AS Music School Safeguarding Policy

Every vulnerable person that attends lessons with AS Music School is entitled to receive vigilant care and support from all staff and tutors that represent AS Music School to protect their safety, physical and mental health and their ability to achieve their full potential.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. It is our duty to both prevent and report abuse and staff must follow the guidelines specified within. All details herein refer to both face-to-face and online interaction.

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

Karl Sheehan

Deputy Safeguarding Leads (DSL/D):

Charlotte Gill

Ciara O’Flaherty

Spencer Martin

Sheffield Safeguarding Hub

0114 273 4855

sheffieldsafeguardinghub@sheffield.gov.uk

1. Safeguarding Essentials

If an individual – whether a child or adult – divulges information to you which may indicate forms of abuse (this could include: sexual, physical, psychological, domestic, discriminatory or financial), neglect, bullying, participation in or victimisation by gang activity you should:

• Listen closely to that person – take what they say seriously. Allow them the time to speak and do not interrupt or make suggestions to them;
• Reassure them that they have done the right thing in telling you;
• Do not promise to keep the information confidential. It is vital that the person receives appropriate support and protection;
• Remain calm. No matter how difficult it is to listen to what they are saying, consider how difficult it must be for them to tell you. You may have been chosen because they feel they can talk to you. If you show anger, disgust or disbelief then they may stop talking for fear of upsetting you further or feel that those negative emotions could be directed toward themselves;
• Inform a DSL or DSL/D with the date and time of the conversation along with notes of any concerns that you may have. Try to include as much information ‘ad verbatim’ as possible, quoting directly from what was said, even if they spoke very graphically, used slang or profanities.
• All referalls should be made within 24 hours of the report being made.
• If the nature of the conversation is urgent and you suspect that the person is in immediate danger, then call Childline/Action on Elder Abuse and/or the police;
• Do not discuss your concerns with the parent/carer until discussing it with a DSL or DSL/D – never pass information laterally or downwards to your peers unless absolutely necessary.

When you notice an injury to a child, try to record the following information in respect of each mark identified e.g. red areas, swelling, bruising, cuts, lacerations and wounds, scalds and burns:

Importantly, the date and time of the recording must be stated as well as the name and designation of the person making the record. Add any further comments as required and date/time/sign. Use a body map if necessary.

Reporting a physical injury (use the incident report form for guidance):

• Does the person need immediate medical attention?
• Record exact site of injury, eg, upper left arm
• Size, shape and colour of injury
• Is the skin broken?
• Is there any swelling at the site of injury or elsewhere?
• Is there any bleeding?
• Is the injury clean?
• Is mobility restricted as a result of the injury?
• Does the site of the injury feel hot?
• Does the person feel hot?
• Does the person feel pain?

AS Music School has an extremely diverse student body, so it essential to be aware that abuse and violence can occur right across society, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnic or religious group, sexual orientation, wealth, disability or geography.

While students attend for a lesson they are in the care of AS Music School. A child will not be permitted to leave the school without consent from a parent/guardian. If a parent/guardian is not present to collect their child at the end of the lesson then a child should be supervised until a parent/guardian attends.

2. Introduction and Definitions

We have a responsibility to promote the health, safety and wellbeing of all individuals involved with AS Music School both offline and online. For the sake of this policy, offline, in-person teaching will be referred to as “face-to-face.”

This policy sets out the expectations for staff, students, families and any associated freelance providers and volunteers to ensure the protection of children, young people, adults and vulnerable adults in our care at AS Music School.

It is the responsibility of all adults working at AS Music School to raise concerns and report online incidents, using this policy and its procedures.

The key principles of this Safeguarding Policy are:

• Anyone under the age of 18 is considered a child/young person;
• All students, whatever their age, culture, religion, ability, gender or sexual identity have the right to be protected from abuse;
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly;
• To ensure all people working at AS Music School know what the procedures are for reporting concerns or allegations against individuals;
• To provide regular and appropriate training to all staff and volunteers at AS Music School;
• To ensure safe recruitment in a way which deters those who may wish to harm children and vulnerable people from becoming involved with AS Music School.

Guidance used to inform this policy:

• Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE 2020)
• Safeguarding Adults (SCIE 2020)
• Knowledge Bank (Hourglass)
• Safeguarding in the performing arts (NSPCC 2019)
• Safeguarding During Online Music Lessons (Musicians’ Union 2021)

All people working with AS Music School should feel that they can seek advice as well as report concerns and discuss issues arising from their contact with children and vulnerable people.

Please also refer to AS Music School’s related policies: Privacy Policy, Data Protection Policy, Health and Safety.

3. Delivering Online Music Tuition

Where face-to-face tuition is not possible or is of significant inconvenience to either tutor or student, lessons may be offered online (subject to each individual tutor’s preferences for teaching).

The general principles of delivering online tuition are:

• For students under the age of 16, AS Music School tutors will deliver lessons through a nominated adult’s email address unless otherwise discussed or arranged between the carer and tutor (evidence of which should be in writing);
• A parent or carer should make themselves known to the tutor at the start of the lesson so that they are aware that there is an adult present if necessary;
• The lesson must take place in a communal area of the student’s home unless the parent remains in the room with the student throughout the duration of the lesson. A tutor reserves the right to terminate the lesson if this is not adhered to, and the explanation is given afterwards;
• Once over 16, tutors will be able to use a nominated email by student for lessons. Tutors will continue to to copy carers into all future correspondence however. Parents will ideally make their presence known at the start of lessons;
• Once over the age of 18, students are now considered adults and, unless the carer decides otherwise, will be treated as an adult member of the student body with regard to communication and lesson setting;
• All students and staff must be dressed appropriately and try to minimise external distractions and noise wherever possible (i.e. siblings, pets, televisions etc.);
• Tutors reserve the right to terminate the lesson and communicate the reason afterwards if they deem a student’s state of dress, setting or behaviour to be inappropriate.

