Children, Young People and Adults at Risk Safeguarding Policy

Diverse Artists Network is a development agency for diversity in the arts, promoting cultural competency and representation in the sector. Our organisation brings together artists, creatives, and musicians across Bristol and the South West region with the aim of building national and international networks that encompass the broadest spectrum of diversity and representation.

Our Vision is for an equitable and just arts industry in which diverse experiences inform a rich cultural landscape of opportunities that are relevant for a larger proportion of our city and its communities.

Our Mission is to achieve this vision through building a strong network, programming relevant events and showcasing and raising the profile of diverse artists.

Diverse Artist Network strives for greater equality, diversity and inclusion in every aspect of what we do – the audiences we reach, the artistic programme we present, and in our team of staff and trustees.

Introduction

As the Diverse Artists Network (DAN), we are steadfast in our commitment to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for all individuals, with a particular emphasis on the protection and well-being of children, young people, and adults at risk. This policy underscores our dedication to implementing robust safeguarding measures, ensuring all members of our community, especially those who are most vulnerable, are protected from harm.

Our engagement with children, young people, and adults at risk occurs within the context of delivering workshops, events, and activities in various settings, including schools and community centres. This policy outlines the measures we undertake to ensure their safety and well-being in these circumstances, emphasising our commitment to safeguarding without compromising our mission to engage and inspire through the arts.

This policy exists to protect children, young people, and adults at risk. It recognises the following guiding principles:

• The welfare of the child and adults at risk is paramount, underscoring that the safety and well-being of these individuals always take precedence.
• All children and adults at risk, without exception, have the right to protection from abuse, emphasising that every individual, regardless of age, deserves a safe environment.
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse, whether involving a child or an adult at risk, will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately, ensuring a prompt and careful response to any concerns.
• All Diverse Artists Network CIC staff, freelance employees, and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns about both children and adults at risk, highlighting the collective duty to act in the best interest of the welfare of all vulnerable individuals

Diverse Artists Network CIC recognises that it has an explicit duty to safeguard and protect children from abuse as defined in the Children Act 2004 and the Education Act 2002. 

Policy statement 

Diverse Artists Network CIC believes that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind and recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk adults by a commitment to a practice which protects them.  

A child is:
A young person falls under the broader category of individuals under the age of 18.  

An adult at risk is:
An adult at risk refers to individuals who are over the age of 18 and require support or services to live safely within the community. Such adults may be unable to care for themselves or protect themselves from significant harm or exploitation. They include, but are not limited to, those:

• Receiving social care services or personal care.
• Needing assistance with general household matters, such as paying bills or shopping, due to physical or sensory impairments, learning disabilities, or mental health conditions.
• Detained by His Majesty’s Government or in contact with probation services.

We recognise that:

• The welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk is of the utmost importance.
• All individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation, or identity, deserve equal protection from all forms of harm or abuse.
• Collaborating with children, young people, adults at risk, and in some cases, their parents, carers, or other agencies is crucial in promoting the welfare of individuals.

This approach underscores our commitment to safeguarding the well-being of every individual in our society, recognizing their rights, and addressing their specific needs and vulnerabilities.

The purpose of this policy:

• To provide protection for the children, young people and adults at risk who are involved in Diverse Artists Network CIC’s activity. 
• To provide staff, volunteers and agency members with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child may be experiencing, or be at risk of, harm. 

This policy applies to all staff, including senior managers and the board, paid staff and freelancers agency artists and volunteers working on behalf of Diverse Artists Network CIC. 

Diverse Artists Network CIC will seek to safeguard children and adults at risk by: 

• Valuing them, listening to and respecting them.
• Adopting child protection guidelines through our code of conduct for staff and volunteers. 
• Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made (DBS etc). 
• Sharing information about child protection and good practice with our staff and volunteers. 
• Sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately. 
• Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, staff and training. 

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice at least once a year, see renewal date in appendix

Responsibilities and implementation

The overall responsibility for the implementation of the policy rests with the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead), Vandna Mehta.   

The DSL will strive to:

• Uphold and promote the policy. 
• Make all staff, residents, freelancers and volunteers aware of the policy. 

However, it is the responsibility of all staff members to protect children and adults at risk from abuse. All staff, freelancers and volunteers working for or with the organisation have a responsibility to report concerns and ensure compliance in accordance with this policy.

Procedures and guidelines

It is very important that there are procedures in place that ensure a speedy and effective response for dealing with concerns about the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children or adults at risk or their neglect. 

These procedures relate to all involved with Diverse Artists Network, whether freelance, core staff, or volunteers. 

