friedberg             020 7527 4209 ●      Islington Social Services – ●      Referral and Advice team 020 7527 7400  ●      Emergency Duty Team, 020 7226 0992 ●      Police – Camden & Islington Child Abuse Investigation Team  020 8733 4286/6502 ●      NSPCC child protection Helpline 0808 800 5000

Signed: