Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable People Statement

South East Dance (SED) believes that everyone, without exception, has the right to protection from abuse, harassment or any kind of harm regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, class or socio-economic background, trade union activity or political activity or opinion. SED’s policy applies to all staff, including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, freelance workers and artists, volunteers and sessional workers, interns, students or anyone working on behalf of SED and is approved by our board of Trustees.

 

Safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults Policy

Statement

South East Dance are committed to practices that promote safe environments and support the health, wellbeing, safety and positive development of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff are trained and supported to offer high quality, positive and safe dance opportunities.

South East Dance adheres to all relevant legislation and legislative guidance in this area, including 

The Children’s Act 1989, Children’s Act 2004, and Children and Social Work Act 2017, Working Together to Safeguard Children (July 2018), Protection of Children Act 1999, Police Act 1997, Care Act 2014, Data Protection Act 2018 , Mandatory reporting of female genital mutilation (FGM) (Serious Crime Act 2015), Counter-Terrorism and Security Act 2015 (Prevent Act), Sexual Offences Act 2003, Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 , Disclosure and Barring Service, Equality Act 2010, Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, amended 2010, Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014

This policy summaries the key components of South East Dance’s full safeguarding policy for specific publication on the South East Dance website. 

Here is a link to the full safeguarding policy. If you require a large print version please contact reception@southeastdance.org.uk with details of your request.

 

The purpose of this policy is to:

  • protect children, young people and vulnerable adults who engage with South East Dance activity;
  • provide staff, volunteers, artists, parents, carers and anyone else relevant with the overarching principals that guide and necessary details that inform our approach to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.

 

South East Dance recognises that:

  • That the welfare of our participants is paramount and that they must be protected from harm at all times.
  • The needs of children, young people and vulnerable adults from African or Caribbean heritage, people of South, East and South Asian heritage and people who are ethnically diverse and/or people who experience racism and those who are D/deaf or D/disabled, and the barriers that they may face, especially concerning communication.
  • That everyone working with children, young people and vulnerable adults has a responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of each person in our care.  They should feel safe and able to speak out if this is not the case.
  • That all staff and volunteers should have the appropriate knowledge of how to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults, including an understanding of common safeguarding terms, in order to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
  • The use of technology and information technology is an essential part of all our lives; it is involved in how we as an organisation gather and store information, as well as how we communicate with each other. It is also an intrinsic part of the experience of our children and young people and vulnerable adults, and is greatly beneficial to all. However, it can present challenges in terms of how we use it responsibly and, if misused by anyone, can be actually or potentially harmful to them.

 

South East Dance has appointed an Online Safety designated staff member to ensure that trustees, staff, partners and freelance practitioners have a thorough understanding of the principles and procedures in online safety so that children, young people and vulnerable adults have the opportunity and freedom to learn and develop in a safe and professional environment without fear of abuse. 

 

South East Dance meets its responsibility towards safeguarding through:

  • ensuring proper and stringent recruitment of staff, freelancers and volunteers, including Disclosure and Barring (DBS) certificate checks where appropriate;
  • inducting and training for all staff and volunteers in best practice relating to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults;
  • sharing information regarding relevant policies and protocols with freelancers and volunteers;
  • ensuring that all staff, volunteers, freelancers and volunteers agree to and adhere to the South East Dance Code of Conduct;
  • the appointment of a Designated Safeguarding Officer and E-safety officer who are available for advice to staff and volunteers
  • ensuring that all documentation and sensitive information is treated confidentially and held and used in line with the Data Protection Act 2018;
  • ensuring that the relevant consent procedures are taken for filming and photography;
  • ensuring that there is sensitivity to the content of project sessions, taking into account age, gender and abilities of the participants
  • responding swiftly and appropriately to suspicions and allegations of abuse
  • reviewing our policy and good practice at regular intervals.

 

Children, All concerns, and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously by trustees and staff and responded to appropriately - this may require a referral to children’s services and in some instances, the Police.

South East Dance will ensure that partners, external contractors, parents and carers have access to this Safeguarding Policy and are aware of the procedures that are put in place to safeguard all those involved in South East Dance’s work.

The South East Dance safeguarding policy is continually being reviewed. This statement and the policy were last reviewed in June 2023. The full policy and the online edition will be reviewed and updated in tandem as necessary on a regular basis.

Responsibility for the policy

The Executive Director has overall responsibility of the safeguarding and leads on all matters relating to safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and other relevant policies. They are responsible for the maintenance of the policy and ensuring all staff, board of trustees and volunteers are familiar with its contents through induction and training procedures. The Executive Director is supported by the Designated Safeguarding Officer and an E-safety Officer.

Signed: Rachel Gibson, Executive Director, South East Dance

 

Safeguarding contact details

If you have any concerns then please contact Designated Safeguarding Officer, Cath James

Email: luan.taylor@southeastdance.org.uk

 

If the Designated Safeguarding Officer is not available please contact Executive Director, Rachel Gibson.

Email: rachel.gibson@southeastdance.org.uk