The procedures will help all members of staff to accept and recognise their responsibilities towards developing awareness of the issues that cause children and adults at risk of harm. This will help to create a safe environment where children and adults at risk can enjoy stimulating experiences. 

Training

The following information is intended as a reference and guidance document for company procedures relating to Child Safeguarding, and will be accompanied by adequate training in Child Safeguarding issues for all staff, freelancers and volunteers working with children and adults at risk. 

Recruitment

All members of staff working for Diverse Artists Network CIC, on a temporary or permanent, voluntary or paid basis, who are involved in projects where they are required to work with children or adults at risk directly, are subject to the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers including Disclosure and Barring service check yearly. 

Designated person

The designated person at Diverse Artists Network CIC responsible for dealing with allegations or suspicions of abuse is the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead), Vandna Mehta, and the DDSL (Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead) Morayo Omogbenigun. 

The designated person’s role is to:

• Ensure regular risk assessments of work involving children or adults at risk take place and appropriate changes are carried out. 
• Receive information from staff and volunteers who have  safeguarding concerns and record it. 
• Assess information promptly and carefully, clarifying or obtaining more information about the matter as appropriate. 
• Consult initially with a statutory child safeguarding agency to test out doubts or uncertainties. 
• Make a formal referral to a statutory child safeguarding agency or the police without delay. 

Within projects, the project leader may be the first point of contact for the points above. Any information received by the project leader will be referred immediately to the DSL who will manage them in conjunction with the project leader. 

How you might become aware of the actual or likely occurrence of abuse:

• A child or adult at risk might tell you 
• Someone else might report that a child adult at risk has told them or that they strongly believe that a child has been or is being abused
• A child or adult at risk might show some signs of physical injury for which there appears to be no satisfactory explanation
• A child or adult at risk behaviour might indicate to you that they are being abused
• Something in the behaviour of another member of staff or a young person, or in the way a member of staff or young person relates to a child or adult at risk, alerts you or makes you feel uncomfortable in some way
• You might observe or receive information of one child or adult at risk abusing another 

Responding to signs or suspicions of abuse

A member of staff may be approached by a child or other adult alleging or disclosing abuse, or may see signs which lead them to suspect abuse. 

In the case of participatory projects, the project leader will be the designated contact, but other people may be approached. 

Any sign or suspicion of abuse should be recorded by the staff member using the checklist provided in Appendix 1. This should be done immediately when you suspect abuse. 

It should then be reported immediately to the DSL who in conjunction with the person in question will make further records and notes about the issue and refer the matter to appropriate authorities within 24 hours. 

Responding to a child or adult at risk disclosing abuse

A member of staff may be approached by a child or another adult alleging or disclosing abuse. 

In the case of participatory projects, the project leader will be the designated contact, but other staff may be approached. 

Any disclosure of abuse should be recorded using the checklist provided in Appendix 1, and Diverse This should be done immediately when the abuse is disclosed. 

It should then be reported immediately to the Artistic Director who in conjunction with the person who recorded the disclosure will make further records and notes about the issue and refer the matter to appropriate authorities within 24 hours. 

Responding to allegations of abuse against a member of Diverse Artists Network CIC staff

A member of staff may be approached by a child or other adult alleging or disclosing abuse by someone associated with Diverse Artists Network CIC. 

The details of any allegations of abuse should be recorded using the checklist provided in Appendix 1 and in Diverse Artists Network Safeguarding Concern Report Form This should be done immediately when the abuse is alleged. 

It should then be reported immediately to the DSL who in conjunction with the staff member will make further records and notes about the issue and refer the matter to the appropriate authorities within 24 hours. 

In the event of an allegation being made against the DSL  should be reported to the Company Manager who will make further records and notes about the issue and refer the matter to the appropriate authorities within 24 hours. 

In either case, a member of the board will be informed promptly. 

Responding to allegations of abuse against someone not working for Diverse Artists Network CIC

A member of staff may be approached by a child or other adult alleging or disclosing abuse by an individual not involved with Diverse Artists Network CIC. 

The details of any allegations of abuse should be recorded using the checklist provided in Appendix 1. This should be done immediately when the abuse is alleged. 

It should then be reported immediately to the Chair of the Board who is a Trustee for Safeguarding who will make further records and notes about the issue and refer the matter to the appropriate authorities within 24 hours. 

Confidentiality Policy

The Data Protection Act 1998 requires personal information to be obtained and processed fairly and lawfully and for it to be disclosed in appropriate circumstances. 

