Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Children, Young People at Risk Policy

Hip Hop to Help

1.1 General Policy Statement

Established in 2017, Hip Hop to Help is a Charity Incorporated Organisation ( No ……. ) registered in England.

Hip Hop to Help’s vision is to make a positive impact on society by providing free and accessible dance classes to all, building a strong community along the way; to change the lives of young people through dance, scholarships and working within schools, councils and youth clubs, and, to focus on building lasting relationships and partnerships, working with professionals and the third sector for corporate, studio and sports club events. The overall mission is clear; we aim to provide everybody, from all backgrounds, the opportunity to learn to, and enjoy, dance.

This policy will be made available to all dancers, freelance staff and volunteers, as well as to service users, funders and stakeholders of Hip Hop to Help.

1.2 Safeguarding Children at Risk Policy

Hip Hop to Help has a duty of care to safeguard all children and young people at risk involved in its activities, from harm. All have a right to protection and the specific needs of all children and young people are always considered. Hip Hop to Help aims to ensure the safety and protection of all children and young people at risk involved in our activities through adherence to the policy and associated procedures. We are fully committed to this aim, which overrides all other concerns.

We believe that:

  • The welfare of the child, young person or adult at risk is paramount; 

  • All children and young people at risk, whatever their age, culture, disability or ability, sex/ gender (whether by birth or otherwise specified), language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/ or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse;

  • All suspicions and allegations of abuse should be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately to reduce the likelihood of further harm;

  • Staff and volunteers should be clear on how to respond appropriately. 

    If any child or young person makes a disclosure to a member of staff or volunteer, they should:

  • Listen- always acknowledge and believe what the child has to say

  • Never promise that you can keep it confidential 

  • Never prompt the child with leading questions

  • Make notes: these need to be detailed and include dates and times

  • Inform Hip Hop to Help’s Safeguarding Leads as soon as possible

      

The Safeguarding Lead will then:

  • Liaise with staff or volunteers to gather information. They will assess the situation, meet with the child or parents where appropriate and seek advice where necessary.

  • This may lead to a formal referral to Children’s Services, whereby Hip Hop to Help members will co-operate as required.

    1.3 Policy Aims

Hip Hop to Help is committed to safeguarding all children and young people at risk that come into contact with our work. The aim of this policy is to implement and promote good practice, promote the equal treatment of others regardless of their background or identity, and to allow all associates, staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to any safeguarding issues that may arise.

Hip Hop to Help will follow the procedures set out by the Local Safeguarding Children Board and take account of guidance issued by the Department of Education and Skills to:

  • Ensure we have a designated person/s to respond to safeguarding concerns who has received appropriate training and support for this role;

  • Ensure every member of staff (including volunteers) knows the name of the designated person/s responsible for safeguarding and their role.

  • Ensure that all staff and volunteers understand their responsibilities in being alert to the signs of abuse and their responsibility for referring any concerns to the designated safeguarding lead;

  • Develop effective links with relevant agencies and co-operate as required;

  • Keep written records of concerns about children and young people, to be shared with Hip Hop to Help’s designated safeguarding lead;

  • Develop and then follow procedures where an allegation is made against a member of staff or volunteers;

  • Ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed;

  • Ensure that safeguarding measures are put in place when teaching online.

1.4 Definitions:

What is ‘abuse’ ?

Abuse can be categorised as being emotional, neglectful, physical or sexual. It can occur within all areas of the community – the home, school, and within the arts – and it is recognised that some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order to harm them.

Who is a ‘child’ and who is a ‘young person’ ?

This policy defines a child as a person aged under eighteen (in accordance with The Children Act 1989, 2004 and the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006). In this document, a ‘young person’ is in the upper age ranges of the official definition of a child. The term has no legal status, but it acknowledges that people aged sixteen or seventeen may not think of themselves as ‘children’. 

We also recognise that there may be additional needs associated with children and young people who have disabilities, those from minority ethnic backgrounds, those who do not identify with their sex assigned at birth, and who are otherwise excluded from mainstream services. 

Who does the term ‘staff’ refer to ?

Where this policy or the associated procedures refer to ‘staff’, this includes anyone engaged or employed by Hip Hop to Help regardless of it being on a paid for or a voluntary basis. It refers to anyone engaged in a formal capacity to ensure the delivery of activities or to deliver projects directly to children or young people at risk on behalf of Hip Hop to Help. 

We enable all of our staff and those who work with us to make informed and confident decisions regarding safeguarding issues and take all suspicions and allegations of abuse seriously. We expect everyone (Board, freelance, staff, dancers, volunteers and anyone working on behalf of Hip Hop to Help) to have read, understood and adhere to this policy and associated procedures.

Hip Hop to Help will take every reasonable step to ensure that children and young people at risk are protected where:

  • Our own team are directly involved in a project, programme or provision of services;

  • We work in partnership with another organisation or agency

    

We will endeavour to safeguard children and young people at risk by:

  • Valuing them, listening to and respecting them;

  • Adopting this policy and adhering to our associated procedures and code of conduct for staff;

  • Ensuring safe and appropriate recruitment of everyone associated with Hip Hop to Help and ensuring all the necessary checks are made;

  • Providing effective oversight of staff and volunteers;

  • Sharing information about safeguarding, child protection and good practice with staff, volunteers, carers, parents, service users and other relevant parties;

  • Reviewing this policy and procedures annually and updating our action plan as appropriate.

