3. Promoting Good Practice 3.1. Introduction

To provide children with the best possible experience and opportunities in dance classes everyone must operate within an accepted ethical framework.

It is not always easy to distinguish poor practice from abuse. It is therefore not the responsibilities of employees or participants in dance classes to make judgements about whether or not abuse is taking place. It is however their responsibility to identify poor practice and possible abuse and act if they have concerns about the welfare of the child – as explained in section 5.

This section will help to identify what is mean by good practice and poor practice.

3.2. Good Practice

All Personnel should adhere to the following principles and action:

• Always work in an open environment (eg: avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets).

• Make the experience of dance classes fun and enjoyable: promote fairness, confront and deal with bullying.

• Treat all young people equally with respect and dignity.

• Always put the welfare of the young person first, before winning.

• Maintain a safe and appropriate distance with students (eg: it is not appropriate for staff

  or volunteers to have an intimate relationship with a child or to share a room with them)

• Avoid unnecessary physical contact with young people. Where any form of manual/physical support is given, it should be provided openly and with the consent of the young person. Physical contact can be appropriate so long as it is neither intrusive nor disturbing and the young person’s consent has been given.

• Involve parents/carers wherever possible, eg: where young people need to be supervised in changing rooms, encourage parents to take responsibility for their own child. If groups have to be supervised in changing rooms always ensure parents, coaches, volunteers etc work in pairs.

• Request written parental consent if club officials are required to transport young people in their cars.

• Gain written parental consent for any significant trave arrangements eg: overnight stays.

• Ensure that if mixed teams are taken away, they should always be accompanied by a male and female member of staff.

• Ensure that at away events adults should not enter a young person’s room or invite young people into their rooms.

• Be an excellent role model, this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol int the company of young people.

• Always give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.

• Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of the young person and do not risk a compromise to welfare in a desire for club or personal achievements. This means avoid excessive training or competition and not pushing them against their will.

• Secure written parental consent for the club to act in loco parentis to give permission of emergency first aid or other medical treatment if the need arises.

• Keep a written record of any injury that occurs, along with any treatment given.

3.2. Poor Practice

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

• Unnecessarily spending excessive amounts of time alone with young people away from others

• Taking young people alone in a car on journey/s, however short.

• Taking young people to your home where they will be alone with you.

• Engaging in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.

• Allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form.

• Allowing young people to use inappropriate language unchallenged.

• Making sexually suggestive comments to a young person, even in fun

• Reducing a young person to tears as a form of control.

• Allow allegations made by a young person to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.

• Do things of a personal nature that the young person can do for themselves.

  4. Defining Child Abuse 4.1. Introduction

  Child abuse is any form of physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment or lack of care that leads to injury or harm. It commonly occurs within a relationship of trust or responsibility and is an abuse of power or a breach of trust. Abuse can happen to a young person regardless of their age, gender, race or ability.

  There are four main types of abuse: Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect. The abuser may be a family member, someone that the young person encounters in residential care or in the community, including sports and leisure activities. Any individual may abuse or neglect a young person directly, or may be responsible for abuse because they fail to prevent another person harming the young person.

  Abuse in all of it’s forms can affect a young person at any age. The effects can be so damaging that if not treated may follow the individual into adulthood.

  Young people with disabilities may be at an increased risk of abuse through various factors such as stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, isolation and a powerlessness to protect themselves or adequately communicate that abuse has occurred.

  4.2. Types of Abuse

  In a sports situation, physical abuse may occur when the nature and intensity of training disregard the capacity of the child’s immature and growing body.

• Emotional Abuse: The persistent emotional ill treatment of a young person, likely to cause sever and lasting adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve telling a young person they are useless, worthless, unloved, inadequate or valued in terms of only meeting the needs of another person. It may feature expectations of young people that are not appropriate to their age or development. It

• Unexplained or suspicious injuries such as bruising, cuts or burns, particularly if situated on a part of the body not normally prone to such injuries.

• An injury for which an explanation seems inconsistent

• The young person describes what appears to be an abusive act involving them.

• Another young person or adult expresses concern about the welfare of a young person.

• Unexplained changes in a young person’s behaviour eg: becoming very upset, quiet, withdrawn or displaying sudden outbursts of temper.

• Inappropriate sexual awareness.

• Engaging in sexually explicit behaviour.

• Distrust of adults, particularly those whom a close relationship would normally be expected.

• Difficulty in making friends

• Being prevented from socialising with others.

• Displaying variations in eating patterns including over eating or loss of appetite.

• Losing weight for no apparent reason.

• Becoming increasingly dirty or unkempt.

