Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding can be defined as ‘keeping children (anyone under the age of 18) and adults at risk, safe from harm’. London Sinfonietta has a responsibility to ensure that all staff (including trustees, employees, freelancers and volunteers) promote the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk to keep them safe from harm at all times. This policy has been developed in accordance with all relevant legislation and statutory guidance and is reviewed on a yearly basis. It sets out the responsibilities and expectations for all staff including trustees, employees, freelancers and volunteers working with the London Sinfonietta. 

The purpose of this policy is: 

• To protect children, young people and adults at risk who come into contact with the London Sinfonietta from harm.
• To provide all staff (including trustees, employees, freelancers and volunteers), as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.

This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of the London Sinfonietta including senior managers and the board of trustees, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, agency staff and students.

This policy has been drawn up based on legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation is available from https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/schools/safeguarding-legislation/.

This policy statement should be read alongside the full LS Safeguarding Procedures and LS Safeguarding Good Practice Guidelines and in conjunction with organisational policies on anti-bullying, whistleblowing and other related documents. A copy of London Sinfonietta's full Safeguarding Procedures is available from the London Sinfonietta office.  For further information on our wider policies please contact Frances Bryant, General Manager, or Lily Caunt, Head of Learning & Participation.

We believe that: 

• Children, young people and adults at risk should never experience abuse of any kind 
• We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk , to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them. 

 We recognise that: 

• The welfare of children, young people and adults at risk is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take
• All children, young people and adults at risk, 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, young people and adults at risk are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk

We will seek to keep children, young people and adults at risk safe by:

• Valuing, listening to and respecting them and building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children, young people, their families and adults at risk treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.   
• Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO), a deputy DSO and a Senior Management Lead for safeguarding (see details below)
• Adopting safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and good practice guidelines and ensuring that all trustees, employees, freelancers and volunteers are aware of and adhere to these standards at all times and know what to do should any concerns arise
• Recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made and providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, appropriate training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently
• Sharing information about our safeguarding policy, procedures and good practice throughout the organisation and with partner organisations, children and their families as appropriate
• Recording, 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/for-organisations]
• Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and 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 and that effective complaints and whistleblowing measures are in place
• Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, adults at risk, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures, in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

The London Sinfonietta regularly offers opportunities for children and adults at risk to engage with our work through practical workshops, concerts and participatory activities. Our safeguarding policy and procedures are put into practice across our programme of work, recognising relevant levels of risk and mitigation depending on the type of activity.

• Practical workshops and participatory activities (staffed by LS Participation & Learning  (P&L) team members, LS musicians and freelance artists): These sessions are most likely to require one to one interaction between staff team and young people or vulnerable adults including potential for the need to appropriately touch participants (always with their permission) to adjust posture, bow hold etc. They might also require one to one interactions but these would always take place in a shared space with enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checked members of the team present at all times. If workshops are hosted in schools, other organisation’s venues etc., LS will adhere to their safeguarding policies and procedures. 
• Concerts (staffed by all members of LS team, LS musicians, freelance artists, trustees and volunteers): These events usually pose less of a safeguarding risk as groups of young people or adults at risk will remain the responsibility of their teachers/group leaders and all LS team will have less need for close contact with individuals. All those involved will be made aware of photographic and filming permissions and protocol as outlined in our safeguarding procedures and any social media posting will be signed off by the DSO. LS DBS checked staff will remain the first point of contact for any safeguarding concerns.

Safeguarding concerns or queries

In the event of any concerns or queries about safeguarding at London Sinfonietta, in the first instance please contact the Designated Safeguarding Officer on the contact address below. 

Should your concern or query involve a member of the London Sinfonietta team please contact the General Manager or the Chair of LS Council as appropriate, on the contact addresses below. 

If a child or adult at risk is in immediate danger please contact the police on 999. You can also contact the NSPCC Helpline on
0808 800 5000.