The Corinium Players Guitar Ensemble Child Protection Policy
The Corinium Players Guitar Ensemble believes that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people, by a commitment to practice which protects them.
We recognise that:
the welfare of the child/young person is paramount
all children regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people's welfare.
The purpose of the policy:
To provide protection for the children and young people who receive Corinium Players Guitar Ensemble services, including the children of adult members or users.
To provide volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm.
This policy applies to all volunteers working on behalf of Corinium Players Guitar Ensemble.
We will endeavour to safeguard children and young people by:
valuing them, listening to and respecting them
adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and a code of conduct for volunteers
recruiting volunteers safely ensuring all necessary checks are made
sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents and volunteers
sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately
providing effective management for volunteers through supervision, support and training.
We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
Corinium Players Guitar Ensemble - Code of Conduct
Taken and adapted from the Final Report of the Independent Review on Child Protection in the Catholic Church in England and Wales, September 2001
You must:
treat all children and young people with respect
provide an example of good conduct you wish others to follow
ensure that whenever possible there is more than one adult present during activities with children and young people, or at least that you are within sight or hearing of others
respect a young person's right to personal privacy/encourage young people and adults to feel comfortable and caring enough to point out attitudes or behaviour they do not like
remember that someone else might misinterpret your actions, no matter how well intentioned
be aware that even physical contact with a child or young person may be misinterpreted
recognise that special caution is required when you are discussing sensitive issues with children or young people
operate within The Corinium Players Guitar Ensemble principles and guidance and any specific procedures
challenge unacceptable behaviour and report all allegations/suspicions of abuse.
You must not:
have inappropriate physical or verbal contact with children or young people
allow yourself to be drawn into inappropriate attention-seeking behaviour/make suggestive or derogatory remarks or gestures in front of children or young people
jump to conclusions about others without checking facts
either exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues
show favouritism to any individual
rely on your good name or that of The Corinium Players Guitar Ensemble to protect you
believe "it could never happen to me"
take a chance when common sense, policy or practice suggests another more prudent approach.
You should give guidance and support to inexperienced helpers.
Checklist for Reporting Suspected Abuse
Name of child
Age and date of birth
Ethnicity
Religion
First language
Disability
Any special factors
Parent's/carer's name(s)
Home address (and phone no. if available)
Are you reporting your own concerns or passing on those of somebody else? Give details.
Brief description of what has prompted the concerns: include dates, times etc. of any specific incidents.
Any physical signs? Behavioural signs? Indirect signs?
Have you spoken to the child? If so, what was said?
Have you spoken to the parent(s)? If so, what was said?
Has anybody been alleged to be the abuser? If so, give details.
Have you consulted anybody else? Give details.
Your name and position.
To whom reported and date of reporting.
Signature & Today's date
Reporting Allegations or Suspicions of Abuse
Taken from Our Duty to Care, Volunteer Development Agency
Everyone in your organisation should be aware of the designated person within the organisation who should immediately always be informed of any concerns about a child being abused:
Name: Sandra Dukes
Job/Role/Title: Chairman/Musical Director
Address: 7 The Maples Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 1TQ
Telephone no: 01285 659785 / 0771 313 9148
And of appropriate contacts outside the organisation:
Children's Services office/health board
Address: The Old School 47 Lewis Lane Cirencester. GL7 1EB
Telephone no. 01285 881000
Police station
Address The Forum Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 2QY
Telephone no. 0845 090 1234
NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0800 11 11
www.childline.org.uk
Responding to a child making an allegation of abuse
Stay calm.
Listen carefully to what is said.
Find an appropriate early opportunity to explain that it is likely that the information will need to be shared with others -do not promise to keep secrets.
Allow the child to continue at her/his own pace.
Ask questions for clarification only, and at all times avoid asking questions that suggest a particular answer.
Reassure the child that they have done the right thing in telling you.
Tell them what you will do next and with whom the information will be shared.
Record in writing what was said using the child's own words as soon as possible - note date, time, any names mentioned, to whom the information was given and ensure that the record is signed and dated.
Contact your designated person.
REMEMBER:
It is important that everyone in The Corinium Players Guitar Ensemble is aware that the person who first encounters a case of alleged or suspected abuse is not responsible for deciding whether or not abuse has occurred. That is a task for the professional child protection agencies following a referral to them of concern about a child.