  Signs of bullying include:

• Behavioural changes such as reduced concentration and/or becoming withdrawn, clingy, depressed, tearful, emotionally up and down, reluctance to attend training or competitions.

• An unexplained drop off in performance.

• Physical signs such as stomach aches, headaches, difficulty in sleeping, bed witting, scratching and bruising, damaged clothes, bingeing, eg: on food, alcohol or cigarettes.

• A shortage of money or frequent loss of possessions.

  It must be recognised that the above list is not exhaustive, but also that the presence of one or more of the indications is not proof that abuse is taking place. It is NOT the responsibility of those working at “Broadland School of Dance” to decide that child abuse is occurring. It IS their responsibility to act on any concerns.

4.4. Use of Photographic/Filming equipment at sporting events

There is evidence that some people have used sporting events as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage of young people. All clubs should be vigilant and any concerns should be reported to the club welfare officer.
All parents and performers should be made aware when coaches use video equipment as a coaching aid.

5. Responding to Suspicions and Allegations

5.1. Introduction

It is not the responsibility of anyone working at “Broadland School of Dance” in a paid or unpaid capacity to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However, there is a responsibility to act on any concerns through contact with the appropriate authorities so that they can then make inquiries and take necessary action to protect the young person. This applied BOTH to allegations/suspicions of abuse occurring within “Broadland School of Dance” and to allegations/suspicions that abuse is taking place elsewhere.

This section explains how to respond to allegations/suspicions|

5.2. Receiving evidence of possible abuse.

We may become aware of possible abuse in various ways. We may see it happening, we may suspect it happening because of signs such as those listed in section 4 of this document, it may be reported to us by someone else or directly by the young person affected.

In the last of these cases, it is particularly important to respond appropriately. If a young person says or indicates that they are being abused, you should:

• Stay Calm so as not to frighten the young person.

• Reassure the child that they are not to blame and that it was right to tell someone.

• Listen to the child showing that you are taking them seriously.

• Keep questions to a minimum so that there is a clear and accurate understanding of

  what has been said. The law is very strict and child abuse cases have been dismissed where it is felt that the child has been led or words and ideas have been suggested during questioning. Only ask questions to get clarification.

• Inform the child that you have to inform other people about what they have told you. Reassure the child this is to help to stop the abuse from continuing.

• Safety of the child is paramount. If the child needs urgent medical attention call an ambulance and inform the doctors of the concern and ensure they are made aware that this is a child protection issue.

• Record all information.

• Report the incident to the club welfare officer.

  In all cases, if you are not sure what to do, you can gain help from NSPCC 24 hour helpline Tel Number: 0808 800 5000

  5.3. Recording Information

  To ensure that information is as helpful as possible, a detailed record should always be made at the time of the disclosure/concern. In recording you should confine yourself to the facts and distinguish what is your personal knowledge and what others have told you. Do not include your own opinions.

  Information should include the following:

• The child’s name, age and date of birth.

• The child’s home address and telephone number.

• Whether or not the person making the report is expressing their concern or someone else’s.

• The nature of the allegation, including dates, times and any other relevant information.

• A description of any visible bruising or injury, locations, size etc. Also any indirect signs such as behavioural changes.

• Details of witnesses to the incidents.

• The child’s account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how any bruising/injuries occurred.

• Have the parents been contacted? If so, what has been said?

• Has anyone else been consulted? If so, record details.

• Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? If so, record details.

  5.4. Reporting the concern

   Contact :

  Welfare Officer: Mrs Katy Marriner @ info@broadlandschoolofdance.co.uk 07843 501072

  Teacher: Mrs Michelle Rogers @ mlrogers1977@gmail.com Tel: 07758 429152

  Teacher: Miss Sian Whiting @ whiting.sian@gmail.com Tel: 07500 710798

  Teacher: Mrs Esther Peirson @ the.jolly.roger@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 07857 841033

  All suspicions and allegations MUST be reported appropriately. It is recognised that strong emotions can be aroused particularly in cases where sexual abuse is suspected or where there is misplaced loyalty to a colleague. It is important to understand these feelings but not allow them to interfere with your judgement about any action to take.

  “Broadland School of Dance” expects it’s members of staff to discuss any concerns they may have about the welfare of a child immediately with the person in charge and subsequently to check that appropriate action has been taken.

  If the nominated club welfare officer is not available you should take responsibility and seek advice from the NSPCC helpline, the duty officer at your local social services department or the police.

  Contact :

  Welfare Officer: Mrs Katy Marriner @ info@broadlandschoolofdance.co.uk 07843 501072

  Teacher: Mrs Michelle Rogers @ mlrogers1977@gmail.com Tel: 07758 429152

  Teacher: Miss Sian Whiting @ whiting.sian@gmail.com Tel: 07500 710798

  Teacher: Mrs Esther Peirson @ the.jolly.roger@hotmail.co.uk Tel: 07857 841033

  Where there is a complaint against an employee or volunteer, there may be three types of investigation.

