Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
Policy and Procedures
Overview
•The Board of The Ludlow Concert Band is committed to ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to protect from harm all young and vulnerable people involved in the Band’s activities.
•This Safeguarding Policy applies to every adult in the Band or closely associated with it: including members, volunteers, teachers, adult learners and supporters. Its intention is to ensure that everyone is clear about their responsibilities for, and procedures relating to, the protection of young people and vulnerable adults.
•If concerns are raised they will be investigated and, if necessary, referred to the appropriate authorities.
The Ludlow Concert Band
•The Ludlow Concert Band is a not-for-profit organisation, registered as charity with HMRC, and based at 3 Elm Walk, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2LX. It is an integral part of the local community, presenting four annual concerts and carrying out a range of engagements, locally and further afield. The Band is run by a Board of Trustees which is responsible for the overall direction and organisation of the band’s affairs and for the conduct, discipline and wellbeing of band members.
•The Band is a concert band rather than a competing band. So we do not take part in contests but we do aim to attain high musical standards and to adopt a professional approach. We endeavour to foster and maintain a friendly and supportive spirit within the band and to make as full as possible a contribution to the local and wider community.
Safeguarding Commitments
•We are committed to:-
Making the welfare of young and vulnerable people paramount
•Enabling all young and vulnerable people - whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity - to participate in concert band playing in an enjoyable and safe environment.
•Taking all reasonable steps to protect young and vulnerable people from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment and to respect their rights, wishes and feelings.
•Taking action swiftly and appropriately with regard to all suspicions and allegations of poor practice or abuse.
•Working with young and vulnerable people and their, parents, carers and other agencies to promote their welfare.
Good Practice, Poor Practice and Abuse
•We want young and vulnerable people to have the best possible experience of, and opportunities in, concert band playing. We also want to mitigate the risk of false allegations of abuse or poor practice. To achieve this everyone must operate within an accepted ethical framework and demonstrate exemplary behaviour.
•It is not always easy to distinguish poor practice from abuse, whether intentional or accidental. It is not, therefore, the responsibility of Band personnel to make judgements about whether or not abuse is taking place. It is, however, their responsibility to identify poor practice and potential abuse and to act if they have concerns about the welfare of a young or vulnerable person. The sections below are not intended to be definitive or conclusive but will help you to identify what is meant by good practice, poor practice and abuse.
•If you do have concerns they should be drawn to the attention of the Band’s Safeguarding Officer who will, in turn inform and consult the Board and the young or vulnerable person’s parent or carer before, if necessary, involving relevant authorities.
Responsibilities
•You may not teach or coach any young or vulnerable person on behalf of the Band without prior agreement of the Board and appropriate checks being made. If you have significant access to young or vulnerable persons, you must have DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance. The Band Safeguarding Officer is responsible for ensuring that DBS vetting takes place and for keeping a record of DBS-cleared people.
•You must not approach children or their parents or any young or vulnerable person about outside band activities without the consent of the Board.
•The Board will be responsible for ensuring that during any individual tuition and coaching undertaken with a young or vulnerable person in the course of a Band session, an additional adult (preferably a parent, or a carer) will also be present.
•If, while in your care, a child or vulnerable adult is: accidentally hurt, seems distressed in any way, appears to be sexually aroused by your actions, or misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done; report any such incidents as soon as possible to another colleague and make a brief written note of it. The Band’s Safeguarding Officer will ensure that parents/carers are informed of the incident where appropriate.
•If a child or vulnerable adult confides to you their worries about possible abuse by people outside the band, it is the Band member’s responsibility to speak to the Band’s Safeguarding Officer who will then decide what action needs to be taken.
•Those people who have significant contact with young or vulnerable persons will be provided with additional information (including training, if necessary) to assist them in understanding signs of poor practice or abuse.
•All adults associated with the Band have responsibility for the safety and protection of any young or vulnerable people who are members of the Band, and should therefore ensure that they follow the good practice outlined in this document.
•If one-to-one tuition/coaching takes place away from the Band’s usual premises the Board must still ensure that the provider and everyone else involved meet the requirements of Child Protection law and good practice.
•When a young or vulnerable person attends rehearsals or engagements the Band must still observe all requirements of the law and good practice although ultimate responsibility for that person rests with the parents or carers. Parents or carers are welcome to remain on site and to satisfy themselves that the young or vulnerable person for whom they have responsibility is safe and their welfare needs met.
•The Band’s Board is responsible for ensuring that the organisation meets all relevant legal
requirements. This includes seeking Child Performance approvals and exemptions where appropriate.
Safeguarding Officer
•In compliance with the recommendations of Brass Bands England, the Board has appointed a Safeguarding Officer. The Safeguarding Officer – who should be DBS-cleared - has primary responsibility for advising on safeguarding law, policy and procedure and for checking that everyone who has significant access to young or vulnerable people is suitable for that role, has been vetted and a DBS check carried out where appropriate.
•The Safeguarding Officer should not be a co-ordinator, tutor or conductor of any training or coaching for young or vulnerable people but should act as a focal point for reporting any concerns about poor practice or that a person has been placed at risk.
•The Band’s Safeguarding Officer is Paula Tucker.
Legal Framework
•This Policy has been drawn up based on law and guidance that seeks to protect children:
•Children Act, 1989 and 2004
•United Convention of the Rights of the Child, 1991
•Data Protection Act, 1998
•Sexual Offences Act, 2004
•Protection of Freedom Act, 2012
•Surrey County Council Child Protection Procedures.
•Brass Bands England Safeguarding Advice and Guidance
•This Safeguarding Policy has been made available to all Band members and is on the Band’s website.
•The Board will review and update this Policy and any associated guidance documents on at least an annual basis.
