Please take a look at our terms and conditions, cookies and privacy policy as well as our child safeguarding policy. It is important to read through this document as it contains information for your time with us at The Drama Centre. When you or your child sign up to classes at The Drama Centre, you are agreeing to the terms and conditions detailed below.

Please be aware we require half a term’s notice if your child wishes to leave TDC. Failure to do this will result in the notice period being charged for, whether or not your child attends those lessons. Thank you for your understanding.

Please note that when you fill in our online form, you will be added to our mailing list, which you can unsubscribe from at any time.

Cookies Policy – updated 15th November 2023

This website uses cookies to better the users experience while visiting the website.

Cookies are small files saved to the users computers hard drive that track, save and store information about the users interactions and usage of the website. This allows the website, through it’s server to provide the users with a tailored experience within this website.

Users are advised that if they wish to deny the use and saving of cookies from this website on to their computers hard drive they should take necessary steps within their web browsers security settings to block all cookies from this website and it’s external serving vendors.

This website uses tracking software to monitor it’s visitors to better understand how they use it. This software is provided by Google Analytics which uses cookies to track visitor usage. The software will save a cookie to your computers hard drive in order to track and monitor your engagement and usage of the website but will not store, save or collect personal information. You can read Google’s privacy policy here for further information [ http://www.google.com/privacy.html ].

Other cookies may be stored to your computers hard drive by external vendors when this website uses referral programs, sponsored links or adverts. Such cookies are used for conversion and referral tracking and typically expire after 30 days, though some may take longer. No personal information is stored, saved or collected.

 

Privacy Policy of The Drama Centre

Updated on 15th November 2023

Here at The Drama Centre we are completely committed to respecting and protecting your privacy. This Privacy Notice explains the personal data we may collect about you when we maintain contact. It also explains how we’ll store and handle your information and how we keep it secure and safe.

Keep checking back for updates to our Privacy Policy.

The Drama Centre is the data controller of your personal information (collectively referred to as “TDC” “we”, “us” or “our” in this Privacy Policy).

If you require further information please contact us at info@thedramacentre.co.uk

Personal data, or personal information, means any information about an individual that can identify them. It does not include data where the identity has been removed (anonymous data). We collect the minimum amount of personal information needed to complete a contract that we have with you.

We may collect, use, store and transfer different kinds of personal data about you which we have grouped together as follows:

• Identity Data includes your first name, maiden name, last name, title, date of birth
• Contact Data includes your postal address, email address and telephone numbers.

Where we need to collect personal information about you by law, or to fulfill our obligations to you and you fail to provide that information when requested, we may not be able to perform the contract we have or services we are trying to provide to you. In this case, we may have to stop providing you with the services, but we will notify you if this is the case at the time. For example, where you do not consent for your child to be recorded by The Drama Centre, we will contact you and discuss whether we can continue providing the services.

We collect your personal information by direct interactions with you. Mainly you will give us your Identity and Contact Data by filling in forms or by corresponding with us by post, phone and email.

How we use your personal data

The processing of your personal data is necessary for us to provide a service that you have requested under a contract we have with you. We rely on that contract as a legal basis on which we process your personal data.

The Drama Centre processes personal data for certain legitimate business purposes which include, some or all, of the following:

• where the processing enables us to enhance, modify, personalise or otherwise improve our services/communications for the benefit of our customer;
• to identify and prevent fraud;
• to enhance the security of our networks and information systems;
• to better understand how people, interact with our web sites, and
• to provide communication which we think will be of benefit and interest to you.

In addition, if we or our owners undergo or propose to undergo a business transition, such as a corporate re-organisation, sale, merger or acquisition by somebody else of some or all of our shares or assets, we may share your personal information with parties connected with the proposed transaction.

Any information which is transferred or shared in this way will remain subject to the promises given to you in the version of this Privacy Policy which applies at the relevant time, unless you agree to different terms.

Otherwise, we rely on consent as the legal basis on which we process your personal information. We will seek your consent from time to time to continue to process your data by contacting you.

