vickbain February 28, 2023

THE F-LIST FOR MUSIC CIC SAFEGUARDING POLICY

1 INTRODUCTION

The F-List for Music Safeguarding Policy will provide a secure framework for staff and volunteers in safeguarding and promoting the welfare of those children and young adults who attend The F-List for Music events.  The policy aims to ensure that The F-List for Music as an organisation working with young people through its board of directors, contractors and volunteers is committed to practices that aim to protect young people* from harm through:

  • Establishing and maintaining an environment in which the welfare of the child/young person is paramount.
  • Ensuring that its policies and procedures protect young people from all types of harm regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity.
  • Ensuring all concerns and allegations of abuse are taken seriously and responded to appropriately.

*A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (Children Act 1989). The use of the term “younger person” in this policy refers to all members that are aged between 13 and 18. 

2 THIS POLICY WILL

Set out how The F-List for Music will safeguard and provide protection for children and young people. 

Provide directors, contractors, and volunteers with guidance on best practice principles when working with children and young people. 

Provide directors, contractors, and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt if they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm.

3 THIS POLICY COMPRISES OF

  • Safeguarding Policy.
  • Appendix 1 – Anti-Bullying Policy.
  • Appendix 2 – Code of Conduct.
  • Appendix 3 – Vulnerable Adults.

4 SAFEGUARDING PRINCIPLES

The F-List for Music will seek to safeguard children and young people by:

  • Valuing them, listening to and respecting them.
  • Adopting safeguarding guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for directors, contractors, and volunteers.
  • Recruiting contractors and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.
  • Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, contractors, and volunteers.
  • Sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, involving parents and children appropriately.
  • Providing effective management for contractors and volunteers through supervision, guidance and support.
  • Assessing risk in all activities by focusing on prevention and minimising risk.

5 DESIGNATED DIRECTORS WITH SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

The following directors hold safeguarding positions of responsibility at The F-List for Music:

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Vick Bain contact@thef-listmusic.uk

Secondary Safeguarding Lead (SSL): Helen Sanderson

If a member of the board, contractor, volunteer, parent/guardian or participant has a safeguarding concern they should contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead immediately.

All allegations, suspicions or concerns about abuse must be taken seriously, including matters raised by directors, contractors, volunteers, parents/guardians etc and reported immediately to the DSL.  The DSL will then take the necessary action to put procedures into place. 

6 RESPONSIBILITIES OF DIRECTORS, CONTRACTORS, AND VOLUNTEERS

It is important to note that safeguarding is not just about protecting children and young people from deliberate harm.  It includes issues such as health and safety, bullying, racist abuse, harassment and discrimination, use of physical intervention, meeting the needs of those with medical conditions, providing first aid, drug and substance misuse and internet safety. 

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility and all directors, contractors and volunteers at The F-List must aim to create the safest environment for all young people and consider at all times what is in the best interests of the young person. 

7 BEST PRACTICE

In line with these principles The F-List will adopt the following as best practice;

  • To ensure that all directors, contractors and volunteers are aware of and comply with The F-List for Music Safeguarding and Anti-Bullying Policies.
  • To provide parents/guardians/carers with access to The F-List for Music Safeguarding and Anti-Bullying policies to ensure they know about the complaints procedure and the fact that this may require circumstances to be referred to investigative agencies in the interest of the young person.
  • To secure parental consent for The F-List for Music to act in loco parentis which includes; if the need arises to administer emergency first aid and/or medical treatment.
  • To ensure that any travel arrangements made whilst children or young people are in the care of The F-List, are pre-arranged with parents/guardians.
  • To risk assess all situations, activities, buildings, and trips to ensure all potential dangers have been identified and risk minimised.
  • Have a system in place for recording any incidents or accidents while the child is in the care of The F-List for Music (in line with GDPR data protection rules as outlined in our Privacy Policy).
  • The DSL has responsibility for ensuring the operation within the legislative framework and to coordinate action within and liaise with other agencies in relation to safeguarding.
  • To ensure that all activities are adequately and properly supported, meeting legal ratios for adults to young people as recommended by the NSPCC.
  • To ensure that all directors, volunteers, and contractors have undertaken the appropriate Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check and have presented their certificate before commencing their engagement. No person shall be engaged if they are deemed a risk to young people.
  • The DSL and the board of directors will review and update, if necessary, the Safeguarding and Anti-Bullying Policies bi-annually and/or in the event of an incident or change in legislation.

8 RECEIVING A DISCLOSURE

If a child makes an allegation or disclosure of abuse against an adult or other child or young person, the director, contractor, or volunteer will:

  • Stay calm and listen carefully.
  • Re-assure the child that they have done the right thing in telling you.
  • Not investigate or ask leading questions.
  • Let the child know that they will need to tell the DSL.
  • Not promise confidentiality.
  • Inform the DSL as soon as possible.
  • Make a written record of the allegation, disclosure or incident which will be signed and dated.
  • If in doubt about recording requirements they should discuss this with the DSL.

