Child Protection Policy

We in BUDC are committed to a practice, which protects children from harm.

Staff and volunteers in this organisation accept and recognise our responsibilities to develop awareness of issues, which cause children and young people harm.

We will endeavour to safeguard children and young people by:

  • Adopting child protection guidelines through a code of behaviour for staff and volunteers.

  • Sharing information about child protection and good practice with children, parents, staff and volunteers.

  • Sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately.

  • Following Carefully the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers

  • Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training


We are also committed to reviewing our policy and good practice at regular intervals.

Child Protection Policy: CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

Statement of Intent

It is the policy of BUDC to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from all forms of abuse including physical, emotional and sexual harm.

This organisation is committed to creating a safe environment in which young people can feel comfortable and secure while engaged in any of BUDC’s, weekly sessions, workshops or performances. Personnel should at all times show respect and understanding for individual’s rights, safety and welfare, and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the ethos and principles of BUDC.

Guidelines for all BUDC staff and volunteers:

Attitudes

Staff and volunteers should be committed to:

  • Treating children and young people with respect and dignity.

  • Always listening to what a child or young person is saying valuing each child and young person

  • Recognising the unique contribution each individual can make

  • Encouraging and praising each child or young person

By example

Staff and volunteers should endeavour to:

  • Provide an example, which we would wish others to follow

  • Use appropriate language with children and young people and challenge any inappropriate language used by a young person or child or an adult working with young people.

  • Respect a young person’s right to privacy

One-to-one contact

Staff and volunteers should:

  • Not spend excessive amounts of time alone with children, away from others

  • In the unlikely event of having to meet with an individual child or young person make every effort to keep this meeting as open as possible.

  • Make sure parents are informed of and one on one meetings/classes

Physical contact

Staff and volunteers should never:

  • Engage in sexually provocative or rough physical games, including horseplay

General

Staff and volunteers should:

  • Be aware that someone might misinterpret our actions no matter how well intentioned

  • Never draw any conclusions about others without checking the facts

  • Never allow ourselves to be drawn into inappropriate attention- seeking situations such as tantrums or crushes

  • Never exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues or make suggestive remarks or gestures about, or to a child or young person, even in fun