THE OAKRIDGE PLAYERS
(hereafter referred to as The Players.)
1. PRODUCTION POLICY
The Players aim to mount two productions in the Oakridge Village Hall each year.
PRODUCTION EXPENDITURE
The DIRECTOR
The PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR will arrange or delegate responsibility for overseeing and co-ordinating all aspects of the management of the production as detailed in the Production Schedule.
The TREASURER
2. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
The Players shall be committed to equality of opportunity and opposes any form of discrimination.
(hereafter referred to as The Players.)
1. PRODUCTION POLICY
The Players aim to mount two productions in the Oakridge Village Hall each year.
- A DIRECTOR shall be appointed by the Management Committee
- A PLAY shall be selected by a Sub Committee appointed by the Management Committee.
- The Management Committee in conjunction with the director will appoint a Production Co-ordinator.
PRODUCTION EXPENDITURE
- A budget will be set and agreed between the director and committee for each production in accordance with the needs of the play.
- No purchases of more than £25 should be made without prior agreement of the director and at least one member of the Management Committee.
The DIRECTOR
- Will draw up and be responsible for a detailed schedule of rehearsals
- Ensure there is (where required) a prompt, costume and stage manager and properties manager.
- Will be responsible for bringing the play to realisation on time
- Will be responsible for controlling, and keeping within, the set budget for the play.
The PRODUCTION CO-ORDINATOR will arrange or delegate responsibility for overseeing and co-ordinating all aspects of the management of the production as detailed in the Production Schedule.
The TREASURER
- Will be responsible for tracking and accounting for all financial matters associated with the production.
- Will present accounts relating specifically to the production as soon as possible after the event.
2. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
The Players shall be committed to equality of opportunity and opposes any form of discrimination.
OAKRIDGE PLAYERS
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY Dated: 2 October 2019
Oakridge Players (“the society”) recognizes its duty of care under the Children and Young Persons Act 1963, the Child (Performances) Regulations 1968, the Protection of Children Act 1999, the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 and The Children Act 2004
The society recognizes that abuse can take many forms, whether physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect. the Society is committed to practice which protects children from harm. All members of the society accept and recognize their responsibilities to develop awareness of the issues which cause children harm.
The society believes that:
The society will ensure that:
The society has protection procedures which accompany this policy. This policy should also be read in conjunction with the society’s Equal Opportunities Policy and Health & Safety Policy.
The society has a dedicated Child Protection Officer, who is in charge of ensuring that this child protection policy and procedures are adhered to. That person’s name is Tamzin Hutton and she can be contacted via the society.
This policy will be regularly monitored by the Executive Committee and reviewed annually.
CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES
Responsibilities of the Society
At the outset of any production involving children the society will;
Parents
Unsupervised Contact
Physical Contact
Managing Sensitive Information
Suspicion of Abuse
Disclosure of Abuse
If a child confides in you that abuse has taken place:
Recording
Rights and Confidentiality
Accidents.
Criminal Record Disclosure
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY Dated: 2 October 2019
Oakridge Players (“the society”) recognizes its duty of care under the Children and Young Persons Act 1963, the Child (Performances) Regulations 1968, the Protection of Children Act 1999, the Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000 and The Children Act 2004
The society recognizes that abuse can take many forms, whether physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse or neglect. the Society is committed to practice which protects children from harm. All members of the society accept and recognize their responsibilities to develop awareness of the issues which cause children harm.
The society believes that:
- The welfare of the child is paramount.
- All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, 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.
- All members and employees of the society should be clear on how to respond appropriately.
The society will ensure that:
- All children will be treated equally and with respect and dignity.
- The duty of care to children will always be put first
- A balanced relationship based on mutual trust will be built which empowers the children to share in the decision making process.
- Enthusiastic and constructive feedback will be given rather than negative criticism.
- Bullying will not be accepted or condoned.
- All adult members of the society provide a positive role model for dealing with other people.
- Action will be taken to stop any inappropriate verbal or physical behaviour.
- It will keep up to date with heath & safety legislation.
- It will keep informed of changes in legislation and policies for the protection of children.
- It will undertake relevant development and training.
- It will hold a register of every child involved with the society and will retain a contact name and number close at hand in case of emergencies.
The society has protection procedures which accompany this policy. This policy should also be read in conjunction with the society’s Equal Opportunities Policy and Health & Safety Policy.
The society has a dedicated Child Protection Officer, who is in charge of ensuring that this child protection policy and procedures are adhered to. That person’s name is Tamzin Hutton and she can be contacted via the society.
This policy will be regularly monitored by the Executive Committee and reviewed annually.
CHILD PROTECTION PROCEDURES
Responsibilities of the Society
At the outset of any production involving children the society will;
- Undertake a risk assessment and monitor risk throughout the production process.
- Identify at the outset the person designated responsibility for child protection.
- Ensure that children are supervised at all times.
