Child Protection Policy
The Halifax Light Opera Society Juniors
Child Protection Policy
2020-2021
The Halifax Light Opera Society Juniors recognises that it has a duty of care under the Children and Young Persons Act 1963, the Child (Performances) Regulations 1968, the Protection of Children Act 1999 and the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000.
It is fully recognised by the Society that abuse can take a variety of forms, whether it be physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect. All members of the committee accept and recognise their responsibilities to develop awareness of the issues which cause children harm and are committed to practice which will enforce protection for children.
The Society believes that:
- A child’s health and welfare are of paramount importance.
- All children, irrespective of their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to be protected from abuse.
- All suspicions and allegations of abuse should be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
- All members of the Society and the committee should be clear on how to respond to the above appropriately.
The Society will ensure that:
- All child members of the Society will be treated equally and with respect and dignity.
- The duty of care to children will always be put first.
- The children will be encouraged to share in any decision making processes and to build a mutual trust with each other and the committee.
- Positive and constructive feedback will be given rather than any negative criticism.
- Bullying of any kind will not be accepted or condoned and the appropriate action will be taken to stop any inappropriate verbal or physical behaviour.
- Adult members of the Society will act as positive role models for dealing with other people respectably.
- It keeps up with health and safety legislation.
- It will keep well informed of any changes to legislation and policies for the protection of children.
- It will hold a register of every child involved with the Society and will retain a contact name and number close at hand in case of emergencies.
The Society has a dedicated Child Protection Officer, who is in charge of ensuring that the child protection policy and procedures are adhered to. That person’s name is Kate Machon and he/she can be contacted on 07925207576
The policy will be regularly monitored by the committee of the Society and will be subject to annual review.
Child Protection Procedures
Responsibilities of the Society
At the outset of any production involving children the Society will:
- Undertake a risk assessment and monitor risk throughout the production process.
- Identify at the outset the person with designated responsibility for child protection.
- Engage in effective recruitment of chaperones and other individuals with responsibility for children.
- Ensure that children are supervised at all times.
- Know how to get in touch with the local authority social services, in case it needs to report a concern.
Parents
- The Society believes it to be important that there is a partnership between parents and the Society. Parents are encouraged to be supportive towards their children’s involvement in rehearsals and productions and any activities of the Society. A copy of the Society’s Child Protection Policy will be available at all times for all parents to view.
- All parents have the responsibility to collect (or arrange collection of) their children after rehearsals or performances. It is NOT the responsibility of the Society to take children home. If a child is to be taken home by someone who is not their own parent, a formal note of recognition should be brought to the rehearsal as confirmation from the child’s parent that they are not picking them up and alternatively who is.
- The Society will attempt to ensure that no adult has unsupervised contact with children.
- If possible there will always be two adults in the room when working with children, preferably at least one adult who has a chaperones licence.
- If unsupervised contact is unavoidable, steps will be taken to minimise risk. For example, work will be carried out in a designated room with a door open.
- All adults will maintain a safe and appropriate distance from children.
- Adults will only touch children when it is absolutely necessary in relation to the particular activity.
- Adults will seek the consent of the child prior to any physical contact and the purpose of the contact shall be made clear.
- Any psychical contact that happens as a result of the nature of the production will be monitored and explained if any concerns were to arise.
- The Society follows a procedure for taking, using and storage of photographs or images of the children.
- Permission will be sought from the parents for use of photographic material featuring children for promotional or other purposes.
- The Society’s web-based materials and activities will be carefully monitored for appropriate use.
- The Society will ensure confidentiality in order to protect the rights of its members; including the safe handling, storage and disposal of any sensitive information such as the licence applications that include personal information.
Suspicion of abuse
- If you see or suspect abuse of a child while in the care of the Society, you must make it known to the person with responsibility for child protection. If you suspect that the person with responsibility for child protection is the source of the problem, you should make your concerns known the Chairman.
- If you witness anything of such nature you should make a record for the purpose of any follow up action you may be involved with.
