Policy for Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

Ex Cathedra runs a range of participation, performance, learning activities and projects for people of all ages in a variety of settings including in schools, hospitals, concert halls, community settings and online. Projects are run with varying group sizes, including for individuals, of all ages and capabilities and needs. This includes Regulated Activities.

The key principles on which to base work with children are found in the Children Act 1989 and 2004 and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which the UK is a signatory. All children deserve the opportunity to achieve their full potential. They should be enabled to:

• Be as physically and mentally healthy as possible
• Gain the maximum benefit possible from good quality educational opportunities
• Live in a safe environment and be protected from harm
• Experience emotional wellbeing
• Feel loved and valued, and be supported by a network of reliable and affectionate relationships
• Become competent in looking after themselves and coping with everyday living
• Have a positive image of themselves and a secure sense of identity, including cultural and racial identity
• Develop good inter-personal skills and confidence in social situations

In order to achieve this level of wellbeing, it is the responsibility of every organisation that works with children to protect them from abuse (Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018). There are four categories of abuse:

• Physical Abuse
• Emotional Abuse
• Sexual Abuse
• Neglect

Ex Cathedra is committed to the safeguarding and the care of children (up to age 18) and vulnerable adults for which it has responsibility and with which it comes in to contact as part of its work. Ex Cathedra recognises that all children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in its work have a right to be protected from harm.

Ex Cathedra will take every possible action to safeguard children and vulnerable adults, prevent abuse and deal with it, if it occurs, or any allegations, as promptly and effectively as possible. It will co-operate fully with any statutory agencies as required.

The board of trustees has overall responsibility for Ex Cathedra’s Safeguarding Policy and procedures and has appointed a trustee to support the staff team, including Ex Cathedra’s Designated Safeguarding Officer.

The trustees will ensure that appropriate detailed operating policies and procedures are in place and regularly reviewed to ensure that:

• Legislation, best practice and relevant guidance are followed
• Management responsibility for safeguarding within the organisation is clearly defined
• People involved with our work are carefully selected and receive appropriate training for working with participants in our projects, using the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) at the relevant level, amongst other tools, to check the background of each person
• All Ex Cathedra trustees, plus employees and freelancers engaged for work with children and vulnerable adults are enrolled in appropriate Safeguarding Training which they are required to complete
• Specific local safeguarding requirements, e.g. in hospitals, are observed
• Risk assessments are undertaken and documented for all events involving children and vulnerable adults
• Procedures for promptly dealing with disclosures and concerns are in place
• Relevant legislative requirements regarding confidentiality, photography, video recording and social media are observed

The board of trustees will review this policy annually and, as part of this review will check that all internal procedures, including DBS checks, are up to date.

Peter Phillips – Chair of the Board of Trustees – March 2023