Safeguarding policy for all beneficiaries, staff and volunteers

S.P.I.D has a strong track record in putting children, young people and vulnerable adults’ safety first.  This policy should be read in conjunction with SPID’s safeguarding training document.

The community rooms where we work have been health-and-safety approved by Kensington and Chelsea. Adults running our projects are DBS checked in advance. Our policies are reviewed annually in accordance with best practice, local policies and procedures.  We carry out space assessments prior to every project, identifying steps that can be taken in terms of space, audience and participant management to ensure our work remains as safe as possible.

Reporting procedures

Incident reports regarding safeguarding concerns which arise during working with SPID should be made to Artistic Director Helena Thompson or Head of Youth Nnenna Samson, who have ultimate safeguarding responsibility as Safeguarding Lead Officers. In their absence reports are made to the  Learning, Marketing and Outreach Manager Eeshita Azad as Deputy Safeguarding Officer 

Here is the reporting form. Whichever safeguarding officer is on duty at the time the report is made is responsible for deciding whether to notify the council’s social services/ police. This process should also be followed for reporting suspected abuse outside of SPID.

Definitions and signs of abuse

Adults at risk are defined as someone who is unable to protect themselves from abuse, neglect, or exploitation. This could be due to their age, disability, or other circumstances. The types of abuse that can be experienced by children and adults are defined as physical, emotional, sexual, neglect:

Physical Abuse :

May involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

Emotional Abuse: 

Emotional or psychological child abuse is a pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional development or sense of self-worth. 

This may include constant criticism, threats, or rejection, as well as withholding love, support, or guidance.

Making a child feel worthless or unloved, inadequate.

Overprotection, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. 

Seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. 

Serious bullying.

Causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger.

Exploitation or corruption of children.

Sexual Abuse:

Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.

The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape, buggery or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts. They may include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual on-line images, watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse.

Neglect: 

Is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse.

Recruitment and training of staff and volunteers SPID ensures staff are registered with the Vetting and Barring Scheme and runs a DBS check on them. According to our line of accountability , the artistic director and head of youth and community programs have ultimate responsibility as safeguarding leads, supported by the safeguarding officer and trained first aiders. Interview and Induction Safeguarding policies and protocals are disseminated, understood and tested in advance to be sure that it is properly practised. Workers  training and qualifications are substantiated in advance. Our protocol for disclosure is in accordance with the Care Act 2014 duties and responsibilities, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, the Children and Families Act 2014, and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 . In case of emergency If a S.P.I.D. worker suspects that a young person they have worked with has been or is being subjected to abuse they should not contact parents or carers (unless advised to do so by social services or police ) Social Services on 020 7373 2227 or, if an emergency / no answer, the police on 999. If they suspect abuse by anyone working with children or young people they should first call RBKC’s LADO officer Daniel Aqualma on 07870481712 Daniel.Aqualma@rbkc.gov.uk. They should fill out and pass on the report form which is filed with SPID, which should include the young persons’ name, address, d.o.b. and: • Whether or not the person making the report is expressing their own concerns or those of someone else. • The nature of the allegation. Include dates, times, any special factors and other relevant information. • A description of any visible bruising or other injuries. Also any indirect signs, such as behavioural changes. • Details of witnesses to the incidents. • The child’s/young person’s account• Confirmation that the RBKC social services or the police have been notified. Incidents that must be recordedStaff should notify the safeguarding lead and fill out the report form which is filed with SPID: • If you accidentally hurt a participant. • If he/she seems distressed in any manner. • If a participant misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done. Practices to be avoided•  passing judgement or expressing shock if a young person confides in you• promising confidentiality• spending time alone with a young person• a child collection point that is outdoors rather than indoors Practices never to be sanctioned• Engaging in rough, physical or sexually provocative games • socialising with a young person alone outside of work • Inappropriate touching • Allowing children/young people to use inappropriate language unchallenged • Reducing a child/young person to tears  ProtocalsSessions are run by a minimum of 4 staffSessions are ideally supported by 2 volunteersOn trips young people under 14 wear high vis vest and wristbands with the SPID number on themOne staff member is responsible for knowing where are children areOne staff member is responsible for childrens’ handover and drop offA quiet separate space is identified for calming activities as neededYoung people are shown where to wait if they get lost Confidentiality Information should be stored securely on a need to know basis only for: • Safeguarding leads• Social services/police • The parents/guardians of the alleged victim if advised by social services/ the police that they should be notified • The person making the allegation •The co chair of the board , Sophia Ollivierre, is the lead trustee for safeguarding and can be contacted on office@spidtheatre.com . Support to deal with the aftermath of abuse•The British Association for Counselling Directory is available from The British Association for Counselling, 01788 550899

This policy was updated and signed 15.4.25:

Helena Thompson, SPID Theatre Artistic Director

Sophia Ollivierre, SPID Theatre Co Chair