Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults 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 and Lucetta Radcliffe.

Contact details are hello@balmaidenmusical.org.uk.

Mobile phone 07843773940 and 0780315993

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 vulnerable adults: 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, neglect, inappropriate behaviour or harassment.

Should a disclosure be made or there are concerns regarding any vulnerable adult who is involved in the production the Cobb Riddle and Spall Safeguarding Officer should be made aware.

Currently the Safeguarding Officer is Matt Scott. Should Matt Scott not be immediately available, the Artistic Director Lucetta Radcliffe should be informed. 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..
It is important to have policy and procedures in place so that all CRS Directors, contractors and volunteers can work to prevent abuse and know what to do should a concern arise.

This policy focuses on safeguarding concerns about adults that stem from interactions within the production process; however the legal duties and principles outlined in this document apply to our contractors and volunteers, No one should ignore allegations or suspicions of abuse or neglect.

What you should do if a vulnerable adult discloses information you deem as important to you:
● Listen to the young person in question
● Look at them directly and let the young person know if, and why, you might have to let
other professionals know.
● Take whatever is said to you seriously and help the young person to trust his/her own
feelings. Take notes of exactly what is said to you
● Any disclosure by a young person must be reported to the named child protection officer
Matthew Scott or Lucetta Radcliffe. See contact details above
● 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:

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

Things to say or do:

● ‘What you are telling me is very important’
● This is not your fault’
● ‘I am sorry that this has happened/is happening’
● ‘You were right to tell someone’
● What you are telling me should not be happening to you and I will find out the best
way to help you’
● Make notes soon after the event. Try to write down exactly what the young person or
the child said.
● Avoid assumptions or conjecture.
Things not to say or do:
● Do not ask leading questions – Why? How? What?
● Do not say ‘Are you sure?’
● Do not show your own emotions e.g. shock/disbelief
● Do not make false promises

Why do we have a policy?
This policy has been drawn up to enable CRS Directors, volunteers and contractors to:

● Promote good practice and work in a way that can prevent harm abuse, neglect,
inappropriate behaviour or harassment from occurring
● ensure that any allegations of abuse or suspicions are dealt with appropriately and the
person experiencing abuse is supported, and
● Stop abuse occurring and prevent harm and reduce the risk of abuse
● Safeguard adults in a way that supports them in making choices and having control
about how they want to live
● Raise awareness of safeguarding adults to ensure that everyone can play their part in
preventing, identifying and responding to abuse inappropriate behaviour or harassment

● ensuring all contractors and volunteers have an understanding and awareness of adult
safeguarding and who they should go to if they have concerns that an adult at risk may be experiencing, or has experienced, abuse or neglect
● ensuring all contractors and volunteers know how to raise safeguarding concerns and feel confident doing so
● ensuring that the Adult Safeguarding Lead understands his/her responsibility to refer incidents of adult abuse to the relevant statutory agencies (Police/Local Authority)
● ensuring contractors and volunteers are given support and afforded protection, if necessary, under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998: they will be dealt with in a fair and equitable manner and they will be kept informed of any action that has been taken and its outcome.

Who Is Protected by this Policy?
The policy and procedures relate to the safeguarding of adults at risk. An adult at risk is defined as an individual aged over 18 who:

● has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those
needs), and
● is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
● as a result of those care and support needs are unable to protect themselves from either
the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect.
(Care Act, 2014)
We recognise that many policies and organisations refer to ‘adults at risk’ or ‘vulnerable adults’. This policy adopts the broader definitions introduced in recent legislation such as the Care Act 2014 and the
Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 2014.
Under the Care Act 2014 and the Social Services and Wellbeing (Wales) Act 20 14, safeguarding duties apply to an adult who:
● has care and support needs, and
● is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and
● is unable to protect themselves because of their care and support needs.
An adult with care and support needs may be:
● an older person
● a person with a physical disability, a learning difficulty or a sensory impairment
● someone with mental health needs, including dementia or a personality disorder
● a person with a long-term health condition
● someone who misuses substances or alcohol to the extent that it affects their ability to manage day-to-day living.

We will apply this policy equally to all adults who are part of all CBS Music Theatre productions regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.

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 …or those it comes into contact with, from abuse and maltreatment of any kind’.”
Recognising the different types of abuse and risk

Below is a list of the different types of abuse. For a more detailed breakdown see our separate document:

Types of Abuse and Abuse Indicators

Physical abuse
Domestic violence or abuse
Sexual abuse
Financial or material abuse
Discriminatory abuse
Organisational or institutional abuse

Abuse may be carried out deliberately or unknowingly. Abuse may be a single act or repeated acts.
People who behave abusively come from all backgrounds and walks of life. They may be doctors, nurses, social workers, advocates, staff members, volunteers or others in a position of trust. They may also be relatives, friends, neighbours or people who use the same services as the person experiencing abuse.

Radicalisation and Safeguarding
If we are concerned about 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 performers and crew can trust us and know that the information they disclose is treated in confidence.
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 adults at risk from abuse.
Where a member of staff or volunteer has a suspicion that a vulnerable participant is being abused or has information disclosed to them alleging abuse, they should follow the steps in the safeguarding procedure.
In accordance with the principle of empowerment, the decision on whether to report a safeguarding concern should normally be discussed with the person the concern is about; however getting permission from the person in question in order to report a safeguarding concern may not always be possible or appropriate.

There will be situations when confidentiality between ourselves and a vulnerable adult needs to be breached without their permission. This includes situations where the participant we are concerned about is in serious and immediate danger and there’s no time to get permission, it’s not possible to get permission or the adult is not able to give permission (for example when the abuser is always present).
Also we would not try to get permission if there’s a chance it would put the adult we are concerned about in more danger. In these situations the wellbeing of the participant or others who may be at risk takes precedence over our principle of confidentiality.

Mental Capacity and Safeguarding
We’ll assume that adults have the mental capacity to make informed decisions about their own safety and how they live their lives. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 is central to decisions and actions in safeguarding adults.

Where a person is able to make an informed choice in relation to a particular decision, they have a right to self-determination.
In practice, it may come to light that an adult at risk does not have capacity to make informed decisions about their own situation.

If it is not clear if an adult has the capacity to make an informed decision, contractors and volunteers should talk to the safeguarding lead and use the safeguarding procedure.
● understand information about the decision to be made on whether or not to report a
concern because of a safeguarding reason, or
● retain that information in their minds, or
● use or weigh up that information as part of the decision making process, or
● communicate their decision (by talking, using sign language or other means)

Screening of volunteers and contractors
Anyone who is undertaking a regulated activity (regular contact with vulnerable adults and 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 vulnerable adult or 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 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.