Safeguarding Policy

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is:

To safeguard and protect children and young people who engage with Barkingside Art Club’s services.
To provide parents, staff, and volunteers with clear guidance on our approach to child protection and safeguarding.

This policy applies to all individuals working on behalf of Barkingside Art Club, including owners, paid staff, volunteers, and students.

Legal Framework

This policy is based on current legislation, policies, and guidance designed to protect children in England. A summary of key legislation is available from NSPCC.

Our Commitment

We firmly believe that:

Children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind.
We have a duty of care to promote the welfare and well-being of all children and young people, ensuring their safety and protection.

We recognise that:

The welfare of the child is paramount.
All children, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, have the right to equal protection from all forms of harm or abuse.
Some children are particularly vulnerable due to previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs, or other factors.
Working collaboratively with children, young people, their parents, carers, and external agencies is essential in safeguarding their welfare.

Our Approach to Safeguarding

Barkingside Art Club provides inclusive art workshops and programmes tailored to SEND children and young people. Our sessions incorporate art, play, and dance, fostering a safe and nurturing environment both within our regular weekly sessions and our pop-up community programmes. We facilitate arts awards for children with complex needs as well as for all young participants, ensuring that creativity is accessible to everyone.

We are highly vigilant in handling and sharing data and personal information concerning the children and adults who participate in our sessions. All staff, volunteers, and participants are required to adhere strictly to our policies and procedures regarding confidentiality and data protection.

Our weekly term-time and holiday programmes are delivered from a library setting, where we work in partnership with the library to uphold a safe and secure environment. Parents and carers are informed about the use of public toilet facilities and the necessity of adequate supervision when accessing these amenities.

Safeguarding Measures

To ensure the safety and well-being of children and young people, we commit to:

Valuing, listening to, and respecting all participants.
Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) responsible for child protection.
Adopting and implementing safeguarding best practices through our policies, procedures, and code of conduct for staff and volunteers.
Providing comprehensive supervision, support, training, and quality assurance measures for staff and volunteers.
Conducting safe recruitment procedures, ensuring that all necessary background checks are completed.
Maintaining professional and secure records of all safeguarding concerns and incidents.
Communicating safeguarding procedures and good practice to children, their families, staff, and volunteers.
Reporting safeguarding concerns to the appropriate agencies and involving children, young people, parents, and carers where necessary.
Managing allegations against staff and volunteers in accordance with established safeguarding protocols.
Promoting an anti-bullying culture and implementing policies to effectively address any incidents of bullying.
Implementing robust complaints and whistleblowing procedures.
Providing a safe physical environment for children, young people, staff, and volunteers by adhering to health and safety regulations and legal guidance.

Contact Details

Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO):
Name: Eliyah Qureshi (Director and Art Educator, Barkingside Art Club)
Email: admin@barkingsideartclub.com

NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000