CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSON?S PROTECTION POLICY

Platform for Performance believes that children and young people?s welfare and well-being is paramount at all times. Platform will endeavor to keep children and young people safe from abuse, and suspicions of abuse will be promptly and appropriately responded to. We will act in the best interest of the children and young people at all times. We also have a responsibility to protect and support staff and volunteers which we feel complements our responsibility towards children and young people. This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis.

In order to achieve this we will:

1. Employ appropriate staff /senior crew

• Exclude known abusers.
• Make clear to all applicants for posts that the position is exempt from the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
• Check applicant?s background through the Criminal Records Bureau (enhanced disclosure).
• Interview all applicants and take up a minimum of two references in writing. In the case of unexplained gaps in employment history, or rapid movement from one job to another, explanations will be sought.
• All staff and volunteers will be required to read and adhere to this policy, and will have to sign to indicate acceptance.

2. Seek and supply training

• We will seek out training opportunities for staff and volunteers to ensure they recognise the symptoms of physical abuse, neglect, emotional and sexual abuse.

3. Instigate good practice

• The trustees will appoint a named person to take overall responsibility for children and young person?s protection issues as Child Protection Officer / CPO.
• Staff / crew are not to give children and young people lifts in their vehicles except in emergencies.
• Staff / crew are not to accompany children into the toilet.
• If adults visiting a Platform event act in a manner that staff/crew consider may affect the safety and well being of the children and young people, they will be asked to leave, and the police will be called immediately if they refuse.
• If staff or volunteers at an outside event or delivering an activity at an event run by another organisation observe adults acting in a manner that they consider may affect the safety and well being of the children and young people, they must report this immediately to the manager in charge.
• Where a child or young person tells a staff member or volunteer about something that has happened, that person must take the matter seriously and; allow the child or young person to do the talking and allow them to finish; listen without asking leading questions; record the conversation afterwards; report to the CPO; and tell the child what they are going to do.

4. Respond appropriately to suspicions of abuse

• Staff / crew will report all suspicions and allegations to their senior crew member, who will advise them on the appropriate course of action. The manager will report to the committee member responsible for protection issues, who will inform Social Services.
• All such suspicions and allegations will be kept confidential, shared only with those who need to know. The people most commonly involved will be the member of staff /crew who first observed the child and their senior crew member, and Committee member(s) with responsibility for children and young people?s protection.
• If allegations are made against a member of staff or volunteer, that person is to be found work that does not bring them into contact with children or young people while an investigation is carried out. The investigation should be carried out as quickly as possible, and the worker shall be entitled to paid time to consult with union or other representatives of their choice.
• If allegations are made against a non-staff member contracted to carry out a specific piece of work, whether freelance or on a casual basis, e.g. a workshop leader, the Chair of the Trustees in consultation with the person(s) with responsibility for children and young people?s protection shall decide whether to use the services of that person in a capacity that does not allow them access to children and young people while an investigation is being carried out.

5. Keep records

• All incidents must be entered in a file and kept for that purpose, which must be kept confidential. Records will not be retained indefinitely.
• Whenever children and young people make allegations to a member of staff or volunteer, a specific and confidential record will be set up. This will include, in addition to the name, address and age of the child: timed and dated observations, describing objectively the child?s behaviour/appearance, without comment or interpretation; where possible the exact words of the child; the dated name and signature of the recorder in a file provided for that purpose, which will not be accessible except to staff and those with responsibility for children and young people?s protection and safety.

6. Liaise with other bodies

• Platform operates in accordance with local authority guidelines. All incidents and confidential records kept on children about whom we are anxious will be shared with Social Services.

7. Support families

• Platform will take every step in its power to build up trusting and supportive relationships between families, staff and volunteers in groups.
• Where abuse at home is suspected we will continue to welcome the child or young person and family while investigations proceed.

8. All workers/ volunteers /crew will need to note the definitions and pass on any concerns to the CPO. Abuse takes many forms.

PHYSICAL ABUSE
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child whom they are looking after.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE
Emotional abuse is persistent ill treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child?s emotional development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may involve causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children.

SEXUAL ABUSE
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

NEGLECT
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and or psychological needs. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child?s basic emotional needs.

Arts Council England has published a guide to Children, young people and vulnerable adults? protection ?Keeping Arts Safe? http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/documents/publications/284.doc

The Barnardos website contains lots of useful information including a report called ?Protecting Children? (Available from www.barnardos.org.uk or the information office on : 020 8550 8822)

Safe from Harm  (Available on http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/docs/harm.html 020 7273 4000)

The Protection of Children Act 1999? (Available from www.doh.gov.uk/scg/childprotect or; Dept. of Health, PO Box 777, London, SE1 6XH)

Working Together to Safeguard Children? (Available from www.doh.gov.uk/quality5.htm or 0870 600 5522)

NSPCC www.nspcc.org.uk 0116 234 7200

Social Services ? www.devon.gov.uk/socserv/childprotect

Do's and Don'ts from Devon Social Services website

Remember that children are vulnerable individuals who do not always communicate their anxieties or concerns in 'usual' ways. This is particularly important if a child has special needs or disabilities.

If you suspect child abuse:

• Do realise that your concerns could be significant and should be passed on. Tell Social Services of your concerns, but try not to be 'over-dramatic'.
• Don't examine the child.
• Don't ask leading questions - allow the child to tell their own story.

If a child tells you something has happened:

• Do allow the child to do the talking.
• Do listen - take the child seriously.
• Do remain calm and caring.
• Do allow the child to finish.
• Do record the conversation as soon as possible afterwards (it is very important to use the child's own words).
• Do share your concerns with a Social Worker - you are not expected to handle it alone.
• Do tell the child what you are going to do.
• Don't postpone or delay the opportunity to listen.
• Don't ask leading questions.
• Don't allow your own feelings (such as anger, pity or shock) to surface.
• Don't make false promises (that you will keep 'the secret', for example).
• Don't interpret what you have been told, just record it.

Social Services has an Emergency Duty Team which offers an emergency crisis service for matters which cannot wait until the local office opens. They operate from Monday to Thursday - 5 pm to 9 am, Friday - 4 pm to 9 am and also at weekends and Bank Holidays.

The Phone number is:
Emergency Duty Team Tel. 0845 6000388 (low-call rate)