BRENT MUSIC SERVICE
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY
2004 – UPDATED SEPTEMBER 2012/13
Safeguarding Children Policy
BRENT MUSIC SERVICE
September 2013
The policy to be reviewed in Summer Term 2014
1.0. Introduction
1.1. This policy has been developed in accordance with the principles established by the Children Act 1989 and in line with government publications:
‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ 2006
‘Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families’ 2000
‘What To Do If You Are Worried A Child Is Being Abused’ 2003*
‘Safeguarding Children in Education’, DfES Guidance, September 2004
Section 11 Children Act 2004
2. This Policy conveys the message to all BMS staff that they have a statutory duty under the Childrens Act 2004 to provide safeguards dedicated to the well-being of those under the age of 18 years
.
3. BMS complies with the government legislation that supports measures for the protection of children.
4. The abuse/neglect of children is not acceptable and BMS expects all incidents or suspicions of such abuse to be reported immediately to the Designated teacher, (or the Head Teacher of the school concerned) to the appropriate authorities.
The Safeguarding Children Policy establishes the following principles
o The welfare of the child is paramount
o That all children without exception have the right to be protected from abuse and neglect
o That all suspicions and allegations of abuse should be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
o That all staff and volunteers have a responsibility to report their concerns over children and or other staff and volunteers
Definition of Child abuse and neglect
Abuse and neglect are forms of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting, by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger for example, via the internet. They may be abused by an adult or adults, or another child or children (Working together to Safeguard Children 2010).
Responsibility of BMS
All organisations that work with children share a commitment to safeguard and promote their welfare, and for many organisations that is underpinned by a statutory duty or duties. (Working together to Safeguard Children, 2010).
To fulfil their commitment to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, all
organisations that provide services for, or work with, children must have:
· clear priorities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, explicitly stated in strategic policy documents
· a clear commitment by senior management to the importance of safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare
· a clear line of accountability within the organisation for work on safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children recruitment and human resources management procedures that take account of the need to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, including arrangements for appropriate checks on new staff and volunteers
· procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse against members of staff and volunteers
· arrangements to ensure that all staff undertake appropriate training to equip them to carry out their responsibilities effectively, and keep this up-to-date by refresher training at regular intervals; and that all staff, including temporary staff and volunteers who work with children, are made aware of the establishment’s arrangements for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and their responsibilities for that
· policies for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children (e.g. pupils/students), including a child protection policy, and procedures that are in accordance with guidance and locally agreed inter-agency procedures
· arrangements to work effectively with other organisations to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, including arrangements for sharing information
· a culture of listening to, and engaging in dialogue with children – seeking children’s views in ways that are appropriate to their age and understanding, and taking account of those views in individual decisions and in the establishment or development of services
· appropriate whistle-blowing procedures, and a culture that enables issues about safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children to be addressed
1.1 The management and staff of Brent Music Service fully recognise the contribution they make towards safeguarding children. We recognise that all staff, including volunteers, have a full and active part to play in protecting our pupils from harm.
1.2 BMS should provide a caring, positive safe and stimulating environment which promotes the social, physical and moral development of the individual child.
1.3 The aims of this policy are:
1.3.1 To support the child’s development in ways that will foster security, confidence and independence
1.3.2 To raise the awareness of all staff and volunteers of the need to safeguard children and of their responsibilities in identifying and reporting possible cases of abuse and or neglect
1.3.3 To provide a consultation procedure with schools and other appropriate agencies concerning children known or thought to be at risk of harm.
1.3.4 To emphasise the need for good levels of communication between all members of staff.
1.3.5 To develop a structured procedure within the service which will be followed by all members of staff and volunteers in cases of suspected abuse and or neglect
1.3.6 To develop and promote effective working relationships with other agencies, especially the childrens’ schools.
1.3.7 To ensure that all adults within our service who have access to children have been checked as to their suitability.
2.0 Procedures
2.1 Our service procedures for safeguarding children will be in
line with Brent Local Safeguarding Children Board and
Brent LEA procedures. We will ensure that:
2.1.1 We have a designated member of staff who undertakes regular safeguarding children training every two years – Eric Guidance
2.1.2 We have a member of staff who will act in the designated person’s absence – MIRANDA COOK
2.1.3 All members of staff develop their understanding of the signs and indicators of abuse and neglect.
2.1.4 All members of staff know how to respond to a pupil who discloses abuse. This is contained in the staff guidelines document and the Safeguarding Children Flowcharts (Appendices to this policy document)
2.2 Our procedures will be regularly reviewed and up-dated
2.3 All new members of staff will be given a copy of our child
protection guidance as part of their induction into the service.