- Know how to get in touch with the local authority social services, in case it needs to report a concern.
Parents
- The society believes it to be important that there is a partnership between parents and the society. Parents are encouraged to be involved in the activities of the society and to share responsibility for the care of children. All parents will be given a copy of the society’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures.
- All parents have the responsibility to collect (or arrange collection of) their children after rehearsals or performances. It is NOT the responsibility of the society to take children home.
Unsupervised Contact
- The society will use its best endeavours to ensure that no adult has unsupervised contact with children.
- If possible there will always be two adults in the room when working with children.
- If unsupervised contact is unavoidable, steps will be taken to minimize risk. For example work will be carried out in a public area.
- If it is predicted that an individual is likely to require unsupervised contact with children, he or she may be required to obtain a criminal record disclosure.
Physical Contact
- All adults will maintain a safe and appropriate distance from children.
- Adults will only touch children when it is absolutely necessary in relation to the particular activity.
- Adults will seek the consent of the child prior to any physical contact and the purpose of the contact shall be made clear.
Managing Sensitive Information
- No images or photographs of children shall be taken, used or stored without the parents’ prior consent but there shall be an absolute prohibition on images, names or information about the children being posted on the society’s website or social media platforms, unless express written (electronic or paper) consent is obtained from the parents/guardians of the children for such publication.
- The use of cameras/mobile phone cameras in dressing rooms is specifically prohibited.
- Children’s changing rooms must be separate from adults’. If this is not feasible, the children must come to and from the hall in costume.
Suspicion of Abuse
- If you see or suspect abuse of a child while in the care of the society. please make this known to the person with responsibility for child protection. If you suspect that the person with responsibility for child protection is the source of the problem, you should make your concerns known to the Chairman.
- Please make a note for your own records of what you have witnessed as well as your response, in case there is a follow-up in which you are involved.
- If a serious allegation is made against any member of the society, helpers etc., that individual will be suspended immediately until the investigation is concluded. The individual will be excluded from the hall and will not have any unsupervised contact with any other children in the production.
Disclosure of Abuse
If a child confides in you that abuse has taken place:
- Remain calm and in control but do not delay action.
- Listen carefully to what has been said. Allow the child to tell you at their own pace and ask questions only for clarification. Don’t ask questions that suggest a particular answer.
- Don’t promise to keep it a secret. Use the first opportunity you have to share the information with the person with responsibility for child protection. Make it clear to the child that you will need to share this information with others. Make it clear that you will only tell the people who should be able to help.
- Reassure the child that “they did the right thing” in telling someone.
- Tell the child what you are going to do next.
- Speak immediately to the person with responsibility for child protection. It is that person’s responsibility to liaise with the relevant authorities, usually social services or the police.
- As soon as possible after the disclosing conversation, make a note of what was said, using the child’s own words. Note the date, time, any names that were involved or mentioned. and to whom you gave the information. Make sure you sign and date your record.
Recording
- In all situations, including those in which the cause of concern arises from a disclosure made in confidence, the details of an allegation or reported incident will be recorded, regardless of whether or not the concerns have been shared with a statutory child protection agency.
- An accurate note shall be made of the date and time of the incident or disclosure, the parties involved, what was said or done and by whom, any action taken to investigate the matter, any further action taken eg. suspension of an individual, where relevant the reasons why the matter was not referred to a statutory agency, and the name of the persons reporting and to whom it was reported.
- The record will be stored securely and shared only with those who need to know about the incident or allegation.
Rights and Confidentiality
- If a complaint is made against a member of the society, he or she will be made aware of their rights under the society’s disciplinary procedures.
- No matter how you feel about the accusation, both the alleged abuser and the child who is thought to have been abused have the right of confidentiality under the Data Protection Acts.
- Remember also that any possible criminal investigation could be compromised through inappropriate information being released.
- In criminal law the Crown, or other prosecuting authority, has to prove guilt and the defendant is presumed innocent until proved guilty.
Accidents.
- To avoid accidents, children will be advised of “house rules” regarding health and safety and will be notified of areas out of bounds. Children will be advised of the clothing and footwear appropriate to the work that will be undertaken.
- If a child is injured while in the care of the society, a designated first-aider will administer first aid and the injury will be recorded in the society’s accident book. This record will be countersigned by the person with responsibility for child protection.
- If a child joins the production with an obvious physical injury a record of this will be made in the accident book. This record will be signed by the person with responsibility for child protection. This record can be useful if a formal allegation is made later and will also be a record that the child did not sustain the injury while participating in the production.
Criminal Record Disclosure
- If the society believes it is in its best interests to obtain criminal record disclosures for any members or personnel, it will inform the individual of the necessary procedures and the level of disclosure required. A Standard Disclosure will apply for anyone with supervised access to children. An Enhanced Disclosure will be required for anyone with unsupervised access.
- The society will have a written code of practice for the handling of disclosure information.
- The society will ensure that the information contained in the disclosure is not misused.