Marketing and GDPR

We only use your personal information to administer your account and to provide you information on the products and services you have requested from us. From time to time we will also invite you to participate in surveys which help us to improve what we do. We will never sell, distribute or lease your personal information to third parties. When you buy a product for us or use our contact sheets for a booking or enquiry, you are also signing up to our mailing list which is clearly stated on sign up, which will only be used by us to offer services run by us that may be of use or interest. You are well within your rights to unsubscribe to this list at any time.

Where and how we store your personal data

When you provide The TDC with personal data, we will hold your information on our electronic database on servers physically located within the UK or the European Economic Area (the “EEA”).

We will use appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect against unauthorised or unlawful processing and against accidental loss destruction or damage of your personal information. Your personal information is stored electronically on a database file which is password-protected and stored offline, behind up-to-date firewall and antivirus protection.

Access to personal information is limited to The Director of TDC. These individuals have access to the personal information on the database to enable them to perform their contractual duties.

We have put in place procedures to deal with any suspected personal information breach. In the unlikely event that your personal information was accessible to third parties through a data breach, we would inform you as soon as we become aware of it and any applicable regulator where we are legally required to do so.

How long we will retain your personal data

We will only retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

To determine the appropriate retention period for personal information we consider

– the amount, nature, sensitivity of the personal information,

– the potential risk of harm from unauthorised use or disclosure of your personal information;

– the purposes for which we process your personal information,

– whether we can achieve those purposes through other means,

– and the applicable legal requirements.

Your personal data stored on our database will be reviewed every six months and where appropriate we will delete your personal data. If you no longer require the services of The  Drama Centre we will delete your personal data immediately.

If you complete our enquiry form, we will pass your personal data to The Director of TDC.

If you have contacted us and have requested that we keep your personal data on file for the purposes of receiving information from us, for example, about new centre’s opening, we will ensure that we confirm with you each time we contact you, that you are happy for your personal data to be stored by us for contact only. If you choose not to proceed with registering with us, we will remove all your stored data after 6 months.

Access to information

Data Protection Legislation gives you right to access the information we hold about you. Your right of access can be exercised in accordance with Data Protection Legislation. We will respond to any valid access request within 30 days (though if it is expected to take longer than 30 days, we will notify you and keep you updated on likely timescale) and we will make available your information in a format to be agreed. To obtain a copy of the personal information we hold about you please contact us in the manner set out at the end of this Privacy Policy.

You will not have to pay a fee to access your personal data (or to exercise any of the other rights contained in this Privacy Notice). However, we may charge a reasonable fee if your request is clearly unfounded, repetitive or excessive. Alternatively, we may refuse to comply with your request in these circumstances. In these instances, we will notify you.

Erasure or rectification of information

Data Protection Legislation gives you the right to ask us to erase information held about you if it is no longer necessary in relation to the purposes for which it was collected or processed. You also have the right to ask us to rectify inaccurate information we hold about you or to complete incomplete information about you.

Your right of erasure and/or rectification can be exercised in accordance with Data Protection Legislation. If you make a valid erasure or rectification request, we will take reasonable steps to erase or rectify your information so far as required by Data Protection Legislation. However, Data Protection Legislation allows us to retain and continue processing your information in certain circumstances and if any of those circumstances apply we may continue to hold and process your information (in accordance with this Privacy Notice) despite your request for us to erase it. Such circumstances include (but may not be limited to) where our continued holding and/or processing or your information is necessary:

• for exercising the right of freedom of expression and information;
• for compliance with a legal obligation that requires processing of personal data by EU or member state law to which the controller is subject, or for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest, or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller;
• for reasons of public interest in the area of public health;
• for archiving purposes in the public interest, or scientific and historical research purposes or statistical purposes in so far as the erasure of the information would be likely to render impossible or seriously impair the achievement of the objectives of the archiving purposes in the public interest, or the scientific and historical research purposes or the statistical purposes, and
• for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.

Changes to our Privacy Notice and your duty to inform us of changes

The data protection (GDPR) law in the UK changes on 25 May 2018 so we have updated out policy before these changes.

We will communicate to you any material changes to our Privacy Policy by posting to the addresses provided. This will ensure that you are always aware of the information we collect, how we use it and the circumstances under which we may disclose it.

It is important that the personal data we hold about you is accurate and current. Please keep us informed if your personal data changes during your relationship with us.

