Safeguarding Policy

Policies and Procedures

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

 Just Curious believes that children and young people have the right to be physically, emotionally and sexually safe and that the welfare of children and young people is a high priority. 

 All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse. Just Curious has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in projects from harm. 

 All children have a right to protection and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. A child is defined as under 18 in the Children Act 1989.

Just Curious will ensure the safety and welfare of children and young people by:

  • Taking all reasonable measures to ensure that risks of harm to children’s welfare are minimised.
  • Taking all appropriate actions to address concerns about the welfare of a child, or children.

The aim of the Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice and provide children, young people and adults with appropriate safety protection and allow all staff/providers/volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately. All staff (paid/voluntary) working in partnership with Just Curious need to report any concerns to Dave Darch and/or Francesca Gkotsi.

Promoting Good Practice

Just Curious will encourage the following:

  • Work in an open environment e.g. avoid private or unobserved spaces.
  • Sign in and out of the premises where requested.  
  • Wear a ‘visitor’ badge at all times where requested e.g. when in schools.
  • Be aware of where emergency exits are and procedures for evacuation.
  • Keep a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.
  • Drive with extra caution on school/setting premises (where applicable). Not obstruct emergency exits – even temporarily.  Check with reception where to unload and park (where applicable).  
  • Always use staff toilets and rooms (where applicable).
  • Treat all young people/disabled people/adults equally and with respect & dignity.
  • Put the welfare of each young person first, before winning or achieving goals.
  • Give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
  • Ensure that if any form of manual/physical support is required (e.g. in dance sessions) it should be provided openly. Young people should always be consulted and their agreement gained first. 
  • Strive to plan and deliver work that meets the needs of all learners.
  • Be an excellent role model.
  • To not promote our own political or religious beliefs.
  • Secure parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to give permission for the administration of emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment.
  • Request and acquire parental consent about how the young person might be contacted (e.g. via email, mobile) before contact is made. 
  • Request and acquire parental consent about taking part in projects where the parent is not present.
  • Request written parental consent for documentation.

Note: 

    • Images of children posted online or in printed matter will not include identifiable information or other personal details.
    • To reduce the risk of inappropriate use of images only images deemed suitable will be used.
    • Anyone with any concerns about images posted can contact Just Curious managers Francesca Gkotsi and/or Dave Darch and the images will be removed.
  • Recruitment and selecting staff and volunteers: All volunteers/staff should have a valid Disclosure and Barring Service check (formerly known as a CRB).

Responding to suspicions or allegations

It is not the responsibility of anyone working with Just Curious 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.

APPENDIX A

Guidance on Responding to and Reporting suspicions or disclosures of abuse: 

DO 

  • Listen carefully and take an allegation seriously 
  • Stay calm and re-assure the person 
  • Explain what you will do next 
  • Report to the designated child protection officer (see below) 
  • In an emergency, protect the child 
  • Record everything the child has told you or what you have observed 

DON’T

  • Appear shocked or angry 
  • Make comments or judgments 
  • Try to obtain more information than is necessary 
  • Contaminate any evidence
  • Promise to keep secrets (the information must be shared) 
  • Confront the abuser 

RECORDING 

The recording must be brief and immediate 

  • Record date, time, situation and who else was present, who said what/observations
  • Use child’s own words 
  • Be clear and specific 
  • Hold information securely

All information will be kept confidential. Staff, freelance contractors, volunteers and interns should not attempt to investigate a child protection matter as it may compromise any possible legal proceedings. There is a need only to establish sufficient details and information for a decision to be made about making a referral.

Guidance on who to contact when needing to make a referral

a) School settings 

If in a school setting then the school’s Child Protection Officer will be the first point of reference. 

b) Community settings 

If in a community setting then the community centre’s named Child Protection Officer will be the first point of reference. 

c) Other settings: 

If it is a public event such as performance event or workshop the first point of contact will be designated Child Protection Officer (Francesca Gkotsi/Dave Darch)

APPENDIX B

Guidelines on how to deal with 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 in 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 not to tell anyone
  • Keep records of what is said (what happened by whom, when etc)
  • Report any concerns to the child protection officer

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
  • Insist on the return of borrowed items and that the bully/ies compensate the victim
  • Provide support for the teacher of the victim
  • Impose sanctions as necessary
  • Encourage and support the bully/ies to change behaviour
  • Hold meetings with the families to report on progress
  • Inform all appropriate members of the action taken
  • Keep a written record of action taken.

APPENDIX C

Online Delivery

Added March 2020

  • Just Curious Club staff will make recordings of the classes for training, reporting and promotional purposes. Please be assured that these images will only be used to promote and raise awareness of Just Curious Club and Just Curious Club classes, and will only be shared if consent is given at the time of booking. If you do not give consent we might ask you to briefly turn off your camera if we are documenting the session. 

  • All Just Curious Club staff will do their best to respond to you during the class via the cameras, however we will not be able to respond to every question or request.

  • You are solely responsible for your own and your child’s health and safety whilst participating in any Just Curious Club online classes or meetings.

  • If you/your children are taking part in a physical class e.g. movement or dance
    • Please do not do anything beyond your capabilities. Ensure your child does the same.
    • Ensure you have sufficient space to participate in the Just Curious Club class to minimise the risk of injury or objects falling on you.
  • We are using third party software systems e.g. Zoom, Facebook live, Youtube live etc which are not affiliated to Just Curious Club. Please be aware that you are downloading and using these systems at your own risk. 

  • If you are 16 or under you MUST have a parent or guardian present in the room or close by for the duration of the Just Curious Club class.

  • If you are 16 or under you MUST use a parent or guardian’s computer, laptop or phone device for the duration of the Just Curious Club class.

  • Young people or children under the age of 18 MUST NOT participate in any Just Curious Club classes or meetings in a bedroom or private space. A communal area such as a lounge, kitchen, dining room with the door open must be used.

  • Everyone taking part in our classes must be dressed fully and appropriately for the activity.

  • Inappropriate language, racism, sexism or prejudice will not be tolerated and participants found to be acting in this way will be asked to leave the club with no refund given.

  • Participants must not make any recordings or take screenshots of the classes or meetings, or post to social media. You do not have signed consent from the other members in the class.

  • During booking we will ask you for permission for the use of images and video.
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