Policy and Procedures for …
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE AND VULNERABLE ADULTS
Vaticinate Pictures (VP) creates live and broadcast performance across all media. It strives to Vaticinate Pictures (VP) creates live and broadcast performance across all media. It strives to develop innovative and inclusive arts works for a wide range of audiences.
VP creates media and performance projects and events; sometimes these involve working with young people. In all its work with young people, VP is committed to providing an environment where the welfare of young people is actively promoted.
Policy remit
Throughout this policy statement, the terms ‘young person’ and ‘young people’ are used to denote children, young people and vulnerable adults.
The term ‘staff’ is used throughout the policy to refer to any individual who is working on behalf of VP whether in a paid or unpaid role and therefore includes freelancers, artists, volunteers, placements. This also refers to those who have a governance role, such as the Board.
VP believes that the welfare of young people is paramount and that all young people, whatever their colour, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, socio-economic background, gender, sexual orientation, age or ability, have the right to protection from abuse.
It is the duty of ALL teams working for VP to prevent the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of any young people with whom they come into contact through the course of their work. VP will take seriously any allegation or suspicion of abuse and respond to it swiftly and appropriately, and ensure that all freelancers and young people working with us know the available channels for reporting. Anyone found to be in breach of the provisions of this policy and its appendices will be subject to disciplinary procedures (outlined in VP’s Grievance and Disciplinary Policy, which is available on request).
VP has a legal responsibility to ensure that all freelancers are fully aware of VP’s Safeguarding Procedures.
All freelancers who work directly with young people will undertake an Enhanced DBS check (Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service Check) at signature of contract.
Where DBS checks cannot be obtained, i.e., for International artists, we will hold their equivalent of a DBS checks conducted in their country on record. We will also ensure that they are fully aware of our Safeguarding Policy, and, when working with young people, that they are accompanied by a DBS-checked member of VP staff.
VP recognises that freelancers working with young people must also be provided with safeguards and made aware of best practice so they can be protected from wrongful allegations. Our guidelines to be followed when working with young people are available on request.
VP will take seriously any allegation made against a member of production. We will contact the Social Services team at the appropriate Council to discuss the allegation and determine the best way forward.
The Directors are responsible for monitoring the operation of the policy.
Policy objectives
AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
VP recognises that there are four main types of abuse suffered by young people. These are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.
All VP’s workers will be made aware of this policy and the procedures and guidelines for working with young people. They will sign a declaration as part of their induction to confirm that they have read this policy.
Through awareness and good practice, VP’s teams can minimise the risk of abuse to young people and also protect themselves against false allegations of abuse.
VP is committed to careful planning of appropriate activities for young people in order to minimise situations where abuse could occur.
RECRUITMENT
VP workers will be carefully selected, inducted, trained and monitored to ensure that the wellbeing of young people with whom they may come into contact is promoted.
VP will take all appropriate steps to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with young people. VP has a legal responsibility to ensure that all freelancers working directly with young people have enhanced DBS check with lists at signature of contract.
DBS checks will be paid for and processed by VP.
All artistic companies which will be working directly with young people will provide VP with their safeguarding policy and write a letter to VP indicating that all their staff members have current Enhanced DBS checks with lists (or their equivalent for international artists).
Any exception to these two requirements will be subject to approval on a case-by-case basis by the Directors.
Interview and Induction
All workers are required to apply formally and to undergo an interview carried out within VP’s approved procedures, which includes two professional references. All freelancers receive formal and informal induction.
Training
In addition to initial employment induction, the safeguarding process includes training after recruitment to help refresh their practice and stay informed of relevant policy developments.
Risk assessment
When VP is organising an activity specifically, if not solely, for young people, the lead VP production member will be responsible for preparing a risk assessment to highlight any potential areas of risk and devise strategies to manage such risks.
This risk assessment will be made available, on request, to an organisation bringing a group of young people to a VP activity. We will also support them in conducting their own risk assessment if requested.
Reporting
VP promotes a culture within which VP workers feel able to point out inappropriate attitudes, behaviours and situations demonstrated by their colleagues to their line manager or other senior member of the team.
Any VP worker who suspects that abuse or inappropriate behaviour may have taken place, or who has had a disclosure made to them by a young person, will report it to their production manager or a designated person from a partner organisation in the first instance. Further details of the procedure to be followed ia available on request.
All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, appropriately and in accordance with our procedures, which are available on request.
Policy review basis
This policy will be reviewed regularly by the Directors.