Your right to withdraw your consent or complain

You have the right to withdraw from us your consent to process your personal data at any time. Please bear in mind that if you object, this may affect our ability to complete a contract which we have with you. The CDC will maintain an audit trail of consent given and consent withdrawn.

If you consider that we have failed to comply with this Privacy Policy and/or Data Protection Legislation in relation to the information which we hold or process, or you are not satisfied with our response, you have a right to make a compliant to the relevant UK supervisory authority for data protection issues at any time, which in the UK is the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO). We would, however, appreciate the chance to deal with your concerns before you approach the ICO, so please contact us in the first instance in the manner which is set out at the end of the Privacy notice.

Our Data Protection Policy can be viewed from this link: The Drama Centre Data Protection Policy

Our Cookie Policy can be viewed from this link: Website Cookie Policy

 

Terms and conditions – updated 15th November 2023

This is an agreement which sets out the terms and conditions that will govern the relationship

between us, The  Drama Centre and you the Parent/Guardian. It is a legally binding

agreement. Please read carefully as these rules enable us at The Chelmsford Drama Centre to

maintain high standards and the safety of our students and staff.

 

• A trial and any discount is only offered at the discretion of the Director of The Drama Centre.

• The Drama Centre has the right to remove any student from class if the student

is putting the health and safety of other students or staff at risk. We reserve the right in this

instance, to permanently exclude students.

• We also will not tolerate rudeness, bullying, abuse or inappropriate behaviour from

students, parents or guests. Such actions will result in exclusion from The Drama

Centre.

• Excluded students will still be liable to pay the full term fees

 

• Term fees are to be paid monthly or in full, the date to be determined by the Director.

Failure to pay fees by the date stated may result in another student being offered your

child’s place. Any fees outstanding after attempts at communication have failed, will be legally pursued.

Late fee payments will be charged at £5 per week plus VAT and will be added to your invoice.

Students must purchase a TDC t-shirt as all students attending TDC clubs are required to wear them – as of June 2023.

 

• If your child is unable to attend class, you must let us know as soon as possible on 07396712781/ info@thedramacentre.co.uk. Missed classes will not be reimbursed. In the

unlikely event of The Drama Centre cancelling classes, we will endeavour to

reschedule. Reimbursing in this instance is at the discretion of the Director.

 

• Please arrive on time for lessons. Lateness will not be tolerated and consistent lateness will be escalated to the Director of The Drama Centre.

 

• After registration, it is important all parents leave their child with the teachers at The Drama Centre, no parents are permitted to sit in or attend lessons. 

• If students are consistently absent we have the right to issue a warning and escalate, if this continues The Drama Centre has the right to ask students to leave The Drama Centre as we need commitment from all students for the wellbeing of their fellow classmates. If students are asked to leave, no refund will be issued.

 

• All students will be supervised at all times at The Drama Centre, however

deliberate damage or destroying of property by students will result in an invoice for the

repair being issued.

 

• The Drama Centre reserves the right to use any individual or group photographs

or films of your child for press or promotional purposes. If you are unhappy with this, you must

specify on sign up.

 

• We reserve the right to make changes to these rules and will communicate any changes to

you at the address or email specified. Proof of sending such notice shall be sufficient

evidence of receipt.

 

• Half a term’s notice period is required if you or your child wishes to leave The Drama

Centre. This must be submitted in writing or email. Refunds will not be issued if the remaining time is less than or equal to the notice period. You will be required to pay for the remaining dates for the half a term’s notice. Failure to do this will result in legal action.

 

• All confirmed LAMDA exams must be paid for in full by you. Absence from an exam will never result in a refund. After you or your child has been submitted for the exam – no refund can be issued in any circumstance unfortunately (unless LAMDA cancel). This is LAMDA policy. An admin fee will also be charged.
• Failure to pay any outstanding amount due for LAMDA examinations will result in legal measures to recover the fees.
• All child classes will be charged £13.50 on first registration plus VAT
• Uniform is a Drama Centre t-shirt. Hoodies are optional. These can be ordered here: T-shirts and Hoodies
• All adult classes will be charged for a trial class.
• Any complaints must be brought to our attention immediately, so we can work with you to rectify any issues. Any attempt to maliciously damage the company reputation without working with us first will be legally pursued.

