Cap-a-Pie works with children and families as part of its activities. These include: workshops and performances.
The purpose of this policy:
- To protect children and young people who receive Cap-a-Pie’s services. This includes the children of adults who use our services;
- To provide the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.
We believe that:
- A child or young person should never experience abuse of any kind.
- We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe.
- We are committed to practise in a way that protects them.
We recognise that:
- the welfare of the child/young person is paramount.
- all children, regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or beliefs, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
- some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues. Extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally vulnerable safe from abuse.
- working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
We seek to keep children and young people safe by:
- valuing, listening to and respecting them
- appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people, a deputy and a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding
- adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Implementing an effective online safety policy and related procedures
- providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently
- recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
- recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance
- sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and their families via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions
- making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern
- using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
- using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
- creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
- ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
- building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.
Contact details & further information
Designated Safeguarding Office (DSO)
Katy Vanden
07796 478 024
Email
Deputy DSO
Brad McCormick
07710 638 485
Email
Senior Lead for Safeguarding
Jack Gardner, Trustee
07852 333 787
Email
CEOP
www.ceop.police.uk
NSPCC Helpline
0808 800 5000
