Child protection and safeguarding policy and procedures

Our Safeguarding Representative is Bruce Rayner, who can be contacted at safeguarding@wrenthamband.org.

1. Introduction

This policy has been drawn up by Wrentham Band from a policy originally created by Brass Bands England (formerly the British Federation of Brass Bands). It establishes our roles, legal responsibilities and procedures. It both highlights the importance of the protection of children, young people and adults at risk, and safeguards all personnel from the risk of false allegations of abuse or poor practice.

Wrentham Band believes that everyone who participates in brass banding is entitled to do so in a welcoming, enjoyable and safe environment. To ensure this, we have adopted the following principles that all personnel should follow. This policy applies to everybody who works in a paid or voluntary capacity for or on behalf of Wrentham Band, including playing members, musical directors, teachers/tutors and committee members.

The band states that it is always unacceptable for a child, young person or adult to experience abuse of any kind, and recognises its responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk and keep them safe. We are committed to practise in a way that protects them.

Policy statement

Wrentham Band is committed to the following:

Making the welfare of the child, young person or adult at risk paramount by adopting an ‘it could happen here’ attitude.
Ensuring all young people, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief or sexual identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
Ensuring all young people are able to participate in brass banding in an enjoyable and safe environment.
Taking all reasonable steps to protect young people from harm, discrimination and degrading treatment, and to respect their rights, wishes and feelings.
Recording and reporting all suspicions and allegations of poor practice.
Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made.

The band is aware that it also has 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 is 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.

Terms and abbreviations

Anyone under the age of 18 is considered to be a child or young person.
‘Parent’ is used as a generic term to include parents, legal guardians and carers.
‘Personnel’ includes players, attending family and friends, as well as volunteers and employees of Wrentham Band.
‘Safeguarding Representative’ is the elected individual within the band who will oversee the implementation and application of this policy on behalf of the band committee, and who will be the ‘go to’ person in the event of any safeguarding concerns that may arise.

2. Code of practice

To provide young people with the best possible experiences and opportunities in brass banding, everyone must operate within an accepted ethical framework and demonstrate exemplary behaviour. This will allow brass banding to make a positive contribution to the development of young people and safeguard their welfare, while also protecting personnel from the risk of false allegations.

Everyone connected with the band is required to:

recognise and accept their responsibilities
develop awareness of the issues which can cause children harm
report and record welfare concerns by following the procedures in section 3 below.

2.1 Good practice

In order to minimise the risk of abuse or an allegation of abuse, the band and its members shall:

Ensure that, whenever possible, parents take responsibility for their own children.
Follow an ‘open door’ policy and not allow an adult to be alone with a child in an enclosed area (including toilet areas).
Never be alone with a child or children on a car journey, however short, unless there is absolutely no other option, or the child’s or children’s parent(s), legal guardian(s) or carer(s) have given permission to the Safeguarding Representative or their deputy.
Not engage in or allow inappropriate physical contact of any kind.
Avoid personal verbal abuse and inappropriate use of electronic communication and social media.
Ensure, so far as possible, that photographs published by the band do not expose any young person to risk.
Carry out, as necessary and appropriate, risk assessments in relation to engagements and venues.
Make the experience of brass playing fun and enjoyable; promote fairness, and confront and deal with bullying.
Treat all young people equally; this means giving both the more and less talented members of a group similar attention, time and respect, and preserving their dignity.
Where children need to be supervised in changing rooms, teachers and band helpers should work in pairs, and involve parents if possible. Maintain an appropriate and open environment, with no secrets.
Avoid unnecessary physical contact with young people. Where any form of physical guidance is required in teaching technique, this should be provided openly and with the consent of the student.
Maintain appropriate standards of behaviour and speech at social events that young people attend.
Be an excellent role model while working with young people.
Communicate regularly with parents and involve them in decision-making. Gain their consent in writing to act in loco parentis to give permission for the administration of emergency first aid or other medical treatment if the need arises.
Be aware of any relevant medical conditions, existing injuries and medicines being taken. Keep a written record of any injury or accident that occurs within the band environment, together with details of any treatment given. Arrange that someone with knowledge of first aid is readily available.

2.2 Poor practice

The following are regarded as poor practice and should be avoided by all personnel:

Unnecessarily spending excessive amounts of time alone with children, taking them alone on car journeys, taking them to your home or sharing a room with a child.
Engaging in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay, or allowing or engaging in inappropriate touching of any form.
Allowing children (or adults) to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
Making sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun.
Reducing a child to tears as a form of control.
Letting allegations a child makes go unrecorded, unchallenged or not acted upon.
Doing things of a personal nature that children can do for themselves.

If during your care of a child you accidentally hurt them, the child seems distressed in any manner, or misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done, report any such incident as soon as possible to another colleague and make a brief written note of it. Parents should also be informed of the incident.

3. Procedure for reporting and recording concerns

The committee shall appoint a Safeguarding Representative to oversee the implementation of the policy and procedures, and to be the first point of reference in the event of a complaint or suspicion of abuse. Such person should be the holder of a clear and current DBS certificate.

Any concern about the welfare of a child should be reported immediately to the Safeguarding Representative or their deputy. They will follow the procedures as set out in Appendix D and complete the appropriate form (Appendix E). All reports should be followed up to check and ensure that the appropriate action has been taken.

If any member of the band is concerned that abuse has occurred or may occur to themselves or another person, they should refer the matter immediately to the Safeguarding Representative or approved deputy.

The Safeguarding Representative or approved deputy must not conduct any investigation. They should refer the complaint as soon as possible to the Chairman and to Social Services and/or, in case of an emergency, to the Police (999). The number of the Children’s Customer First Team at Suffolk County Council is 0808 800 4005.

For help and advice on a range of issues, call Childline on 0800 1111 (childline.org.uk). Childline is a service run by the NSPCC.

The Safeguarding Representative shall keep a written record of any complaints received and all action taken.

We will review this policy and good practice annually.

Last updated 11 December 2023.