Covid-19 policy

All classes will be delivered in a covid secure environment, following government guidelines. In the event that we go back into lockdown, lessons will resume online via Zoom. Refunds will not be issued in this instance.

Sudden change in national / global circumstance policy – updated 15th November 2023

If a sudden change in the global or national circumstance, such as outbreak of war / natural disaster (including but not limited to hurricane, flood, earthquake) The Drama Centre reserves the right to not issue refunds due to missed lessons and will endeavour to provide alternative lessons if at all possible.  

 

 

 

SAFEGUARDING POLICY – updated 15th November 2023

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY

for

The Drama Centre

1 Introduction

1 The Drama Centre is a for-profit organisation run by:

Leanne Johnson

2 The Drama Centre is based at:

Chelmsford Essex.

3 The Drama Centre is managed by a management team (the Team). One of the management team has particular responsibility for safeguarding children.

4 The Team has adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects every adult working or helping at The Drama Centre to support it and comply with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all staff, managers, trustees, directors, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of The Drama Centre.

2 Purpose of the Policy

1 This policy is intended to protect children and young people who receive any service from us, including those who are the children of adults who may receive services from us.

2 As an organisation we believe that no child or young person should experience abuse or harm and are committed to the protection of children and young people and this policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding.

3 The risks to children

Nearly every child grows up in a safe and happy environment and it is important not to exaggerate or overestimate the dangers. Nevertheless, there are situations where children need protection including:

• • Sexual abuse

  

• • Grooming

  

• • Physical and emotional abuse and neglect

  

• • Domestic violence

  

• • Inappropriate supervision by staff or volunteers

  

• • Bullying, cyber bullying, acts of violence and aggression within our schools and campuses

  

• • Victimisation

  

• • Self-harm

  

• • Unsafe environments and activities

  

• • Crime

  

• • Exploitation

  

4 Universality of Protection

We recognise that:

• • the welfare of the child is paramount

  

• • all children regardless of race, gender, religious belief, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity have a right to equal protection from harm.

  

• • some children are more vulnerable to harm as a result of their circumstances, prior experiences, communication needs or level of dependency.

  

• • working with children, young people, their parents and/or guardians, carers or other agencies is essential to protecting their wellbeing.

  

5 Safeguarding children at events / activities

1 There are three kinds of events/activities:

1.1 those open to adults and children of all ages,

1.2 those for children accompanied by a ‘parent’,

1.3 those for unaccompanied children, which are sometimes run alongside other events/activities.

2 At events and activities open to all ages, children under 16 must be accompanied throughout by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child but also takes the child home again afterwards. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.

3 At events and activities for children accompanied by a ‘parent’, children under 16 must be supervised throughout the event by an adult over the age of 18 who not only brings the child to the event but also takes the child home again afterwards. If a lone adult brings more than one child, then the children will have to stay together, so that the one adult can supervise them. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.

4 At events and activities for unaccompanied children, children under the age of 16 must be enrolled by a responsible adult before being left with the event leader. The enrolment must record the child’s name, age and address and the names and addresses of the child’s parents, plus the parents’ mobile telephone numbers. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents.

5 Both event and activities are to be defined broadly to include any occasions where The Drama Centre will be providing a service.

6 Disclosure and barring

1 The Drama Centre offers the following activities for children:

 

LAMDA examination classes
Drama classes
Holiday workshops
Theatrical Performances

2 Some of our activities may therefore require adult participants or adult leaders to undergo DBS and/or police checks under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. The required level of checking (if any) will broadly reflect the degree and frequency of unsupervised access given to other people’s children.

3 The Team will take very seriously any allegation of impropriety on the part of any member of The Drama Centre. A member of The Drama Centre who discovers anything amiss should get in touch immediately with the following:

Leanne Johnson

4 The Team will review the allegation and the likely risk to children and, if appropriate, will consider banning the member from future events or revoking his or her membership or both, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of The Drama Centre.

