Safeguarding Policy.
Upholland Community Band
This policy applies to all members, volunteers or anyone working on behalf of Upholland Community Band.
The purpose of this policy:
1. To protect children, young people and adults with care and support needs who are members of the band or connected to the band in some other way.
2. To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
Upholland Community Band believes that a child, young person or adult with care and support needs should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
Legal framework:
This policy has been drawn up based on law and guidance that seeks to protect children and adults at risk, namely:
• Children Act (1989)
• United Convention of the Rights of the Child (1991)
• Data Protection Act (1998) and subsequent data protection guidance
• Sexual Offences Act (2003)
• Children Act (2004)
• Protection of Freedoms Act (2012)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children: A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government (2018)
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act (2006)
• The Human Rights Act (1998)
• The Children and Families Act (2014)
• Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years. Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Government (2014)
• General Data Protection Regulations (European Union) (2017)
• Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers; HM Government (2015)
• The Care Act (2014)
• The Care Act (2014) Care and Support Statutory Guidance (specifically the safeguarding section of this)
• The Mental Capacity Act (2005)
We recognise that:
• the welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act (1989);
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse;
• some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues; and
• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
In addition, bands are aware that they also have safeguarding responsibilities towards adult members, some of whom may be vulnerable at different times in their lives. The principles outlined above in relation to children, also apply to our work with adults. In terms of a legal framework, the arrangements for those over 18 are governed by the Care Act 2014. This Act stipulates that statutory safeguarding duties apply to an adult who:
• has care and support needs, and
• is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, and,
• as a result of those care and support needs, is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect.
We will seek to keep children, young people and adults safe by:
• valuing them, listening to and respecting them, ensuring that, in the case of adults, we work with their consent unless ‘vital interests’ [as defined in the Data Protection Act (1998)] are at stake, or the person has been assessed as lacking mental capacity [as defined in the Mental Capacity Act (2005)];
• adopting child protection and adult safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for and members and volunteers;
• ensuring that our governance arrangements reflect our commitment to safeguarding
• working to ensure that there is a safe culture within our band
• developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures;
• providing effective support and training for volunteers with responsibility;
• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made;
• sharing information about child protection and adult safeguarding with children, parents, volunteers and members;
• sharing concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately.
Useful contact details:
Band Safeguarding/Welfare Officer: Patrick Hollywood; (patrickhollywood@yahoo.co.uk) (07808 765816)
Local police: 101
Local authority children’s social care department, including out of hours contact: Lancashire County Council – 0300 123 6720 or out of hours – 0300 123 6722
NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk
ChildLine: 0800 1111 (textphone 0800 400 222) or www.childline.org.uk
The Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/
National Domestic Abuse Helpline: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/
Local authority adult social care department: 0300 123 6720
Brass Bands England Safeguarding Officer: 01226 771015
We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.
This policy was last reviewed on: 04/02/23
Signed: Patrick Hollywood. (Band Safeguarding/Welfare Officer)