Child Protection

Introduction

West End Kids has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that, when given responsibility for children, all staff, chaperones, parents/legal guardians, and volunteers accept their responsibilities to safeguard children from harm and abuse. This means ensuring that everyone follows procedures to protect children and reports any concerns about their welfare to the appropriate authorities.

Policy Objectives

There are three key elements to our policy:

1. Prevention: Raising awareness of each child’s individual needs.
2. Definitions: Clear definitions of child abuse and neglect.
3. Procedures: Processes for identifying and reporting actual or suspected cases of abuse.

The aim of the policy is to promote good practice, providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection while in the care of West End Kids. It also aims to equip staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.

Prevention

We recognise that the entertainment industry can be an adult-oriented environment. Therefore, we expect that all staff, chaperones, parents/legal guardians, volunteers, and anyone else who comes into contact with children behave appropriately at all times. The welfare of the child is paramount.

West End Kids will:

• Comply with legal frameworks including the Children’s Act 1989 & 2004 and The Children (Performances and Activities) (England) Regulations 2014.
• Create a safe environment where children feel welcome, are informed about facilities (e.g., toilets, dressing rooms) and emergency procedures (e.g., fire exits), and are aware of health and safety protocols.
• Inform children who the appropriate person is to approach if they have any questions, problems, or concerns.
• Treat children with respect and dignity, offering equality of opportunity to every individual.
• Ensure open environments: Avoiding private or unobserved situations, unnecessary physical contact, and allowing parents/chaperones to take responsibility for their own child(ren) where appropriate.
• Recognise the individual needs of children, such as when a child may be tired and require a break.
• Ensure children are supervised appropriately.
• Require chaperones to be registered with the local authority and undergo an enhanced DBS check.
• Ensure all staff and crew who come into close contact with children are DBS-checked.
• Inform all staff and crew who do not have close contact with children of their conduct responsibilities around children.

Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect

A child is abused or neglected when someone inflicts harm or fails to act to prevent harm. Abuse or neglect can happen to any child or young person under the age of 18.

Types of Abuse:

• Physical Abuse: Includes hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning/scalding, drowning, suffocating, or causing physical harm. It also includes fabricated or induced illness.
• Sexual Abuse: Involves forcing or enticing a child to participate in sexual activities (physical or non-contact), such as making them view pornography or engage in inappropriate behaviours.
• Neglect: Persistent failure to meet a child’s basic needs (e.g., food, shelter, clothing, protection from harm) resulting in impaired health or development.
• Emotional Abuse: Persistent emotional ill-treatment that causes severe adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. This includes belittling, age-inappropriate expectations, exposure to domestic violence, and bullying.

Legislation, Policy, and Guidance

West End Kids will adhere to the following relevant legislation when working with children and young people under the age of 18:

• Children Act 1989
• Children Act 2004
• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2015

Responding to Concerns Suspicion of Abuse

If you see or suspect abuse of a child, you must immediately report it to the designated individual/manager responsible for child protection.

Disclosure of Abuse

If a child tells you that they or another child is being abused:

• Listen carefully without interrupting or asking leading questions.
• Take it seriously and show that you believe them.
• Do not promise confidentiality, but explain that you will only tell those who need to know.
• Record the details as soon as possible using the child’s own words. Include the time, location, and any other people present.
• Report the disclosure immediately to the designated individual/manager.
• Do not confront the alleged abuser.

Handling Allegations

If a child makes an allegation against a member of staff, it must be reported immediately to the designated manager for child protection. This person will refer the case to the Social Services department for Children’s Services.

If the allegation is against the designated manager, it should be reported to another senior manager or directly to Children’s Services.

Do not inform the alleged perpetrator about the allegation.

Recording Procedures

Accurate record-keeping is essential. All allegations or reported incidents must be documented. The record should include:

• Time, date, and location of the incident or disclosure.
• Names of all involved.
• Details of the incident as described, using the child’s exact words.
• Action taken (including any suspension of an individual, if applicable).
• Reasons if the matter was not referred to a statutory agency.
• The name of the person reporting and to whom the incident was reported.

These records must be stored securely and only shared with those who need to know.

Note: You do not have to be certain about abuse before reporting it. It is your duty to report concerns, not to investigate them.

Key Contacts for Child Protection and Safeguarding