7 Health and safety aspects of safeguarding children

1 Before starting any event for unaccompanied children, the Team will carry out a risk assessment and then take steps to minimise all risks to health and safety. Parents and children will be made aware of any particular risks and of the steps to be taken to minimise those risks. The Team will keep a record of all risk assessments.

2 Sufficient adults must be present at any event for unaccompanied children to enable one adult to deal with any emergency while another adult supervises the children not directly affected by the emergency.

8 Online streaming and lesson delivery via Zoom / Skype or other hosting applications.

It is imperative that all students attending lessons streamed online ensure the following:

1. An adult is present in the house when they are taking part in lessons
2. They are appropriately dressed, as all teachers will be
3. They do not record the lessons and use footage of teachers or any other students
4. Students and teachers take lessons with a neutral background, including no inappropriate images
5. The Drama Centre will not record any of these lessons for safeguarding protection
6. Parents must accept the terms set out
7. All parents will be sent a link to online lessons which will be forwarded onto students by them. By forwarding this link and clicking to join the class, you are agreeing you are happy for your child to take part in online lessons

9 Policy on the prevention of bullying

We will not tolerate the bullying of children either by adults or by other children. If any incident of child-on-child bullying should arise at a The Drama Centre event, those involved will be separated immediately and the parents of the children involved will be asked to deal with the matter. The Team will review all incidents of child-on-child bullying and assess the likely future risk to children. If appropriate, the Team will consider banning a child from future events, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of The Drama Centre. Allegations of adults bullying children will be dealt with under paragraph 6.3 above.

10 Photographing children

No photos will be taken or published of any child attending an event or activity unless prior written permission is sought from a person with parental responsibility. If any person has any concerns regarding any person taking photos at an event or activity, that person should contact The Drama Centre immediately.

11 Managing behaviour, discipline and acceptable restraint

1 Adults supervising children at The Drama Centre events must never use any form of corporal punishment. If physical restraint is absolutely necessary to prevent injury to any person or to prevent serious damage to property, then the minimum necessary restraint may be used — but for that purpose only.

2 Unacceptable behaviour at The Drama Centre events for unaccompanied children will generally be stopped by separating the children from each other and from the group. The miscreants will be suitably supervised and will be returned as soon as possible to the care of their parents.

3 The Drama Centre may apply a further disciplinary sanction; namely the banning of the child from one or more future events over the following 18 months. Any such sanction would be determined and applied by the following officer:

Leanne Johnson

4 A parent who is aggrieved by this ban may appeal to The Drama Centre who will hear the views of all relevant persons. The decision of The  Drama Centre is then final. Any such appeals should be made to, and will be determined by the following officer:

Leanne Johnson12 Legal Framework

This policy has been drawn up in accordance with the following:

• • Children Act 1989

  

• • United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991

  

• • General Data Protection Regulation

  

• • Human Rights Act 1998

  

• • Sexual Offences Act 2003

  

• • Children Act 2004

  

• • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

  

• • Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

  

• • Children and Families Act 2014

  

• • Special educational needs and disability (SEND) code of practice – Guidance on the special educational needs and disability (SEND) system for children and young people aged 0 to 25, from 1 September 2014

  

• • Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services

  

• • Working together to safeguard children (2017)

  

NOTE: This Policy was approved by the following officer on 15TH JULY 2022 and is due for review every 2 years:

Leanne Johnson

 

Safeguarding policy statement – The Drama Centre

1^st September 2023

 

The purpose of this policy statement is:

• to protect children and young people who receive The Drama Centre’s services from harm. This includes the children of adults who use our services.
• to provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of The Drama Centre,

including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional

workers, agency staff and students.

 

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that

seeks to protect children in England/Northern Ireland/Scotland/Wales [select the

relevant nation]. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from

nspcc.org.uk/childprotection.

 

Supporting documents

 

This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies, procedures,

guidance and other related documents:

• role description for the designated safeguarding officer
• dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person
• managing allegations against staff and volunteers
• recording concerns and information sharing
• child protection records retention and storage
• code of conduct for staff and volunteers
• behaviour codes for children and young people
• photography and sharing images guidance
• safer recruitment
• online safety
• anti-bullying
• managing complaints
• health and safety
• induction, training, supervision and support

 

Every member of staff at The Drama Centre has an enhanced DBS to ensure they are legally and safely able to work with children and adults.

