Scottish Community Drama Association

Child Protection Policy

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises that “every child has the right to participate freely in cultural activity”

SCDA follows the key principles in the Scottish Arts Council’s publication, “Creating Safety – child protection guidelines for the arts”

• The best interests of the child or young person must always be a primary consideration
• All children and young people should be treated fairly, and with dignity and respect
• All children and young people have the right to protection from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation
• All children and young people have the right to express their views on matters that affect them

Copies of these guidelines, which include a recommended code of practice, can be obtained from SCDA or from the Scottish Arts Council. They can also be downloaded from the SAC website www.scottisharts.org.uk

SCDA Child Protection Policy

Disclaimer
Although every care has been taken by SCDA in the preparation of this information, no warranty is given by SCDA as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained within it and SCDA shall not be responsible or liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising by virtue of such information or any instructions or advice contained within this publication or by any of the aforementioned.

Background

It is a guiding principle of the law that the protection and welfare of the child must always be the first priority. The protection of children and young people is a shared community responsibility. SCDA accepts this responsibility and aims to adopt best practice rather than the minimum necessary to comply with the law.

A Child Protection Policy was adopted by General Council in December 2005. This is therefore the policy of all SCDA Districts and Divisions.

A review is taking place at present, and some changes are likely to be made. These will be posted clearly on the SCDA website.

We expect clubs that have members under 18 years of age to have a written child protection policy, as this is now required by law. SCDA member Clubs are free to use the SCDA policy as a model.

Here are the answers to our most frequently asked questions:

Why do we have to make new volunteers fill in application forms and such like?

The new laws on child protection mean that we have to be much more careful about how we recruit helpers. Remember, people who want to harm children can be very devious, and seek out opportunities to be with children.

SCDA has adopted the procedures recommended in the official Voluntary Sector Guide to the Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003. You will find that all well-run voluntary organisations are doing the same.

Every new volunteer should complete a standard application form and self declaration form. They should be given a job description and a copy of your code of practice for working with children and young people. SCDA can provide an application form as a model. Existing volunteers should also be given a job description and asked to fill out a self-declaration form. SCDA has a selection of model forms which you can use.

Application form for volunteer/staff position
Self declaration form and guidance notes

Please be aware that some volunteers may be nervous about form-filling. Be prepared to help them with the form. Don't assume that nervousness means that they have something to hide.

All new applicants should undergo some kind of interview with representatives of your organisation. If you think they are suitable, then you should ask them to provide the contact details of two people who can vouch for their work with children and young people. Referees should always be asked to confirm that they have no concern about the the applicant working with children.

Reference Request Form.

Once accepted, the committee should then decide whether a Disclosure check is required for this volunteer.

Why do we need to do Disclosure checks?

Clubs and committees must make sure that they do not recruit to child care positions any people who are disqualified from working with children. This can only be checked by asking the applicant to complete a Disclosure Application. This checks the person against the Disqualified from Working with Children List.

Enhanced Disclosures should be obtained for all those who apply for work that regularly involves caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children or adults at risk.

In relation to drama clubs, you should consider the following:

• Is the person in regular contact with young people?
• Is the person in a training, education or learning role?
• Is the person likely to be alone with or in sole charge of young people ?
• Is there an opportunity for the person to form a relationship with young people?

For example, a person coming in on the night of the show to sell raffle tickets and who will never be alone with young people probably will not need to be checked. But an adult training a young person in stage lighting may well be alone with him/her for long periods in the lighting box. You must carry out a risk assessment of each role, and decide if a check is required. For more detailed information, member clubs can talk to SCDA’s Child Protection Officer, Fiona Rogan, on 0131 558 8464 or email Fiona@scda.org.uk

Do we need to check all our volunteers, or just new ones?

At present, the law only requires us to check new applicants to a child care position. However, this includes existing volunteers taking on a new role, such as taking a group to a festival for the first time, or volunteering at youth summer camp.

SCDA prefers that all child care positions are subject to a Disclosure check, as we feel that this is the safest course of action. This is permitted by Disclosure Scotland.

An existing volunteer may refuse to be checked, and if this happens, you have no legal right to insist on it. However, you should consider carefully the safety of using an unchecked volunteer. SCDA strongly recommends that anyone refusing a check is not permitted ever to work alone with children.

How do we get a Disclosure check done?

All SCDA committees can get Disclosure checks done by National Office. Volunteers working on national initiatives such as Scottish Finals, Youth Summer Camp etc can be checked by National Office.

We also have local signatories, who can issue you with a form and do your identity check. Currently, we have local signatories in Eastern and Highland Division only. We would appreciate volunteers in Northern and Western to take on signatory duties. Otherwise, volunteers being checked will have to travel to Edinburgh to have their identity documents checked.

Fiona Rogan is our National Collator. All Disclosure checks done by SCDA, even if issued by a local signatory, are processed through Fiona at National Office. For help with the process, call Fiona on 0131 558 8464. If you leave a message with contact telephone number, she will be happy to call at a time convenient to you.

Can clubs get Disclosure checks through SCDA?

SCDA recommends that youth drama clubs and clubs with separate youth sections register in their own right with the CRBS (Central Registered Body in Scotland). CRBS can arrange for secure handling and disposal of disclosure information, if clubs are worried about keeping sensitive information.

Clubs with only a few young people, may prefer to look for a local intermediary organisation who is willing to carry out checks for them. CRBS can provide you with your nearest intermediary. SCDA is not registered to act as an intermediary at present. We can only carry out Disclosure checks on our own committee members and festival/event organisers.

What do we do if we are suspicious about a volunteer, or a child discloses something that concerns us?

Each club should designate at least one person who takes responsibility for dealing with allegations or suspcions of abuse. Everyone, adult and child should know who that person is. The designated person must never try to investigate any allegation, but report it to an appropriate professional and get advice on the most appropriate course of action.

I haven’t had training – where can I learn about Child Protection?

The online training manual in the CRBS website is the most useful source of support. It is made up of a series of modules which individuals and committees can work through together. This can be found on www.crbs.org.uk

Your SCDA Child Protection Officer can give you guidance, and should always be your first point of contact until such time as local committees receive full training.