If directors, contractors or volunteers have concerns about a young person (but the young person does not appear to be in immediate danger or risk of harm), they will need to decide what action to take.  All directors, contractors and volunteers should be prepared to identify children who may benefit from early help as soon as a problem emerges.  Such problems should be discussed with the DSL. 

If a child is in immediate danger or at risk of harm, this must be reported to the DSL, who will make a referral to children’s social care and/or the police immediately.  It is not the responsibility of The F-List to investigate suspected or alleged abuse; this is the role of the Police and Social Services. 

9 WHISTLEBLOWING

Whistleblowing encourages and enables staff to raise serious concerns within the organisation rather than overlooking a problem.  The F-List for Music is committed to the highest possible standards of openness, probity, and accountability.  In line with that commitment we expect directors and others we deal with who have serious concerns about any aspect of The F-List for Music’s work to come forward and voice those concerns. 

As a first step concerns must be raised verbally or in writing with the DSL.  The DSL will then inform the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) of any concerns that are raised or any action is taken regarding a member of the board, a contractor or volunteer.  If the director, contractor, or volunteer feels they cannot raise the concern with the DSL they can seek advice from the NSPCC or the Children’s Commissioner. 

All concerns will be treated in confidence and every effort will be made to not reveal the identify of the person who has raised the concern if they have requested confidentiality.  At the appropriate time however they may have to come forward as a witness.  Concerns must be:

  • Disclosed in good faith.
  • Believed to be substantially true.
  • Not acted upon maliciously or to make false allegations.
  • Not sought for personal gain.

10 ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING THE F-LIST DIRECTORS

Any such allegations will be taken seriously and the person to whom the allegation is made must immediately inform the DSL. A record will be made of the concerns, including a note of anyone else who witnessed or has information about the incident.  If the concern is about the DSL or if it is felt that policies are not being observed or enforced the SSL is to be contacted. 

The DSL will record the nature of the allegation and report it to the LADO without delay.  The DSL will be required to liaise with the LADO and discuss further details of the allegation and the circumstances in which it was made.  If the LADO decides that a referral is not necessary, the DSL will consider if there needs to be an internal investigation. The DSL will discuss the situation with the SSL.  If deemed necessary a contractor or volunteer can be suspended at any stage. 

In the event of a false allegation the young person’s parent/guardian will be informed as this may be a strong indicator of problems elsewhere. 

Privacy and confidentiality will be respected however in cases where there is a concern about a young person’s welfare The F-List for Music board are legally able to share information.  In matters of child abuse staff and volunteers will not promise to keep any information which has been divulged to them a secret.  It will be explained to the young person that this information cannot be kept secret but only those who need to know will be told.  Information will only be shared on a ‘need to know’ basis and the number of people that need to be informed will be kept to a minimum. 

11 INCIDENTS OF DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOUR

Where instances of challenging or disruptive behaviour occur with young people, a record will be kept of this where the instance requires the intervention of a contractor or volunteer or where the safety and wellbeing of others are at a risk, and all involved should complete an incident report. 

The F-List for Music welcomes and encourages parental involvement.  Parents and carers are regarded as valuable partners promoting positive behaviour and in the event of their child becoming the subject of behaviour sanctions they will be informed and involved. 

The Children Act 1989 does not make any physical contact with a child unlawful.  Any form of physical punishment of young people however is unlawful as is any form of physical response to misbehaviour unless it is by way of restraint.  Contractors and volunteers do have the right to ‘use such force as is reasonable’ to restrain a young person physically and prevent them from inflicting injury to others, self-injury, damaging property, or causing disruption.

Where a contractor or volunteer has taken action to physically restrain a young person they will make a written report of the incident and report it to the DSL. 

12 THE USE OF IMAGES OF YOUNG PEOPLE AT THE F-LIST FOR MUSIC EVENTS

Parents, legal guardians and family members may take photos and videos at The F-List for Music events except in the following circumstances:

  • Whilst young people are changing.
  • During performances unless otherwise agreed.
  • Unless it contravenes performance rights.

Parents, legal guardians and family members are encouraged to share photos and videos taken at such events for possible inclusion in The F-List for Music’s publications, marketing, publicity or the website.

Likewise, the F-List for Music will seek permission to use directors, contractors or volunteers photos and videos of children and young people participating in The F-List for Music events for inclusion in The F-List for Music’s publications, marketing, publicity or on the website, and will ensure that the use of images for any purpose is appropriate.  This is except where parents have expressed for their children’s images not to be used and The F-List for Music will respect this request absolutely.  Where children are interviewed permission will be sought by The F-List for Music prior to filming.