SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Policy for the Safeguarding and Protection of Children & Vulnerable Adults

OPEN SKY THEATRE (OST) is committed to good practice, which safeguards and protects children and vulnerable adults from harm. OST staff and advisory board members recognise their responsibility to ensure that they, other professionals engaged by them (including freelancers), volunteers and others who may work on or contribute to OST’s company activity protect the safety and wellbeing of any children, young people and vulnerable adults with whom they may come into contact.

OST aim to create a safe environment where children, young people and vulnerable adults can enjoy rewarding and stimulating experiences. 

This policy should be read alongside our policies and procedures on:

·  Safe Working Practice (Procedures & Agreement)

·  Health & Safety

·  Equal Opportunities

·  Data Protection

Policy Aims

We recognise that:

·  The welfare of the child, young person or vulnerable adult is paramount

·  All children, young people and vulnerable adults, 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

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

·  Valuing them, listening to and respecting them; and also by allowing them to be involved in decision making, where appropriate

·  Appointing a Designated Safety Officer (DSO) for children, young people and vulnerable adults, a deputy and a lead board member for safeguarding

·  Adopting child, young person and vulnerable adult protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct (safe working practice agreement) for staff, freelancers and volunteers.

·  Providing effective management for staff, freelancers and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures

·  Training will be provided ahead of each project for staff and volunteers

·  Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made

e.g. DBS Checks for all staff & volunteers

·  Recording and storing information professionally and securely, and sharing

information about safeguarding and good practice with children, young people, vulnerable adults, their parents, their families, their carers, OST staff, OST freelancers and OST volunteers through various means, including but not exclusive to: leaflets, forms, one-to-one discussions etc.

·  Using our Safe Working Practice Procedures to share concerns and relevant information with partner organisations and agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, vulnerable adults, their parents, their families and their carers appropriately

·  Using our Safe Working Practice Procedures to manage any allegations against staff, freelancers and volunteers appropriately

·  Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment

·  Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place

·  Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, vulnerable adults, staff, freelancers and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance

Status of Policy Statement

This policy statement has been approved by Open Sky Theatre directors and the Advisory Board. Copies are provided to all Open Sky staff, freelancers, volunteers and Partner Organisations participating in projects involving children and/or vulnerable adults.  

Responsibility

Overall responsibility for this policy and its implementation lies with the directors of Open Sky Theatre, who have delegated its implementation to the DSO. The DSO will present the policy to the Directors and Advisory Board for review annually, with any recommendations for changes/refinements that they feel advisable.

Contact Details

·       Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
Name: Claire Coaché
Phone / Email: 07904 339 525 / claire@openskyahead.co.uk

·       Deputy DSO
Name: Lisle Turner
Phone / Email: 07920 195 881  / lisle@openskyahead.co.uk

·       Senior Lead for Safeguarding
Name: Claire Coaché
Phone / Email: 07904 339 525 / claire@openskyahead.co.uk

CEOP www.ceop.police.uk

Policy for the Safeguarding and Protection of Children & Vulnerable Adults

NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000

Crimestoppers 0800 555 111

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice annually. This policy was last reviewed on: 25/09/2024

This policy will next be reviewed on: 25/09/2025

Children & Vulnerable Adults - Definitions

Abuse: and neglect take many forms: physical, sexual, verbal, emotional, psychological, financial or in the form of neglect. Abuse is a misuse of power and control that one person has over another.

Beneficiaries: of OST’s company activity are
a) those participating in its workshops and other Education & Participation projects b) audiences for its performances and digital work

Company activity: includes all OST’s programmed work, ie both a) live and digital work and b) its Education & Participation projects and workshops

Children: are defined as young people under the age of eighteen

Designated Safeguarding Officer: means someone who is assigned overall responsibility for the safety of children or young people or vulnerable adults taking part in any OST project on behalf of
a) OST on the one hand and
b) its Partner Organisation(s) on the other.

The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS): is the Government agency that helps employers make safer recruitment decisions and prevent unsuitable people from working with vulnerable groups, including children, by undertaking criminal records checks and checks against statutory barred lists

Freelancer: includes freelance performing and creative artists, production and technical team members, workshop/project leaders and others engaged by OST to deliver any aspect of its company activity

Staff: means employees of OST

Partner Organisation: means any theatre, school, college, youth group, day centre, care home or other organisation or venue which hosts OST activity and/or collaborates on OST projects

Vulnerable Adults: are aged 18 and over and may be temporarily or permanently classed as such, they may be classed as vulnerable if they:

·  Have a learning or physical disability

·  Have a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs

·  Have a reduction in physical or mental capacity

·  Are in receipt of any form of healthcare

·  Are detained in custody

·  Are receiving community services because of age, health or disability

·  Are living in sheltered accommodation or a residential care home

·  Are unable, for any other reason, to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation

Young People: is used to designate people between the ages of 16 and 18 who may prefer not to be considered “children” though for the safeguarding provisions set out in this document still apply to them