Safeguarding & Child Protection
Everyone at Vibe Arts is committed to keeping children and young people safe. This page explains who looks after safeguarding, how to raise a worry, and what to expect from us.
Tell us at www.vibearts.co.uk/concern or call 0208 058 18 58. If anyone is in immediate danger, call 999 first.
Our commitment
We are fully committed to the welfare of every child and young person up to the age of 18, and we take all reasonable steps to protect them from harm, abuse and exploitation. We follow the Children Act 1989, the rules for children in performance, and the government’s Working Together to Safeguard Children guidance.
- The welfare of the child always comes first, and every child has the right to protection from abuse.
- Every worry or allegation is taken seriously and dealt with swiftly.
- Everyone is treated with respect and dignity, bullying is not accepted, and our adults are positive role models.
Who looks after safeguarding
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Matthew Rowland. Deputy: Alex Turney. You can reach them on 0208 058 18 58 or mail@vibearts.co.uk. Matthew holds a Level 3 CPD Certificate in Safeguarding Children.
Raising a concern
You do not need to be certain that something is wrong, and you do not need to investigate. If something does not feel safe, tell us.
- Use the form: www.vibearts.co.uk/concern. You can leave your name out. It goes only to our safeguarding leads.
- Or call us on 0208 058 18 58.
- If it is about Principal Matthew or Principal Alex, the form sends it only to the other one. If it is about both of them, or you would rather speak to someone independent, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000 (24 hours), your local authority’s children’s social care, or the police on 101.
- Children and young people can talk to any adult at Vibe Arts, or to Childline in confidence on 0800 1111. If a child tells an adult something that worries them, that adult may need to pass it on to our safeguarding leads to keep the child safe.
What happens after you raise a concern
- Our Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy reads it the same day and decides what needs to happen straight away. Where needed, they refer it to the police, children’s social care, or the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).
- Parents or guardians will normally be told if a concern is raised about their child, unless that could put the child at greater risk.
- Records are kept securely, and only shared with people who need to know.
How we keep children safe
- Safer recruitment. Everyone who works regularly with children holds a recent Enhanced DBS check, or an Enhanced DBS check registered with the DBS Update Service, and we take references before they start.
- Training. Everyone receives safeguarding induction before working unsupervised with children, and ongoing training for their role.
- Open working. Classes are run in view of others, and one-to-one coaching takes place in school, in rooms the school knows about.
Physical contact
Most of what we teach does not involve touching a child at all.
- We use words, demonstration and mirroring first. If touch is genuinely needed, we explain what and why, and we ask first, every time. It is brief, light, only as much as the activity needs, and never secret.
- One-to-one LAMDA coaching happens at school, with school staff knowing where we are. We do not use touch as a teaching tool in one-to-one sessions.
- Younger children are often affectionate, so we steer them towards a high five or a wave. If a child is upset, we sit alongside them and ask what would help. We never initiate physical contact.
- We will never let a child sit on our lap, give long hugs, use touch as punishment, restrain a child except in a real emergency to prevent injury, or touch a child anywhere private or out of sight.
- If your child has additional needs, a sensory sensitivity, or finds it hard to say when they do not want to be touched, please tell us so we can agree what is right for them.
- If something does not feel right, talk to your child and then tell us at www.vibearts.co.uk/concern.
Related
Review
This policy is monitored by Matthew Rowland and reviewed regularly.
Matthew Rowland · Designated Safeguarding Lead for Vibe Arts
Alex Turney · Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead for Vibe Arts