The Act allows for disclosure of information without the consent of the subject in certain conditions, including for the purposes of the prevention or detection of crime, or the apprehension of offenders. The need to safeguard children and adults at risk from harm should be considered within these parameters. 

The European Convention of Human Rights Article 8 also addresses the need to disclose information for ‘the protection of health and morals, for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others and for the prevention of disorder or crime. Disclosure should be appropriate for the purpose and only to the extent necessary to achieve that purpose’.

Code of behaviour

To be made available to all staff and volunteers working with Diverse Artists Network CIC. 

These guidelines are intended to reduce situations where abuse of children and adults at risk may occur, and help protect staff by promoting good working practice. General Guidelines should be observed at all times in any situation; other guidelines should be referred to in the relevant circumstances/places where work is carried out. 

Diverse Artists Network CIC is committed to practise that protects children and adults at risk from harm. 

All staff in the organisation accept and recognise the responsibility to develop awareness of the issues which can cause children and adults at risk of harm. 

The term staff is used here to include everyone working with Diverse Artists Network CIC, whether as a freelancer, core staff or volunteer. 

General guidelines:

• Everyone working with children and adults at risk should be sensitive as to what is appropriate physical contact, both in general terms, and in relation to a specific individual. People need to be conscious of situations in which their actions, however well intended, could be misconstructed by others as harmful. 
• Treat all children and adults at risk with respect. Listen to them carefully.
• We must not spend unreasonable amounts of time alone with children away from others. 
• Always be publicly open when working with children and adults at risk. Avoid situations where a leader and individual child or adults at risk are completely unobserved. 
• Children and adults at risk should never be left unattended or be excluded from the group. 
• Leaders must place the wellbeing and safety of the young person above other considerations at all times.
• If a child or young person is injured whilst involved in a Diverse Artists Network CIC project, the injury is to be recorded in Diverse Artists Network Safeguarding Concern Report Form and countersigned by a parent or carer of the child. 
• If a child or young person arrives at a Diverse Artists Network CIC project session with an injury, the injury should be recorded and countersigned by the parent or carer. This might be useful if an allegation is made at a later date and also records that the injury was not sustained during a Diverse Artists Network CIC activity. 
• Avoid using inappropriate language. 
• Avoid using inappropriate physical contact. 
• There may be times when physical contact is unavoidable or positively desirable or necessary, such as providing comfort and reassurance to a distressed child, or physical support, for example when working with a disabled child. Physical contact should only take place with the consent of the child and the purpose of the contact should be made clear. 
• Act on and record any allegations made by a young person or member of staff.

Touch policy

Movement, body work and touch can make some people feel very vulnerable. Even though touch is so important, it is only valuable when it feels safe, comfortable and positive. If, for a variety of reasons, it does not, all the benefits disappear, to be replaced by very clear disadvantages. Touch must always be negotiated, possibly non-verbally and you must create an environment in which participants feel genuinely able to make choices based on how they feel:

• Each person needs to feel in control of what they do, or what is done to them.
• Touch may become unacceptable at any time. It is never desirable to maintain touch if it has become unwelcome for any reason.
• Negotiate and support activities on a moment to moment basis and encourage anyone else working with you to do the same. 
• Insist on this rule for any session: ‘you can move in any way that you want as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else, or you’.
• Stop, or change, what is happening at any time you feel uneasy about participants safety or comfort.
• Report anything that makes you uneasy to the appropriate person, within the safeguarding policy of your setting.

Appendix 1: 

Checklist – responding to a child or adult at risk making allegations of abuse:

• Stay calm 
• Be non-judgemental 
• Listen carefully to what is said without interrupting 
• Find an appropriate opportunity to explain that it is likely that the information will need to be shared with others – do not promise to keep secrets 
• Make it clear that you take them seriously 
• Allow the child to continue at his / her own pace 
• Record only what the child has said. Many cases fall down where it is possible to infer that leading questions were asked even at these early stages 
• Reassure the child that they have done the right thing in telling you. Reassure them that you are going to do everything you can to help. Tell them what you will do next and with whom the information will be shared Record in writing what was said using the child’s own words as often as possible in a clear and factual manner 
• Information that should be recorded includes: date and time of incident and / or disclosure, any names mentioned, to whom the information was given, what was said or done by whom, any action taken by the organisation, where relevant: reasons why no referral to a statutory agency was made – and ensure that the record is signed and dated 
• Record every incident of suspected, alleged or disclosed abuse you encounter

Things to avoid: 

• Do not quiz for more information 
• Do not speculate or make assumptions 
• Do not voice negative judgements about the situation or the abuser 
• Do not make promises you cannot keep 
• Do not promise that ‘everything will be alright’ 
• Do not offer to keep it confidential 

Remember: It is important that everyone in the organisation is aware that the first person who encounters a case of alleged or suspected abuse is not responsible for deciding whether or not abuse has occurred. That is the task of a professional child safeguarding agency, following a referral to them of concern about a child. 