1.5 Protecting Volunteers and Staff from Bullying and Harassment:

Hip Hop to Help takes a no-tolerance approach to bullying and harassment and any staff members, volunteer, partner, or child can be assured that all known incidents of bullying and harassment will be responded to. 

Hip Hop to Help is committed to ensuring the protection of all its staff and volunteers from bullying and harassment. Hip Hop to Help endeavours to create a safe environment for anyone working for, partnering with, or volunteering with Hip Hop to Help and strives to set out a clear plan for addressing any concerns of bullying or harassment within the organisation. Hip Hop to Help will achieve this by ensuring that: 

  1. Making staff mental health and wellbeing a priority for Senior Leadership. Hip Hop to Help will nominate at least one trustee and one senior manager to lead on staff/ volunteer wellbeing. These individuals should be responsible for leading work to monitor and evaluate the mental health and wellbeing of staff and volunteers, and of the workplace culture. They will also be responsible for evaluating any organisational response to areas of concern around bullying and emotionally abusive behaviour, including any changes to policy, practice and/ or procedures.

  2. Hip Hop to Help will provide an unequivocal message about what behaviours are unacceptable from both staff members, volunteers and trustees. Our policies and procedures in dealing with concerns of bullying and harassment will reflect a transparent process for investigation, whoever the alleged perpeatrator, and will endeavour to achieve flexibility for victims in how they wish to report their experiences. 

  3. Hip Hop to Help will work with the Charity Commission, or support victims to work with the Charity Commission, if it is felt that a concern around bullying or harassment cannot be dealt with internally. 


1.6 Procedure for responding to complaints or concerns raised regarding bullying or
harassment:

Staff/ volunteers at Hip Hop to Help should report their concerns as soon as is reasonably
        possible, to the appropriate designated investigating officer as follows:

  • Complaints of bullying, harassment or malpractice will be investigated by the appropriate trustee unless that complaint is against that trustee or is in any way related to the actions of the trustee. The identified trustees to investigate matters of this nature are Amber Louise-Pocklington and Fay Van Flute.

  • A written acknowledgement of the concerns should be provided to the complainant within five working days, outlining the length of time that any investigation will need before they should expect an outcome. Due to the varying nature of such complaints Hip Hop to Help is unable to specify a timescale but would agree this based on the seriousness and complexity of the complaint made.

Hip Hop to Help will follow the following procedure when responding to concerns around
      bullying or harassment:

  • Full details and clarifications of the complaint should be obtained

  • The investigating officer should inform the member of staff against whom the complaint is made as soon as is practically possible. 

  • The allegations should be fully investigated by the investigating officer with the assistance, where appropriate, of other individuals / bodies.

  • A judgement concerning the complaint and validity of the complain will be made by the investigating officer. The judgement will be detailed in a written report containing the findings of the investigations and reasons for the judgement. 

  • If the complaint is shown to be justified, then they will invoke the disciplinary or other appropriate procedure

  • The complainant should be kept informed of the progress of the investigations and, if appropriate, of the final outcome

This policy will be reviewed annually and amended when necessary. It may also be reviewed should any new, relevant legislation require this.

1.7 Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks:

The roles of all staff and volunteers are respected and valued by all. Hip Hop to Help aims to do everything possible to minimise the risk of involving unsuitable people in our work with children and young people at risk. DBS checks will be undertaken for individuals who wish to take part in the delivery of Hip Hop to Help projects and activities. 

All dance practitioners and active volunteers will have Enhanced Disclosures irrespective of any other work undertaken with children and young people at risk. These will be renewed on a three yearly basis.

Whilst awaiting a DBS to be processed, volunteers will be able to volunteer to support sessions but will not be left unsupervised with children and young people. In some instances volunteers who do not work directly with children or young people at risk may not be required to undertake a DBS. However, Hip Hop to Help volunteers or members involved in handling personal data will require a DBS check. 

(1)Review of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks:

If a DBS disclosure reveals any convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings of which Hip Hop to Help has not been informed (by the applicant) prior to the DBS being requested, Hip Hop to Help will refuse the applicant’s involvement in any Hip Hop to Help activity. 

If Hip Hop to Help is made aware of any convictions, cautions, reprimands or warnings by the applicant prior to a DBS request, the Board will review the implication of the disclosure in line with Hip Hop to Help’s Safeguarding Policy and will determine what, if any, involvement the applicant may have in Hip Hop to Help activities. The applicant will be notified of the decision within 14 days of receiving the disclosure.

Anyone wishing to disclose an issue in relation to a DBS check is invited to speak, in confidence, to Amber-Louise Pocklington, CEO and Founder or Courtney Nicholson, Community and Youth Impact Director. A disclosure may also be submitted in writing on the DBS application form. 

1.8 Review of Policy

This policy will be reviewed annually and amended when necessary. It may also be reviewed should any new, relevant legislation require this. 

Date of implementation: July 2023

Date of annual review: July 2024


This Privacy Policy was last updated on 2023/07/03 16:20:55

Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Safeguarding Policy, you can contact us via email at hiphoptohelp@gmail.com.