This policy applies to all members, volunteers or anyone working on behalf of Hyde Band

The purpose of this policy:

1. To protect children, young people and adults with care and support needs who are members of the band or connected to the band in some other way.
2. To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

Hyde Band believes that a child, young person or adult with care and support needs should never experience abuse of any kind. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.

Legal framework

This policy has been drawn up based on law and guidance that seeks to protect children and adults at risk, namely:

• Children Act (1989)
• United Convention of the Rights of the Child (1991)
• Data Protection Act (1998) and subsequent data protection guidance
• Sexual Offences Act (2003)
• Children Act (2004)
• Protection of Freedoms Act (2012)
• Working Together to Safeguard Children; A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Gov 2018
• The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
• The Human Rights Act (1998)
• The Children and Families Act (2014)
• Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) code of practice: 0 to 25 years. Statutory guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Gov 2014
• General Data Protection Regulations (European Union) (2017)
• Information sharing; advice for practitioners providing safeguarding service to children, young people and carers; HM Gov 2015
• The Care Act (2014)
• The Care Act (2014) Care and Support Statutory Guidance (specifically the safeguarding section of this)
• The Mental Capacity Act (2005)

We recognise that:

• the welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act (1989);
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation, or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
• Some children are additionally vulnerable because if the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues; and
• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

In addition, we are aware of our 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 at risk of, abuse or neglect, and,
  • as a result of those care and support needs, us unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse of neglect.

We will seek to keep children, young people and adults safe by:

• Valuing them, listening to and respecting them, ensuring that, in the case of adults, we work with their consent unless ‘vital interests’ (as defined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005)
• Adopting child protection and adult safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for membrs and volunteers; ensuring that our governance arrangements reflect our commitment to safeguarding
• working to ensure that there is a safe culture within our band
• developing and implementing an effective e-safety policy and related procedures;
• providing effective support and training for volunteers with responsibility;
• recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made;
• sharing information about child protection and adult safeguarding with children, parents, volunteers and members;
• sharing concerns with agencies who need to know and involving parents and children appropriately.

Dealing with a safeguarding concern

Ways that abuse might be brought to your attention:

• A child or adult might make a direct disclosure about him or herself.
• A child or adult might make a direct disclosure about another person.
• A child or adult might offer information that is worrying but not a direct disclosure.
• A member of the band or volunteer might be concerned about the appearance or behaviour of a child or adult at risk, or about the behaviour of someone (eg parent or carer) towards a child or adult at risk.
• A parent or carer might make a disclosure about abuse that a child or adult is suffering or at risk of suffering.
• A parent or a carer might offer information about a child or adult that is worrying but not a direct disclosure  when talking to a child or adult who had told you that he/she or another person is being abused.
• Reassure them that telling someone about it was the right thing to do.
• Tell him/her that you must now do what you can to keep him/her (or the person who is the subject of the allegation safe.
• In the case of an adult with mental capacity, ask them if they will give their consent to the information being passed on an external investigating agency.
• Let them know what you are going to do next (i.e. discuss the matter with the band Safeguarding/Welfare Officer).
• Let the person tell their whole story. Don’t try to investigate or quiz them, but make sure that you are clear as to what they are saying.
• Ask them what they would like to happen because of what they have said, but don’t make or infer any promises.
• In the case of a child, give them the ChildLine phone number: 0800 1111.
• In the case of an adult, check out whether they have anyone they can talk to about the matter; if not, tell them that they can talk to you (if you are willing for them to do so) or, depending on circumstances, give them contact details for a relevant support agency such as one of those listed in the policy statement.

Helping someone in immediate danger or in need of emergency medical attention:

• If someone is in immediate danger and is with you, remain with them and call the police.
• If the person is elsewhere, contact the police and explain the situation to them.
• If the person needs emergency medical attention, call an ambulance and, while you are waiting for it to arrive, get help from your first aider.
• If the first aider is not available, use any first aid knowledge that you may have yourself to help the person.
• You also need to contact the band’s named Safeguarding/Welfare Officer responsible for child protection/ adult safeguarding to let them know what is happening.

A decision will need to be made about informing the person’s family and the local authority children’s social care department, and when they should be informed. If you have involved the police and/or the health services, they should be part of this decision.

Consider the welfare of the child or adult in your decision making as the highest priority.   Issues that will need to be considered are:

• the person’s wishes and feelings;
• in the case of an adult, their consent or the withholding of their consent, and whether there are ‘vital interests’ or mental capacity issues to consider;
• in the case of a child, the parents right to know (unless this would place the child or someone else in danger, or would interfere with a criminal investigation)
• in the case of a child, the parent’s right to
• the impact of telling or not telling the parent or  family;
• the current assessment of the risk to the person and the source of that risk;
• any risk management plans that currently exist.

Keeping a record of your concerns

It is important to keep a clear detailed record of events and communication in relation to the concern. It can be used to forward information to the statutory child protection or adult safeguarding authorities if a referral to them is needed. The form/log should be signed and dated by all those involved in its completion and kept confidentially on the person’s file. The name of the person making the notes should be written alongside each entry.

Procedure for helping a someone not in immediate danger

 

We aim to ensure that everyone within the band and any other children or adults at risk may come to the attention of the band to receive the protection and support that they need if they are at risk of abuse.

Safeguarding Contacts

Useful contact details:

• Band Safeguarding/Welfare Officer: Pete Jung

• Local authority children’s social care department, including out of hours contact:

W: https://www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/childrenandfamilies/safeguardingchildren

T: 0300 555 1384 (Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm, Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm)

E: Email childrens.services@hants.gov.uk

Out of hours contact telephone number for Children’s Services

T: 0300 555 1373

Please note – in an emergency call 999

• NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000 or help@nspcc.org.uk

• ChildLine: 0800 1111 (textphone 0800 400 222) or www.childline.org.uk

• The Samaritans: https://www.samaritans.org/

• National Domestic Abuse Helpline: https://www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk/

• Local authority adult social care department:

W: www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/adultsocialcare/safeguarding

T: 0300 555 1386 or the police on 101

• Brass Bands England Safeguarding Officer: 01226 771015

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually.

This policy was last reviewed on: March 2023

Signed: P Jung