The purpose of the safeguarding policy is to ensure that every child that attends our dance company is safe and protected from harm.  All staff have a responsibility to ensure that children have a safe environment to dance in.  All staff have a responsibility to ensure any allegations of abuse are reported to the appropriate authorities. Twist-O-Flex Dance Company works with the North Somerset Safeguarding Children Board (NSSCB) when required to report safeguarding incidences. Where children are at a significant risk, staff have a duty of care to take immediate action.

Twist-O-Flex Dance Company possesses public liability insurance for the protection of staff and students.

 

Safeguarding Policy

Twist-O-Flex Dance Company and its volunteers, are committed to ensuring safe environments for children and young people and believe that it is always unacceptable for a child or young person to experience abuse of any kind. We recognise our responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people, by a commitment to recommend best practice which protects them.

This policy applies to our directors, staff, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of the dance school.

We recognise that:

  • the welfare of the child/young person is paramount
  • all children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
  • working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare



The purpose of the policy

  • to provide protection for the children and young people who participate in our classes, workshops, show productions, exams or any other activities
  • to provide directors, staff and volunteers with guidance on procedures they should adopt in the event that they suspect a child or young person may be experiencing, or be at risk of harm



We will seek to safeguard children and young people by:

  • valuing them, listening to and respecting them
  • adopting child protection guidelines through procedures and safe working practice for staff and volunteers
  • recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
  • sharing information about child protection and safe working practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers
  • sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately
  • providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training



The dance company director (Emma Thorne) will review this policy annually, or sooner in light of any changes in legislation or guidance. All changes will be communicated to our members with immediate effect.

All coaches are DBS checked and fully insured. Teachers are also First Aid trained and regularly attend regular Child Protection and Safeguarding Training.


Roles and Responsibilities

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) – Twist-O-Flex Dance Company (Emma Thorne):-
The Designated Safeguarding Lead will ensure the safeguarding policy is review annually, that all staff have completed the appropriate level of safeguarding training for their role, and is the key point of contact for all staff concerning and safeguarding issues they may have.

Responsibilities of all members of staff and volunteers:-
All members of staff will complete the training requested by the Designated Safeguarding Lead, and become familiar with the indicators located in the Twist-O-Flex Office at Clarkson Avenue.

If, following a conversation about safeguarding concerns with the DSL, a decision is made to report such concerns, to the NSSCB by the person that holds concern.

However, where a child is in immediate need, to protect the child, the police should be called on 999.




Last reviewed by the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Emma Thorne):  October 2022

Next review date: October 2023

SAFEGUARDING POLICY

TOF DANCE COMPANY