Policy and Procedures
Overview
•The Board of The Ludlow Concert Band is committed to ensuring that all necessary steps are taken to protect from harm all young and vulnerable people involved in the Band’s activities.
•This Safeguarding Policy applies to every adult in the Band or closely associated with it: including members, volunteers, teachers, adult learners and supporters. Its intention is to ensure that everyone is clear about their responsibilities for, and procedures relating to, the protection of young people and vulnerable adults.
•If concerns are raised they will be investigated and, if necessary, referred to the appropriate authorities.
The Ludlow Concert Band
•The Ludlow Concert Band is a not-for-profit organisation, registered as charity with HMRC, and based at 3 Elm Walk, Ludlow, Shropshire, SY8 2LX. It is an integral part of the local community, presenting four annual concerts and carrying out a range of engagements, locally and further afield. The Band is run by a Board of Trustees which is responsible for the overall direction and organisation of the band’s affairs and for the conduct, discipline and wellbeing of band members.
•The Band is a concert band rather than a competing band. So we do not take part in contests but we do aim to attain high musical standards and to adopt a professional approach. We endeavour to foster and maintain a friendly and supportive spirit within the band and to make as full as possible a contribution to the local and wider community.
Safeguarding Commitments
•We are committed to:-
Making the welfare of young and vulnerable people paramount
•Enabling all young and vulnerable people - whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity - to participate in concert band playing in an enjoyable and safe environment.
•Taking all reasonable steps to protect young and vulnerable people from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment and to respect their rights, wishes and feelings.
•Taking action swiftly and appropriately with regard to all suspicions and allegations of poor practice or abuse.
•Working with young and vulnerable people and their, parents, carers and other agencies to promote their welfare.
Good Practice, Poor Practice and Abuse
•We want young and vulnerable people to have the best possible experience of, and opportunities in, concert band playing. We also want to mitigate the risk of false allegations of abuse or poor practice. To achieve this everyone must operate within an accepted ethical framework and demonstrate exemplary behaviour.
•It is not always easy to distinguish poor practice from abuse, whether intentional or accidental. It is not, therefore, the responsibility of Band personnel to make judgements about whether or not abuse is taking place. It is, however, their responsibility to identify poor practice and potential abuse and to act if they have concerns about the welfare of a young or vulnerable person. The sections below are not intended to be definitive or conclusive but will help you to identify what is meant by good practice, poor practice and abuse.
•If you do have concerns they should be drawn to the attention of the Band’s Safeguarding Officer who will, in turn inform and consult the Board and the young or vulnerable person’s parent or carer before, if necessary, involving relevant authorities.
Responsibilities
•You may not teach or coach any young or vulnerable person on behalf of the Band without prior agreement of the Board and appropriate checks being made. If you have significant access to young or vulnerable persons, you must have DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance. The Band Safeguarding Officer is responsible for ensuring that DBS vetting takes place and for keeping a record of DBS-cleared people.
•You must not approach children or their parents or any young or vulnerable person about outside band activities without the consent of the Board.
•The Board will be responsible for ensuring that during any individual tuition and coaching undertaken with a young or vulnerable person in the course of a Band session, an additional adult (preferably a parent, or a carer) will also be present.
•If, while in your care, a child or vulnerable adult is: accidentally hurt, seems distressed in any way, appears to be sexually aroused by your actions, or misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done; report any such incidents as soon as possible to another colleague and make a brief written note of it. The Band’s Safeguarding Officer will ensure that parents/carers are informed of the incident where appropriate.
•If a child or vulnerable adult confides to you their worries about possible abuse by people outside the band, it is the Band member’s responsibility to speak to the Band’s Safeguarding Officer who will then decide what action needs to be taken.
•Those people who have significant contact with young or vulnerable persons will be provided with additional information (including training, if necessary) to assist them in understanding signs of poor practice or abuse.
•All adults associated with the Band have responsibility for the safety and protection of any young or vulnerable people who are members of the Band, and should therefore ensure that they follow the good practice outlined in this document.
•If one-to-one tuition/coaching takes place away from the Band’s usual premises the Board must still ensure that the provider and everyone else involved meet the requirements of Child Protection law and good practice.
•When a young or vulnerable person attends rehearsals or engagements the Band must still observe all requirements of the law and good practice although ultimate responsibility for that person rests with the parents or carers. Parents or carers are welcome to remain on site and to satisfy themselves that the young or vulnerable person for whom they have responsibility is safe and their welfare needs met.
•The Band’s Board is responsible for ensuring that the organisation meets all relevant legal
requirements. This includes seeking Child Performance approvals and exemptions where appropriate.
Safeguarding Officer
•In compliance with the recommendations of Brass Bands England, the Board has appointed a Safeguarding Officer. The Safeguarding Officer – who should be DBS-cleared - has primary responsibility for advising on safeguarding law, policy and procedure and for checking that everyone who has significant access to young or vulnerable people is suitable for that role, has been vetted and a DBS check carried out where appropriate.
•The Safeguarding Officer should not be a co-ordinator, tutor or conductor of any training or coaching for young or vulnerable people but should act as a focal point for reporting any concerns about poor practice or that a person has been placed at risk.
•The Band’s Safeguarding Officer is Paula Tucker.
Legal Framework
•This Policy has been drawn up based on law and guidance that seeks to protect children:
•Children Act, 1989 and 2004
•United Convention of the Rights of the Child, 1991
•Data Protection Act, 1998
•Sexual Offences Act, 2004
•Protection of Freedom Act, 2012
•Surrey County Council Child Protection Procedures.
•Brass Bands England Safeguarding Advice and Guidance
•This Safeguarding Policy has been made available to all Band members and is on the Band’s website.
•The Board will review and update this Policy and any associated guidance documents on at least an annual basis.