This Safeguarding Policy applies to Walton Feel Good Choir and includes all choir members, volunteers and all others performing or working with Walton Feel Good Choir.
Walton Feel Good Choir is committed to ensuring that all children, young people and vulnerable adults have the same protection regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity. Walton Feel Good Choir is committed to anti-discriminatory practice and explicitly recognises the additional needs of children, young people and vulnerable adults from minority ethnic groups and the disabled and the barriers they may face, especially around communication.
The law requires any organisation involving children, young people or vulnerable adults to take all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to vulnerable adults’ and children’s welfare are minimised, and where there are concerns, to share them with other local agencies.
Walton Feel Good Choir recognises that it is not the role of their organisation to decide whether a child, young person or vulnerable adult has been abused or not. This is the role of the Social Services department which has the legal responsibility, the NSPCC who have powers to investigate child protection concerns under the Children Act or the Police.
The main laws and guidance supporting this policy are:
- The Children’s Act 1989 and 2004
- The Human Rights Act 1998
- The Protection of Children Act 1999
- The Sexual Offences (Amendments) Act 2006
- The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1991
- Government guidance on safeguarding children
- Caring for the Young and Vulnerable 2000
- The Care Act 2014
- The Charity Commission’s ‘Strategy for Dealing with Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Issues in Charities’
Who are Children or Vulnerable Adults?
In this context anyone up to the age of 18 is a child. An adult is defined in the Care Act 2014 as someone over 18 years old who has care and support needs, is experiencing or at risk of abuse or neglect as a result of their care and support needs or is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.
How Walton Feel Good Choir Operates
Walton Feel Good Choir is a local Community Group of amateur Singers managed by a leader, Secretary and Treasurer. The group has its own constitution. The choir presents several concerts a year sometimes performing in local care homes and at other local social events. The Choir meets weekly to practice and is run by Choir leader, Lisa Strong. There are approximately 30 members of the Choir.
Walton Feel Good Choir does not advertise itself as an activity suitable for children, young people, or vulnerable adults. ;Most choir members are independent adults. Choir rehearsals and performances are group activities, and there is no need for a member of the choir to be alone with another member of any age. Occasionally, children may join in at local concerts and events but are always accompanied by a responsible adult. Walton Feel Good Choir is therefore unlikely to be targeted by a person seeking opportunities to abuse children or vulnerable adults. Nevertheless, Walton Feel Good Choir recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults with whom it works and comes into contact and believes that everyone has the right to enjoy the activities of the Choir in a happy, safe and secure environment.
Walton Feel Good Choir has therefore, agreed the following Safeguarding Policy:
THE POLICY
Walton Feel Good Choir will publicise its Safeguarding Policy on its website -www.waltonfeelgoodchoir.co.uk and draw it to the attention of members regularly.
Membership
Should any child or close relative (under 18) of a member of Walton Feel Good Choir participate in activities with the Choir, the member must act as a responsible adult. Should any other child/young person participate in any of the Choir’s activities, they must be accompanied by a parent or other responsible adult who remains responsible for them throughout the session.
Audiences and Social Events
Walton Feel Good Choir is aware that children and vulnerable adults may attend their concerts as members of the audience, or attend social functions hosted by Walton Feel Good Choir. It is the responsibility of the parent, guardian, or carer to ensure adequate supervision. If a parent/guardian/carer is not personally attending an event, this policy requires them to be satisfied that the child or vulnerable adult will be accompanied and adequately supervised by a responsible adult acting on their behalf at all times.
Privacy
Parents and guardians should be aware that photography, audio and video recording are undertaken from time to time. The images and recordings are used both on- and off- line including on the web. They provide valuable tools to promote the work of the choir.
Abuse
Walton Feel Good Choir endeavours by the implementation of this safeguarding policy to protect and minimise the risks of abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults. The term child abuse is used to describe a range of ways that people harm children. Abuse of adults can happen anywhere. It can happen at home, in a residential or nursing home, in a hospital, at work or in the street. There are four main categories of abuse namely physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect. Walton Feel Good Choir notes the importance of being alert to signals of abuse and to the difficulty children or vulnerable adults may have in reporting it
Measure for implementation of this policy
The Walton Feel Good Choir have nominated LISA STRONG as the Designated Person in respect of Safeguarding. The Designated Person, who is DBS checked, shall undertake appropriate training as required and will be identified to children and vulnerable adults as the principal person they should turn to if they have any concerns or queries. Any concerns regarding either, a child or a choir member, or other adult must immediately be reported to the Designated Person. In the absence of the designated person, the matter should be brought to the attention of the Secretary. A permanent confidential record will be kept of the complaint and the outcome.
Policy Review – The policy and procedures will be reviewed annually.
Designated Person for Safeguarding: Lisa Strong
Secretary: Emma Hardman