Appendix 2: 

Definitions abuse. 

There are five main kinds of abuse, all of which can cause long term damage to a child or adult at risk. 

Physical Abuse 

This is when a child or adult at risk is hurt or injured by a child or an adult. Physical abuse includes hitting, kicking, punching, scratching, shaking and other ways of inflicting pain or injury such as poisoning, drowning or smothering. It also includes giving a child harmful drugs or alcohol. 

Emotional Abuse 

This is when adults deny children or adults at risk love or affection, or constantly threaten or humiliate them. Sarcasm, degrading punishments and ignoring a child or adult at risk are also forms of emotional abuse and undermine a child’s  or adult’s confidence and sense of self-worth. It may involve conveying to children or adults at risk that they are worthless, unloved, and inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children or adults at risk.  It may involve  causing children or adults at risk  to feel frightened or in danger by being constantly shouted at, threatened or taunted, which may make the child very nervous or withdrawn. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in an ill treatment of a child or adult at risk. 

Neglect 

This is where adults fail to meet a child’s or adults at risk of basic physical and/or psychological needs e.g. love food, warmth, safety education and medical attention. It is likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s development, or an adult at risk of health. 

Sexual Abuse/Sexual Harassment 

Sexual abuse is when a child or is used sexually by an adult or young person. Sexual abuse can include kissing, touching the child’s genitals or breasts, vaginal or anal intercourse and oral sex. Encouraging a child or adults at risk to look at pornographic magazines or videos is also sexual abuse. Sexual harassment can include unwelcome sexual advances – touching, standing too close, and/or display of offensive materials. 

Bullying 

Bullying, racism and other types of discrimination are forms of child abuse. Like other kinds of abuse they can harm a child physically or emotionally. As an organisation we take bullying seriously. Children and young people and parents should be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported, and that bullying will not be tolerated at Theatre Bristol Any incident of bullying will be discussed initially with the child and parents/guardians and steps or sanctions taken to stop the bullying.

Effects of abuse 

Without appropriate intervention and treatment, the sustained abuse or neglect of children physically, emotionally or sexually is likely to have major long-term effects on all aspects of the child’s health and well-being, such as: 

• Growth and development
• Own self-image and self-esteem difficulties in forming or sustaining close relationships 
• Getting established in the workforce 
• Developing the attitude and skills necessary to be an effective parent 

Children or adults at risk may suffer or be at risk of suffering significant harm. Harm may be attributed to:

• ill treatment which may include sexual, physical or emotional abuse or 
• the impairment of physical or mental health or 
• the impairment of physical, intellectual or behavioural development

This may be the result of: 

• A deliberate act by a parent, carer or other adult or child 
• A failure to act or to provide proper care 
• Or both of these

How is harm deemed to be ‘significant’? 

There are no absolute criteria on which to rely when judging what constitutes significant harm. Consideration of the severity of ill-treatment may include the degree and the extent of physical harm, the duration and frequency of abuse and neglect, and the extent of premeditation, degree of threat and coercion, sadism, and bizarre or unusual elements in child abuse or abuse against adults at risk. 

Each of these elements has been associated with more severe effects on the child and adults at risk,  or relatively greater difficulty in helping the child or adult at risk overcome the adverse impact of the ill- treatment. 

Sometimes, a single traumatic event may constitute significant harm (e.g. violent assault, poisoning or suffocation). 

More often, significant harm is a compilation of significant events, both acute and longstanding, which interrupt, change or damage the child’s physical and psychological development. Some children live in family and social circumstances where their health and development are neglected. For them it is the corrosiveness of long-term emotional, physical or sexual abuse that causes impairment to the extent of constituting significant harm. In each case it is necessary to consider any ill-treatment alongside the family’s strengths and supports. 

It is important to always take account of the child’s reactions, and his or her perceptions, according to the child’s age and understanding. 

Minor shortcomings in health care or minor deficits in physical, psychological or social development should not require compulsory intervention unless cumulatively.

Sources: ITC, NSPCC, Department of Health ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’: ACE ‘Keeping Arts Safe’.

Created: 7th March 2024 

Due for review: 7th March 2025

If you have questions or concerns about this policy, please contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Vandna Mehta or our Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead, Morayo Omogbenigun.