- If a serious allegation is made against any member of the Society or the committee, chaperone, venue staff etc, that individual will suspended immediately until the investigation is concluded. The individual will be excluded from the theatre, rehearsal rooms and any other places where activity will take place.
Disclosure of abuse
If a child confides in you that abuse has taken place:
- remain calm and in control but do not delay in taking action.
- Listen carefully to what has been said, allowing the child to tell you at their own pace and ask open questions to clarify if required.
- Do not promise to keep it a secret but assure the child that they have done the right thing by confiding in you and make it clear that you will need to share the information with others.
- Use the first opportunity you have to share the information with the person with responsibility for child protection.
- Tell the child what you plan to do next.
- As soon as possible after the disclosure make a note of what was said by the child - noting dates, times and any names that were mentioned.
- Any record will be stored securely and shared only with those who need to know about the
incident or allegation.
Rights and Confidentiality
- If a complaint is made against a member of the Society, he or she will be made aware of his rights under the Society’s disciplinary procedures.
- Both the alleged abuser and the child who is thought to have been abused have the right of confidentiality under the Data Protection Act 1998. The release of inappropriate information could lead to a criminal investigation.
Accidents
- To avoid accidents, chaperones and children will be advised of all the rules regarding health and safety and will be notified of areas that are out of bounds in any of the venues the Society uses. Children will be advised of the clothing and footwear appropriate to the work that will be undertaken.
- If a child is injured while in the care of the Society, a designated first-aider will administer first aid and the injury will be recorded in the Society’s accident book. This record will be countersigned by the person with responsibility for child protection.
Chaperones
- Chaperones will be appointed by the Society for the care of the children during the production process. By law the chaperone is acting in loco parentis and should exercise the care which a good parent might reasonably be expected to give to a child.
- The maximum number of children in the chaperone’s care shall not exceed 12.
- Chaperones will be made aware of the Society’s Child Protection Policy and stage manager/production team.
- Chaperones will not usually have unsupervised access to children in their care.
- Where chaperones are not satisfied with the conditions for the children they should bring this to the attention of the stage manager/production team.
- If a chaperone considers that a child is unwell or too tired to continue, the chaperone must
inform the stage manager/production team and not allow the child to continue.
- Under the Dangerous Performance Act, no child of compulsory school age is permitted to anything which may endanger life or limb. This could include working on wires or heavy lifting.
- During performances, chaperones will be responsible for meeting the children at the stage door and signing them into the building.
- If you do not hold a valid chaperones licence you will not be permitted to be inside the dressing rooms at any point during the production.
- Chaperones will be aware of where the children are at all times.
- Children are not to leave the theatre unsupervised by chaperones unless in the company of their parents/guardians.
- Chaperones should be aware of the safety arrangements and first aid procedures in the venue and will ensure that children in their care do not place themselves and others in danger.
- Chaperones should ensure that any accidents are reported to and recorded by the Society in the accident book.
- Children should be signed out when leaving and a record made of the person collecting.
- If a parent has not collected the child it is the duty of two chaperones to stay with that child or make arrangements to take them home.
- In an unknown environment or situation it it as the discretion of the Child Protection Officers to decide what is to be deemed safe for the members.
Communication Book - Safeguarding Activity
This is a notebook that will be present at all rehearsals. It will be record of incidents that happen during a rehearsal. This will include a report of any physical or emotional harm caused to a member of the society. The book will also be used if any committee member, chaperone or production team member has any concerns or comments on any incidents that take place during the rehearsals.
The society use social media including Twitter, Instagram and Facebook as a device for notifying members of important information and advertising the society. A method of advertising used is photographs of the children rehearsing, performing, fundraising or attending workshops. This list is non-exhaustive. Any photographs of the children, faces or otherwise, are used with the permission the parent/guardian. Photographs are not posted without prior consent to do so. The permission extends to the use of photographs by the Halifax Light Opera Society Juniors and not be any member, committee member or parent personally.
Last updated: September 2020