• Criminal in which case the police are immediately involved.

• Child Protection in which case the social services (and possibly) the police will be involved.

• Disciplinary or misconduct in which case “Broadland School of Dance” will be involved.

  As mentioned previously in this document “Broadland School of Dance” are not child protection experts and it is not their responsibility to determine whether or not abuse has taken place. All suspicions and allegations must be shared with professional agencies that are responsible for child protection.

  Social Services have a legal responsibility under The Children’s Act 1989 to investigate all child protection referrals by talking to the child and family (where appropriate), gathering information from other people who know the child and making inquiries jointly with the police.

  NB: If there is any doubt you must report the incident: it may be just one of a series of other incidents which together cause concern.

  Any suspicions that a child has been abused by an employee or a volunteer should be reported to “Broadland School of Dance” who will take appropriate steps to ensure the safety of the child in question and any other child who may be at risk. This will include the following:

• “Broadland School of Dance” will refer the matter to social services department.

• The parent/carer of the child will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the social services department.

• The chairperson will be notified to decide who will deal with any media inquiries and implement any immediate disciplinary proceedings.

• The club welfare officer should also notify the relevant sport governing body.

• If the club welfare officer is the subject of the suspicion/allegation the report must be made to the appropriate manager who will refer the matter to social services.

  Allegations of abuse are sometimes made some time after the event. Where such allegations are made, the same procedure should be followed and the matter reported to social services. This is because other children in the sport or outside of it may be at risk from the alleged abuser. Anyone who has a previous conviction for offences related to abuse against children is automatically excluded from working with children.

  5.4 ConcernsoutsidetheimmediateSportingEnvironment(e.g.aparentorcarer).

  If there are any concerns outside the immediate sporting environment, they should be reported to the Club welfare officer. If the welfare officer is not available, the person being told or discovering the abuse should report their concerns to their local social services department or police immediately. Social services and the club welfare officer will decide how to inform the parents/carers. The club welfare officer should also report the incident to “Broadland School of Dance” governing body. The governing body should ascertain whether or not the person/s involved in the incident plays a role in the organisation and act accordingly maintaining confidentiality on a ‘need to know’ basis.

  5.5 Confidentiality

  Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a ‘need to know’ basis only. This includes the following people:

• The club welfare officer.

• The parents of the child.

• The person making the allegation.

• Social Services/The Police.

• “Broadland School of Dance” manager and welfare officer

• The alleged abuser (and parents/carer if the alleged abuser is a child)

  Seek social services advice on who should approach the alleged abuser.

  All information should be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws.

  5.6 Internalenquiriesandsuspension

  “Broadland School of Dance” club welfare officer will make an immediate decision about whether any individual accused of abuse should be temporarily suspended pending further police and social services inquiries.

Irrespective of the findings of social services and/or police enquiries, “Broadland School of Dance” Disciplinary committee will assess all individual cases to decide whether a member of staff or volunteer can be reinstated and how this can be sensitively handled. This may be a difficult decision; especially where there is insufficient evidence to uphold any action by the police. In such cases “Broadland School of Dance” disciplinary committee must reach a decision based upon the available information which could suggest that on the balance of probability, it is more likely than not that the allegation is true. The welfare of the child should remain of paramount importance throughout.

6. Recruiting and Selecting Personnel with Children

6.1. Introduction

It is important that all reasonable steps are taken to prevent unsuitable people from working with children. This applies equally to paid staff and volunteers, both full and part time. To ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children, the following steps should be taken when recruiting.

6.2. Controlling Access to Children

• All staff and volunteers should complete an application form. The application form will elicit information about the applicant’s past and a self-disclosure about any criminal record.

• Consent should be obtained from the applicant to seek information from the Criminal records department.

• Two confidential references, including one regarding any previous work with children should be obtained. These references MUST be taken up and confirmed through telephone contact.

• Evidence of identity (passport or driving licence with photo)

6.3. Interview and Induction

All employees and volunteers will be required to undertake and interview carried out to acceptable protocol and recommendations. All employees and volunteers should receive formal or informal induction during which:

• A check should be made that the application form has been completed in full, including sections on criminal records and self-disclosures.

• Their qualifications should be substantiated.

• The job requirements and responsibilities should be clarified.

• They should sign up to the organizations code of ethics and conduct.

• Child protection Procedures are explained and training needs identified eg: basic child protection and awareness.

  6.4. Training

  In addition to pre-selection checks, the safeguarding process includes training after recruitment to help staff and volunteers to: