Safeguarding Policy

Child Protection Policy:

Here at the Shoddy Theatre Ltd we ensure that a child safety and happiness is our number one priority as well as the safety of our employers.

Aims of the Policy:

The aim of the Shoddy Theatre Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice in:

  • Providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of the

    Shoddy Theatre.

  • Allow all staff/volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.

    Shoddy Theatre believes that:

  • The welfare of children is vital and that safety and welfare come first in all instances.

  • All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or

    sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse.

  • All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately

  • All staff including teachers, assistants and volunteers working for Shoddy Theatre have a responsibility

    to report concerns to the principal or other identified staff.

    Promoting Good Practice

    Shoddy Theatre will encourage the following:

  • Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoid private or unobserved situations and encouraging an

    open environment i.e. no secrets)

  • Treating all young people/disabled adults equally, and with respect and dignity

  • Always putting the welfare of each young person first, before winning or achieving goals

  • Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with children (e.g. it is not appropriate to have an intimate

    relationship with a child)

  • Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust which empowers children to share in the decision

    making process

  • Making performing fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play

  • Ensuring that if any form of manual/physical support is required, it should be provided openly and

    according to guidelines provided by dance boards such as IDTA. Care is needed, as it is difficult to maintain hand positions when the child is constantly moving. Young people should always be consulted and their agreement gained.

  • Ensuring that all material (i.e scripts /scene content) is age appropriate and never makes a child/adult feel uncomfortable or concerned.

  • Keeping up to date with the skills, qualifications and insurance in performing arts.

  • Being an excellent role model – this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of young

    people, always aiming to speak in a positive manner and remembering that building confidence and

    ensuring the child is having a positive experience is always the main aim

  • Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism

  • Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given in an

accident report book.
• Informing parents if any child is taken ill or injured during our presence.

The following practice not acceptable. Shoddy Theatre should never:

  • Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games

  • Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching

  • Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged

  • Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun

  • Reduce a child/adult to tears as a form of control

  • Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.

  • Do things of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves

    Guidelines for use of photographic filming

    Shoddy Theatre does not allow any filming or photographing to take place in the presence of children UNLESS;

  • We have signed consent in advance from parents.

  • We do not allow parents to take photo’s of their children in shows, nor to make videos.

  • We hire professional, DBS checked photographers and videographers and parents are given the option to purchase photographs of their own child.

    Recruitment and selecting staff and volunteers

    Shoddy Theatre recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. When undertaking pre selection checks the following should be included:

  • All our staff; freelance / volunteers / assistants, should complete an application form. This will elect

    information about an applicant’s past and a self disclosure about any criminal record

  • Consent should be obtained from an applicant to seek information from the Criminal Records Bureau

    (DBS CHECK)

  • Evidence of identity (passport or driving licence with photo)

    Responding to suspicions or allegations

    It is not the responsibility of anyone working at Shoddy Theatre in a paid or unpaid capacity to take responsibility or to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However, there is a responsibility to act on any concerns through contact with the appropriate authorities. Shoddy Theatre will assure all staff/ volunteers that it will fully support and protect anyone, who in good faith reports his or her concern that a colleague/volunteer is or may be abusing a child. When there is a complaint against a member of staff there may be three types of investigation:

  • A criminal investigation.

  • A child protection investigation.

  • A disciplinary or misconduct investigation.
    The results of the police and child protection investigation may well influence the disciplinary investigation.

    Suspected abuse

    Any suspicion that a child/adult has been abused by either a member of staff or a volunteer should be reported to the Artistic Director or a company board member, who will take such steps as considered necessary to ensure the safety of the child/adult in question and any other child who may be at risk.

    Action to help the victim and prevent bullying in performing

    • Have a zero tolerance policy to bullying

    • Take all signs of bullying very seriously

    • Encourage all children to speak and share their concerns•

    • Help the victim to speak out and tell the person in charge or someone of authority

    • Create an open environment•

    • Investigate all allegations and take action to ensure the victim is safe

    • Speak with the victim and the bully/ies separately

    • Reassure the victim that you can be trusted and will help them, although you cannot promise to tell

    • no one else.

    • Keep records of what is said (what happened by whom, when etc)

    • Report any concerns to the Principal.

      Action towards bullies

  • Talk with the bully/ies explain the situation and try to get the bully/ies to understand the consequences of their behaviour

  • Seek an apology to the victim/s.

  • Inform the bully’s parents (should they be a child)

  • Provide support for the victim

  • Impose sanctions as necessary

  • Encourage and support the bully/ies to change behaviour

  • Hold meetings with the families of the child to report on progress

  • Inform all appropriate members of the action taken

  • Keep a written record of action taken (whom, when etc)

    Contact Details:

    Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)

    Becky Bartram
    Email - becky@shoddytheatre.com