Safeguarding Policy Dated 6 July 2022 SAFEGUARDING POLICY TEATRO VIVO LIMITED A registered charity in England & Wales (number 1151584) 1.0 INTRODUCTION Teatro Vivo welcomes everyone. Through policy and practice Teatro Vivo ensures the protection of all children, young people and adults at risk. This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of or with Teatro Vivo, including the Artistic Directors, core staff, self-employed and employed performers, creatives or technicians, Artistic Associates (i.e. those performers or creatives who have been invited by the Artistic Directors to have an ongoing artistic relationship with Teatro Vivo), members of the public who take part in Teatro Vivo’s projects, on an unpaid basis, as beneficiaries of the charity, volunteers, workshop participants and Board members. The purpose of this policy statement is to: Protect and empower children, young people and adults at risk who engage in Teatro Vivo’s services in any location. Provide parents and guardians and those working on behalf of or with Teatro Vivo with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding. Ensure a safe environment for all stakeholders in all Teatro Vivo lead activities. Teatro Vivo reviews this policy every three years, or earlier if there are major legislative or organisational changes. 1.1 LEGAL FRAMEWORK This document is informed by legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England, a summary of which is available from www.nspcc.org.uk/childprotection. Teatro Vivo Safeguarding Charter We believe that: ● children, young people and adults at risk should never experience abuse of any kind; and ● we have a responsibility to ensure and promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them when engaging in activities organised by Teatro Vivo. We recognise that: ● the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk is paramount; ● all children, young people and adults at risk regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse; ● some children, young people and adults at risk are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues; ● working in partnership with children, young people and adults at risk, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting their welfare. We will seek to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk by: ● valuing, listening to and respecting them; ● adopting safeguarding policies and procedures which reflect best practice and a code of conduct for those that work for Teatro Vivo; ● using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately; ● recruiting those that work on behalf of or with Teatro Vivo safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made; ● implementing a code of conduct for those that work on behalf of or with Teatro Vivo and providing effective management for them through supervision and support; ● creating a safe environment by risk assessing all activities undertaken by Teatro Vivo; protecting the identity of children, young people and adults at risk by handling data and images professionally and securely. 2.0 GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCT This section outlines what Teatro Vivo expects of those that work on its behalf or with . These guidelines advise on the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk, and identify any practices which could be mistakenly interpreted and/or lead to false allegations of abuse being made against individuals. Following these guidelines will protect Teatro Vivo by reducing the possibility of anyone either using their role within the organisation to gain access to children in order to abuse them or leaving themselves open to allegations of abuse. All those that work on behalf of or with Teatro Vivo are expected to report any breaches of these guidelines to the designated Safeguarding Lead (as to which, see section 2.2 below). Employees and other staff who breach these guidelines may be subject to disciplinary procedures after a considered assessment of the incident and circumstances, which could result in termination of their engagement; after examination, serious breaches may also result in a referral being made to the police or a statutory child or adult protection agency as per standard procedure. Teatro Vivo Code of Conduct ● Always put the welfare and safety of the child, young person or adult at risk first. ● Treat all children, young people and adults at risk equally, with respect and dignity. ● Do not have, or be perceived to have, favourites. ● Ensure you have agreed roles, responsibilities and standards of behaviour with other adults involved, including teachers. ● Never agree to work with children or young people without a teacher or other responsible adult such as a parent/guardian, licensed chaperone etc. in the room. ● When spending time with individual or small groups of children ensure that you are observed by a teacher, parent/guardian or licensed chaperone. ● Avoid physical contact with children, young people or adults at risk unless it is necessary for a particular activity or if a child, young person or adult at risk has been, or is about to be, injured. ● If physical contact cannot be avoided and if the situation is not critically urgent, seek permission of the child, young person or adult at risk first (if they are conscious) and ensure they are comfortable with what you are going to do. ● Listen to what the child, young person or adult at risk has to tell you. ● Ensure that children, young people and adults at risk understand that you will treat what they tell you confidentially, unless you believe them or another person to be in danger. ● If a child, young person or adult at risk discloses something to you, or you see something that concerns you, contact Teatro Vivo’s designated Safeguarding Lead. ● If you see something that concerns your contact the designated Safeguarding Lead at Teatro Vivo. ● Do not contact children, young