Every member of staff has access to parents contact and emergency contact details.

Every member of staff has undergone training to ensure that children are kept safe at all times whilst in classes.

 

We believe that:

• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind
• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young

people, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

 

We recognise that:

• the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the
• decisions we take
• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and
• other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or

belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types

of harm or abuse

• some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous
• experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
• extra safeguards may be needed to keep children who are additionally

vulnerable safe from abuse.

 

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• valuing, listening to and respecting them
• appointing a nominated child protection lead for children and young people, a

deputy and a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding

• adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies,

procedures and code of conduct for staff and volunteers

• developing and implementing an effective online safety policy and related

procedures

• providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision,

support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and

volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes

confidently and competently

• recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary

checks are made

• recording and storing and using information professionally and securely, in line

with data protection legislation and guidance [more information about this is

available from the Information Commissioner’s Office: ico.org.uk/fororganisations]

• sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with children and

their families via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions

• making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go

for help if they have a concern

• using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and

relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children,

young people, parents, families and carers appropriately

• using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers

appropriately

• creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we

have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that

does arise

• ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in

place

• ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young

people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in

accordance with the law and regulatory guidance

• building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young

people and their families, treat each other with respect and are comfortable

about sharing concerns.

 

 

 

Contact details

Nominated child protection lead. This is the person that needs to be contacted in the first instance if you wish to raise a concern.

Name: Leanne Johnson

Phone/email: 07792832609

Deputy child protection lead. This is the person that needs to be contacted in the primary lead cannot be contacted.

Name(s): James Christie

Phone/email: 07595633706

 

Child protection is the response to the different ways in which a young person’s or child’s physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual health are damaged by the actions of another person.

 

What you should do

1. Listen to the child/young person
2. Look at them directly and do not promise to keep any secrets before you know what they are, but always let the child/young person know if, and why, you are going to tell anyone
3. Look at them directly and do not promise to keep any secrets before you know what they are, but always let the child/young person know if, and why, you are going to tell anyone
4. Take whatever is said to you seriously and help the child/young person to trust his/her own feelings. Take notes of exactly what is said to you avoiding assumptions and conjecture.
5. It is note the role of the worker to investigate any allegations (this would contaminate evidence if a situation went to court). Any disclosure by a child/young person must be reported to the named child protection officer.
6. Speak immediately to the Local Authority or NSPCC for further advice and guidance. What you should not do

 

1. Project workers/volunteers should not begin investigating the matter themselves.
2. Do not discuss the matter with anyone except the correct people in authority.
3. Do not form your own opinions and decide to do nothing.

 Things to say or do:

• ‘What you are telling me is very important’
• This is not your fault’
• ‘I am sorry that this has happened/is happening’
• ‘You were right to tell someone’
• What you are telling me should not be happening to you and I will find out the best way to help you’
• Make notes soon after the event.

Try to write down exactly what the young person or child said.

Avoid assumptions or conjecture.

Things not to say or do:

• Do not ask leading questions – Why? How? What?
• Do not say ‘Are you sure?’
• Do not show your own emotions e.g. shock/disbelief
• Do not make false promises

 

Safeguarding concern procedure:

 

Write up their narrative, giving as much detail as possible. Remember to include date and time, what was said and any names and locations.

Don’t disclose any information to non-relevant parties.

Contact the DSL immediately and inform them of the situation using the report you made. The DSL will directly contact any child protection agency, the police or simply provide further advice.

If the DSL is unavailable and you believe the situation to warrant further action, contact a child protection agency or the police.

 

NSPCC Helpline

0808 800 5000

 

We are committed to reviewing our policy and good practice every two years.

This policy was last reviewed on: 1^st September 2023…………………………………………………………………………(date)

Signed: …Leanne Johnson………………………………………………………………………

[this should be signed by the most senior person with responsibility for safeguarding

in your organisation, for example the safeguarding lead on your board of trustees].

Date: …1^st September 2023………………………………………………………………………

 

This agreement is governed by the laws of England and Wales.

A direct link to The Drama Centre’s Terms and Conditions can be found here. Terms and Conditions