St Paul's Sinfonia - Safeguarding Policy
Policy for the safeguarding of Children and Vulnerable Adults
A) Policy Statements
- St. Paul’s Sinfonia (the Sinfonia) has a duty of care to safeguard all children and vulnerable
adults involved in its activities from harm.
- All children and vulnerable adults have a right to protection, and the needs of disabled children
and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account.
- The Sinfonia will ensure the safety and protection of all those involved in its activities through
adherence to the safeguarding guidelines adopted below.
B) Definitions
- A ‘child’ is defined as a person under the age of 18.
- A ‘vulnerable adult’ is defined as a person who is aged 18 years or over who is or may be in
need of community care services by eeasons of mental health or other disability, age or illness’
and ‘is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against
significant harm or exploitation.’
- A ‘player’ is defined as anyone involved in the orchestra in a musical capacity.
- A ‘supporter’ is defined as anyone involved with the orchestra in a non-musical capacity.
- A ‘senior player’ is defined as being a regular player for three or more years.
- The ‘safeguarding officer’ is a duly appointed senior player.
C) Policy Aims
- The aim of this policy is to promote good practice to provide children and vulnerable adults
with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of the Sinfonia and to allow all players
and supporters to make informed and confident responses to specific safeguarding issues.
The Policy
1) Practices that should not be allowed under any circumstances.
- Allowing or engaging in any form of inappropriate touching.
- Allowing individuals to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
- Making sexually suggestive comments to a child or vulnerable adult, even in fun.
- Reducing a child or vulnerable adult to tears as a form of control.
- Allowing allegations made by a child or vulnerable adult to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not
acted upon.
- Doing things of a personal nature for children or vulnerable adults that they can do for
themselves.
- Inviting or allowing children or vulnerable adults to stay with you at your home or on holiday
with you unsupervised.
- N.B. If a case arises where any of these situations are unavoidable (e.g. the child or vulnerable
adult sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent/carer fails to arrive to pick up a
child/vulnerable adult at the end of a Sinfonia session), it should be with the full knowledge and
consent of someone in charge in the organisation or the individual’s parents/carers.
2) Criminal Records Bureau Checks (CRB)
- It is understood that not all members of the Sinfonia will be working with either children or
vulnerable adults. However, it is stated that at least three of the players shall be subject to
enhanced disclosures through the CRB. One of these players shall be the safeguarding officer
and the others his/her deputies.
- The safeguarding officer or his/her deputy will be present at all rehearsals and concerts and will
supervise what is happening with regard to any children or vulnerable adults who may be
present.
- Players shall be subject to enhanced disclosures through the CRB where their duties (for
example Sinfonia educational work) entail significant contact with children and/or vulnerable
adults.
(The current safeguarding officer of the Sinfonia is Alison Holford and her deputies are Andrew
Morley and James Widden.)
3) Recruitment and Details of Players
- The Sinfonia recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children and vulnerable
adults in some way and it will take every reasonable step to safely recruit players who will work
with them. It will further obtain, from any relevant player, signed confidential declarations about
any convictions and obtain enhanced disclosures from the CRB if necessary.
- The Sinfonia will hold contact details for all its players, both paid and unpaid, and this
information will be held securely and confidentially by the Assistant Administrator (Helen
Wills).
4) Supervision of Players
- The safeguarding officer or his/her deputy will maintain careful supervision of ad hoc
volunteers.
- It is stated that if any known offenders join the Sinfonia, the safeguarding officer or his/her
deputy will maintain careful supervision and follow any arrangements that may be in place to
manage their behaviour and activities.
5) Supervision of Children and Vulnerable Adults
- Supervision of children and vulnerable adults will not be undertaken by individuals under the
age of 18.
- Children and vulnerable adults will not be left unattended at any Sinfonia event.
- Groups of children shall be accompanied by at least two adults subject to enhanced CRB
disclosures at any given time.
- The Sinfonia will avoid giving a lift to a child or vulnerable adult to a Sinfonia event where
practical.
6) Communication of Incidents and of Sensitive Information
- The chairperson of the board of trustees (currently Anne Rickwood) shall speak for the
Sinfonia in all matters in relation to allegations of abusive behaviour on the part of its players or
supporters.
- Should there be any allegations or concerns about Sinfonia players or supporters the
spokesperson will inform, within 24 hours, the Rector of S. Paul’s Church (or the
churchwardens/assistant clergy).
- The following incidents should be reported immediately to the safeguarding officer and
parents/guardians of children or the carers of vulnerable adults: if you accidentally hurt a child or
vulnerable adult; if he/she seems distressed in any manner; if a child or vulnerable adult appears
to be sexually aroused by your actions; if a child or vulnerable adult misunderstands or
misinterprets something you have done.
- All incidents will be recorded by the safeguarding officer.
7) Accidents and Injuries
- The Sinfonia will take every step necessary to ensure children and vulnerable adults working
with the Sinfonia will be protected at all times at rehearsals and concerts from injury, illness, loss
or damage.
- The Sinfonia has taken out full public liability insurance for these purposes
8) Use of Photographic Filming Equipment at Concerts and Rehearsals.
- Any concerns that a Sinfonia event is being used to as an opportunity to take inappropriate
photographs or film footage of young and vulnerable people should be reported to the
safeguarding officer.
- If video equipment is used as a learning aid, performers and their parents/carers should be made
aware that this is part of the learning experience and that such films will be stored safely.
9) Responding to Allegations or Suspicions
- All Sinfonia players and supporters have a responsibility to act on any concerns through contact
with the appropriate authorities.
- The Sinfonia will fully support and protect anyone who in good faith reports his/her concern
that a player or supporter is, or may be, abusing a child or vulnerable adult.
- Appropriate action will be taken by the safeguarding officer and senior players, such action will
include notifying the police and social services.
- Any player or supporter subject to allegations will be immediately suspended from playing in
or being involved with the Sinfonia for the duration of any inquiries into their conduct.
- All allegations will be recorded by the safeguarding officer.
Declaration
On behalf of St. Paul’s Sinfonia, we (named below) will oversee the implementation of the
safeguarding policy and take all necessary steps to ensure it is adhered to.
Alison Holford (Safeguarding Officer)
Andrew Morley (Deputy Safeguarding Officer)
James Widden (Deputy Safeguarding Officer)