people or adults at risk outside of the setting within which the project is taking place (whether that be a school, community organisation, Teatro Vivo workshop or otherwise) . ● Do not give children, young people or adults at risk your personal telephone number or email address. ● Do not develop social or sexual relationships with the children, young people or adults at risk that you are working with. ● Never accept or give gifts or money from or to children and young people. ● Support and watch out for your colleagues you are working with to ensure that they are not being drawn into inappropriate situations or situations that could be misinterpreted. ● If it is absolutely necessary to be alone with a child or young person: o Make sure another adult knows where you are and approximately how long you will be. o Invite the child or young person to bring a friend. o Leave the door open of the room you are in. o Move to the centre of the room so that you are in plain view. 2.1 SAFEGUARDING PROCEDURE If a child, young person or adult at risk discloses information about harm or abuse they are suffering or have suffered you will: Remain calm, be empathetic and listen carefully to what they have to say; Only interrupt to ask for clarification, avoid interpreting information or asking leading questions; Do not promise to keep it a secret but make it clear that you will only share this information with people who need to know and can help; As soon as possible speak to the designated Safeguarding Officer Complete the Disclosure of Information report form, sign and date it as soon as possible, use the exact words of the child, young person or adult. If you have a safeguarding concern or have witnessed an incident but no disclosure has been made you can use the same form to make your report. Where more than one person has witnessed an incident or has a concern you should all complete separate reports. 2.2 SAFEGUARDING LEADS Safeguarding Lead: Joint Artistic Directors Safeguarding disclosures and concerns should be reported directly to the designated Safeguarding Lead as soon as possible or, if the report is being made by one of the Safeguarding Leads, to the other Safeguarding Lead. Safeguarding Leads are responsible for: Receiving and recording information from anyone who has concerns; Assessing information promptly and carefully, clarifying and obtaining new information where necessary; Consulting with school, statutory child/adult protection agency or police as appropriate; Ensuring that procedure is followed when making a referral. It is NOT the responsibility of the Safeguarding Lead to determine whether the disclosure or concern is valid. Safeguarding Leads will meet regularly with the Board, to monitor, review and develop the work of Teatro Vivo in delivering its duty of care. 3.0 CONFIDENTIALITY 3.1 The right of a young person, child or adult at risk takes precedence over a parent or guardian’s right to confidentiality. 3.2 Teatro Vivo will keep all Disclosure of Information report forms in a secure location for a period of 10 years before being destroyed. 4.0 PHOTOGRAPHY 4.1 Teatro Vivo, may film and record activity for their own organisational (including for marketing, press, publicity and funding purposes) use at the discretion of Teatro Vivo staff, volunteers and contractors. 4.2 Teatro Vivo may not undertake filming, photography or recording of children, young people and adults at risk without consent from the individuals and/or their parents or guardians. In this case parents and guardians are required to sign a consent form which details exactly how the images will be used, published and stored. 5.0 SAFER RECRUITMENT 5.1 It is a criminal offence for an individual who is disqualified from working with children to knowingly apply for, offer to do, accept or undertake any work in a regulated activity position i.e. any activities that the Disclosure and Barring Service can bar people from doing, as outlined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (SVGA). It is a criminal offence for Teatro Vivo to knowingly employ an individual who is disqualified from working in a regulated position with children, young people and adults at risk and therefore Teatro Vivo undertakes not to do so. 5.2 Teatro Vivo seeks to protect children, young people and adults at risk by: Requiring two contactable references for any employee or volunteer undertaking a regulated activity position as outlined in Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (SVGA); Requiring all employees and volunteers carrying out regulated activity with children and young people or adults at risk to undergo an enhanced DBS check or provide evidence of subscription to the update service; 5.3 Access to this Safeguarding policy will be send to all those who work on behalf of or with Teatro Vivo. 6.0 Training 6.1 All those that work on behalf of or with Teatro Vivo are briefed that they should be alert to the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and made aware of the referral process for reporting disclosures or concerns to a Safeguarding Lead. 6.2 Safeguarding Leads are required to attend training appropriate to their responsibility for reviewing the legislative framework and ensuring Teatro Vivo is delivering its duty of care. Safeguarding training will also be provided to those who work on behalf of or with Teatro Vivo if required to fulfil their role. 6.3 Those who work on behalf of or with Teatro Vivo and volunteers will be required to familiarise themselves with the content of this policy and their acceptance of any contract with Teatro Vivo is their confirmation that they will abide by the Code of Conduct. 7.0 PUBLIC This policy is available to view on Teatro Vivo’s website at https://www.teatrovivo.co.uk/safeguarding-policy/. We will only publicly share information that does not endanger a child, young person or adult at risk. Manage Cookie Preferences