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Safeguarding Children Policy 

Ownership Cobb Riddle and Spall Music Theatre CIC 

Date Issued 25th April 2023 

Version 1.3 

Review date of policy 25th October 2023 

Review frequency 6 months 

We have in place two safeguarding officers who will take the lead in keeping young participants safe but we believe that all the directors, volunteers and affiliated parties of Cobb Riddle and Spall Music Theatre Community Interest Company (CRS CIC) should take equal responsibility during any of their productions which includes pre-production and rehearsal phases. If there are any concerns of abuse and neglect they should take action by reporting to the relevant authority. Contact details for Cornwall Council’s Safeguarding office are: HR Safeguarding Team on (01872) 324130 or via email hrsafeguardingteam@cornwall.gov.uk 

Currently the CRS Safeguarding Officers are Matthew Scott (mobile no: 07843773940) and Lucetta Radcliffe (mobile no:07803159939) 

Email contact is hello@balmaidenmusical.org.uk.

How should the policy be used? 

This policy must be followed by all staff and volunteers, including the directors and consultants. It also applies to anyone working on behalf of our organisation. 

This policy focuses on safeguarding concerns that stem from interactions with children: young performers, actors, musicians, dancers and backstage crew and other young people who are part of CRS Music Theatre productions. This applies at all times: during pre-production, rehearsals and during performances. No one should ignore allegations or suspicions of abuse or neglect. 

Should a disclosure be made or there are concerns regarding anyone under 18 who is involved in the production the Cobb Riddle and Spall Safeguarding Officer should be made aware. Currently the Safeguarding Officers are Matt Scott and Lucetta Radcliffe. Once a disclosure or concerns have been raised, the Cobb Riddle and Spall directors have a duty of care and legal duty to investigate and act appropriately. 

The steps to take if a child or young person discloses information. 

What you should do: 

  1. Listen to the child/young person 
  2. Look at them directly and let the child/young person know you might have to let other professionals know. 
  3. Take whatever is said to you seriously. 
  4. Take notes of exactly what is said to you
  5. Any disclosure by a child/young person must be reported to the named child protection officer Matthew Scott or Lucetta Radcliffe. See contact details above 
  6. If the matter is urgent or critical, speak immediately to the Local Authority Cornwall Council or NSPCC for further advice and guidance. See contact details above. 

    What you should not do 

    1. Project workers/volunteers should not begin investigating the matter. 
    2. Do not discuss the matter with anyone except the correct people in authority.
    3. Do not form your own opinions and decide to do nothing.

    Things to say or do: 

    1. ‘What you are telling me is very important’ 
    2. ‘I am sorry that this has happened/is happening’ 
    3. You were right to tell someone’
    4. ‘What you are telling me should not be happening to you and I will find out the best way to help you’ 
    5. Make notes soon after the event. Try to write down exactly what the young person or the child said. 
    6. Avoid assumptions or conjecture. 

      Things not to say or do: 

      1. Do not ask leading questions – Why? How? What? 
      2. Do not say ‘Are you sure?’ 
      3. Do not show your own emotions e.g. shock/disbelief 
      4. Do not make false promises 

      Why do we have a policy? 

      We have a policy to: 

      • protect children and young people who participate in all CRS Music Theatre productions, events and activities. This includes children in contact with adults who use our services 
      • detail what we will do to keep children safe and how we will deal with any concerns we have regarding a child’s safety 
      • provide the production team and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to children’s safeguarding and child protection 

      We aim to keep children safe and prevent them from harm. We are committed to: 

      • having sound recruitment practices 
      • ensuring all staff, production team and volunteers have an understanding and awareness of children’s safeguarding 
      • ensuring all staff, production team and volunteers know how to raise safeguarding concerns and feel confident doing so

      Legal duties of CRS Music Theatre CIC 

      The Children Act 2004 places a statutory duty on agencies to co-operate to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and we will follow the NSPCC Safeguarding and Child Protection Standards. 

      Government guidance ‘Working together to safeguard children’ states that ‘Everyone who works with children – including teachers, GPs, nurses, midwives, health visitors, early years professionals, youth workers, police, Accident and Emergency staff, paediatricians, voluntary and community workers and social workers – has a responsibility for keeping them safe’. 

      We will take these duties into account in our work with children who come into contact with our work and support local authorities to fulfil their statutory duties where possible. 

      This includes: 

      • protecting children from abuse and maltreatment 
      • preventing harm to children’s health or development 
      • ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care 
      • take action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes 

      Who is protected by this policy? 

      Safeguarding and child protection applies to all children and young people under the age of 18. 

      We recognise that: 

      • the welfare of the child is paramount as enshrined in the Children Act 2004 ● all children regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership status, pregnancy, maternity, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation have a right to equal protection from all types of harm and abuse 
      • Some children are especially vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs of other issues 

      What do we mean by safeguarding? 

      ‘Safeguarding’ typically relates to children (defined as individuals under 18) and adults at risk (also known as vulnerable adults), for which specific legislation and regulatory requirements apply. CRS adheres to the more comprehensive definition of safeguarding adopted by the Charity Commission: 

      “‘the range of measures in place to protect people in a charity, or those it comes into contact with, from abuse and maltreatment of any kind’. “

      What is child abuse? 

      We follow guidance on child safeguarding and child protection set out by the NSPCC, who are a leading child safety charity. 

      The NSPCC has extensive information on child abuse, the different types of abuse and signs and symptoms of child abuse. Further information on signs and symptoms of abuse can be found on the NSPCC website. 

      Radicalisation and safeguarding 

      If we are concerned about a child becoming radicalised, we follow the stages in our safeguarding procedure. We also take guidance from the government counter terrorism ‘Prevent Strategy’. One of the aims of which is supporting ‘vulnerable people’ to prevent them being drawn into terrorism. Our staff and volunteers will be mindful of radicalisation and report any concerns using our safeguarding adult and children policies. 

      Confidentiality and safeguarding 

      Confidentiality is paramount within CRS safeguarding’s policy. It is important that all our young participants: performers and crew can trust us and know that the information they disclose is treated in confidence. 

      If a person aged under 18 who is part of a CRS production then the details of the advice given to them should remain confidential, even if their parent asks. However, if we have suspicions or information has been disclosed in relation to abuse, we have a responsibility to take action. Our principles do not override the need to protect children from abuse. 

      Screening of volunteers and contractors 

      Anyone who is undertaking a regulated activity (regular contact with children – i.e. once a week or more or 4 times within 30 days when undertaking supervision, training, teaching, coaching of them on behalf of CRS) are legally required to get a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. More specifically any 

      contractor or volunteer who is leading a workshop session, conducting the orchestra, mentoring or coaching someone under 18 on a regular basis. 

      We are legally required to report any incidents where a contractor or a volunteer is disciplined or dismissed for inappropriate behaviour with or against a child to the DBS.

      Supervision and safeguarding 

      All contractors and volunteers will be made aware of good safeguarding practice alongside the CBS’s core values and confidentiality. Our contractors and production team will be given regular supervision and when required appropriate safeguarding training will be provided initially through policy awareness sessions delivered internally. Currently Lucetta Radcliffe is doing online safeguarding training at EduCare in her teaching role at CMST (Cornwall Music Service Trust) which will provide the basis for safeguarding support, awareness and inhouse training for our volunteers. 

      Any unusual or excessive contact with a child will be investigated. 

      This policy was adopted by Cobb Riddle and Spall Music Theatre on 24th March 

      2023 (reviewed and signed on 25th April 2023) 

      Signed on behalf of Cobb Riddle and Spall Music Theatre by: 

      Signature……………… 

      Name in Capitals..LUCETTA RADCLIFFE 

      Director of Company: Yes 

      The policy should be reviewed on: 

      Date…25th October 2023