3.0 Responsibilities
3.1 The designated Safeguarding Children member of staff is responsible for:
3.1.1 Adhering to Brent LEA and BMS procedures with regard to referring a child if there are concerns about possible abuse.
3.1.2 Keeping confidential written records of concerns about a child even if there is no need to immediately liaise with the child’s school or other appropriate agencies.
3.1.3 Ensuring that the designated teacher of the child’s school is notified, and support and assist the school as it investigates concerns about the child.
4.0 Supporting Children
We recognise that a child who is abused, neglected or witnesses violence may find it difficult to develop and maintain a sense of self worth. We recognise that a child in these circumstances may feel helpless and humiliated. We recognise that a child may feel self-blame.
4.2. We recognise that the child’s school may provide the only stability in the lives of children who have been abused, neglected or who are at risk of harm.
4.3. We accept that research demonstrates that the behaviour of a child in these circumstances may range from that which is perceived to be normal to aggressive or withdrawn.
4.4. Brent Music Service will support all pupils by:
4.4.1 Encouraging self-esteem and self-assertiveness whilst not condoning aggression or bullying
4.4.2 Promoting a caring, safe and positive environment in lessons, ensembles, concerts and trips.
4.4.3 Liaising and working together with schools and other support services involved in the safeguarding of children
4.4.4 Notifying the child’s school, or Children’s Social Care where appropriate, as soon as there is a significant concern.
5.0 Confidentiality
5.1 We recognise that all matters relating to child protection are
sensitive. However, when a child is at risk, information should be shared in order to safeguard the child. The child’s welfare is paramount and so overrides laws of confidentiality.
5.2 The Head of Service or designated member of staff will disclose
any information about a pupil to other members of staff on a
‘need to know’ basis only, proportionate to the matter.
5.3 All staff must be aware that they have a professional
responsibility to share information with the child’s school and
other appropriate agencies in order to safeguard children.
5.4 All staff must be aware that they can not promise a child to keep
secrets.
6.0 Supporting Staff
6.1 We recognise that staff working in the service who have become
involved with a child who has suffered harm, or appears to be likely to suffer harm, may find the situation stressful and upsetting.
6.2. We will support such staff by providing an opportunity to talk through their anxieties with the designated member of staff and to seek further support as appropriate.
7.0 Allegations against staff
7.1 We understand that a pupil may make an allegation against a
member of staff.
7.2 If such an allegation is made, the member of staff receiving the
allegation will immediately inform the Head of Service.
7.3 The Head of Service on all such occasions will discuss the
content of the allegation with the Brent Local Authority Designated
Officer.
7.4 If the allegation made to a member of staff concerns the
Head of Service, the designated person will immediately inform
the Senior School Improvement Adviser who is responsible for
the Music Service.
7.5 The service will follow Brent LEA procedures for managing
allegations against staff.
8.0 Whistleblowing
8.1 We recognise that children cannot be expected to raise
concerns in an environment where staff fail to do so.
8.2 All staff should be aware of their duty to raise concerns, where
they exist, about the attitude or actions of colleagues.
9.0 Physical Intervention
9.1 Our policy on physical intervention by staff is that staff must only
ever use physical intervention as a last resort, and that at all
times it must be the minimal force necessary to prevent injury to
another person.
9.2 We understand that physical intervention of a nature which
causes injury or distress to a child may be considered under
safeguarding children or disciplinary procedures.
10.0 Bullying
10.1 Our policy on bullying is that to allow or condone bullying may
lead to consideration under safeguarding children procedures.
11.0 Racist Incidents
11.1 Our policy on racist incidents is that repeated racist incidents or
a single serious incident may lead to consideration under safeguarding children procedures.
12.0 Online Communication Including Social Media
12.1 Our policy on online communication is that it may lead to
consideration under safeguarding children procedures and
could constitute gross misconduct if BMS staff communicate with
children via personal emails, letters, texts or via social media.
13.0 Prevention
13.1 We recognise that the service can play a part in the prevention of harm to pupils by providing good lines of communication with the child’s school and other appropriate agencies in an ethos of care and protection.
13.2 Brent Music Service will therefore strive to establish and
maintain an environment where children feel safe and secure.
BMS Safeguarding Children Flowchart
Instrumental & “Music’sCool” Lessons
BMS Safeguarding ChildrenFlowchart
Evening Centres