Child Protection Policy

CHILD AND VULNERABLE YOUNG ADULT PROTECTION POLICY

“World Dance Masters values children and vulnerable young adults as being a vital part of the organisation and desires to see them grow and mature in a healthy and safe environment”.

The aim of this policy is to promote good practice by providing children and vulnerable young adults with appropriate safety/protection when attending or participating in events or activities run by the (WDM) World Dance Masters.

Staff and volunteers in this organisation accept and recognise their responsibilities to develop awareness of the issues which cause children and vulnerable young adults harm.

We will endeavour to safeguard them by:

Adopting child and vulnerable adult protection guidelines through a code of behaviour for staff and volunteers.

Sharing information about child & vulnerable young adult protection and good practice with children, parents/guardians staff and volunteers.

Sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know and involving parents/guardians and children appropriately

Following carefully the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers

Where appropriate provide effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training.

DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE

Throughout this policy the term abuse is used to refer to neglect, sexual abuse, psychological and physical abuse.

Behavioural Guidelines for Staff and Volunteers

It is important that children and vulnerable young adults are valued and respected.

The following guidelines can reduce likely situations for abuse of children and vulnerable young adults and help protect staff and volunteers from false accusations by making sure that, as a general rule,

It doesn’t make sense to….

Spend excessive amounts of time alone with children or vulnerable young adults away from others;

Take children or vulnerable young adults alone on a car journey, however short;

Take children or vulnerable young adults to their home;

Meet with children or vulnerable young adults outside organised activities.

Where occasions arise where it is unavoidable that these things do happen, they should occur with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge of the organisation or the child’s/vulnerable young adult’s parents or guardians.

Staff and volunteers should never…

Engage in rough physical or sexually proactive activities;

Allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form;

Allow children/vulnerable young adults to use inappropriate language unchallenged;

Make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child/vulnerable young adult even in fun;

Let allegations a child or vulnerable young adult makes go unchallenged or unrecorded;

Do things of a personal nature for children or vulnerable young adult that they can do for themselves;

Any complaints, concerns or allegations should be made to the (WDM) World Dance Masters’ Child Protection Officer Bridget McAlinden giving as much information as possible.

The following check list gives indicators of information that may be required.

Name of child or vulnerable adult;

Age (if appropriate);

Any special factors;

Parent’s/Guardian’s name(s) (if appropriate);

Home address (and phone number if available);

Is the person making the report expressing their own concerns or passing on these of somebody also? If so, record details;

What has prompted the concerns? Included dates, times etc of any specific incidents;

Any physical signs? Behavioural signs? Indirect signs?

Has the child or vulnerable adult been spoken to? If so, record details;

Has anyone else been consulted? If so record detail;

The Management Committee will decide what action needs to be taken. Notes of this meeting will be kept. If, at this meeting, the decision is taken that there is a risk to a young person, the relevant authorities will be informed.

The person who initially raised the concern will be kept updated on the outcome of this meeting.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Every effort will be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information will be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. This may include all or some of the following people:

World Dance Master’s Child Protection Officer.

World Dance Master’s management;

The parent/guardian of the child or vulnerable young adult.

The person making the allegation;

Social Services/Police.

The members of WDM involved in the allegation in any way.

The alleged abuser (and parents/guardian if the alleged abuser is a child).

All information will be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws.

Address

PO BOX 931
Preston
PR4 9DA
United Kingdom

Business Details

World Dance Masters Ltd is a company registered in England and Wales with company number 06998501.

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