We will seek to keep vulnerable people safe by:

• Providing clear and specific directions to all staff on how to behave appropriately online by provision of this privacy policy and training (internal and otherwise);
• Developing clear and robust procedures that allow us to respond appropriately to any incidents of inappropriate online behaviour – whether by an adult or a child – by reviewing and updating our systems and policies regularly;
• Ensuring that images of all individuals are used only after their written consent has been obtained, and only for the purpose for which that consent was given;
• Providing support for staff where needed and requested in regard to online safety.

If online abuse occurs, we will respond to it by:

• Following the procedures set out in this Safeguarding Policy;
• Provide support to staff on dealing with all forms of abuse, including bullying/cyberbullying, emotional abuse, sexting, sexual abuse and exploitation, neglect and self-neglect;
• Reviewing the plan to address online abuse to ensure the long term safety of both our students and staff.

4. Safety on Site

AS Music School operates solely out of our Cobnar Road premises when carrying out face-to-face teaching. No tutors will ever provide face-to-face tuition to AS Music School students outside of our premises, this would be a breach of their terms of employment.

We ask that any carers dropping students off remain nearby and contactable throughout the duration of the lessons. We usually have a waiting room available for any carers waiting for students. Whilst all employees at AS Music School are fully DBS checked we ask all carers to please be aware that teaching is usually carried out with teaching room doors closed to reduce disruption to other lessons. Our teaching rooms also span the full floor plan of the school across both the ground and first floors – some rooms being significantly further from the main waiting room than others. If carers prefer, they are welcome to sit in on lessons or wait outside of the teaching room.

For further details on On Site safety, see our Health and Safety Policy.

5. Roles and Responsibilities

The role of the Designated Safeguarding Lead & Deputies

The DSL will be in a position of responsibility at AS Music School and will have a legal responsibility for dealing with child protection issues, providing advice and support to other staff, liaising with the Local Authority and working with other agencies if necessary. The Deputies are available if the DSL is not and can also provide support and additional information if required.

6. Information sharing and confidentiality

AS Music School will act upon its statutory duty for professionals to share information where there are concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a student. Remember:

• • If an individual confides in you about any kind of abuse and asks for confidentiality, please reassure them that only adults who absolutely need to know (to carry out investigation) will be told;
  • If you are dealing with significant abuse or harm, you have a legal duty to share information with the Police, Specialist Hubs or Social Care. No practitioner should assume that someone else will pass on the information which may be critical to keeping the individual safe;
  • The DSL must be made aware of all safeguarding concerns immediately. They will liaise with any other parties, agencies, schools or organisations as required to safeguard individuals at risk. 

7. Position of Trust

All adults (anyone over the age of 18) working with students at AS Music School hold a position of trust and should ensure that:

• All relationships are conducted appropriately to the age, gender and understanding of the people involved;
• Personal conduct and use of language do not invite any speculation as to the appropriateness of any relationship with a student – this applies especially to students who are children or young people (under the age of 18).

If staff encounter children, young people or vulnerable adults that display attention seeking behaviour or profess to be attracted to them, staff should:

• Behave sensitively and appropriately;
• Ensure their behaviour is non-ambiguous and is not misinterpreted;
• Discuss any concerns with the DSL or DSL/D as it could be sign of potential abuse.

8. Bullying

Whilst our services are largely limited to one-to-one lessons, we do run some ensembles at AS Music School as well as teach some sessions as groups, creating the potential for bullying to happen between students, as well as staff and students. Bullying can be described as unwanted and/or aggressive behaviour that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behaviour may be, or has the potential to be, repeated. Individuals who are bullied and who bully others may experience serious, lasting emotional and mental health problems. Any complaint or report about bullying (or abuse of any kind) should be taken seriously and reported to the DSL or DSL/D. If staff suspect or witness bullying it is important to remember that the perpetrators are likely to have significant needs and that help should be sought immediately.

Cyberbullying

AS Music School will not tolerate activity which is deemed to be bullying online. Any activity should be reported to the DSL or DSL/D immediately. Some of the most common types of Cyberbullying are detailed below:

• Messages and/or picture or video clips that are threatening or cause any kind of discomfort;
• Silent phone calls or abusive messages and/or stealing another’s phone and using it to harass others to make them believe the victim is responsible;
• Threatening or bullying emails often send using a pseudonym;
• Chatroom bullying;
• Bullying using websites, use of defamatory blogs and online personal web-space sites.

9. Behaviour Guidelines for Staff

As a member of AS Music School staff, you should ensure that you:

• Never use your position to access information for your own advantage or to another’s detriment;
• Never intimidate, threaten, coerce or belittle anyone;
• Never engage in sexual activity (including consensual) with a student under 19 years of age with whom you are working;
• Do not play inappropriate games or have inappropriate physical contact (appropriate contact will be in relation to tuition of an instrument e.g. adjustment of posture or hand position);
• Do not investigate allegations on your own;
• Do not make suggestive gestures, tell jokes of a sexual nature or engage in inappropriate verbal exchange;
• Be careful not to create a personal relationship with a student where one does not exist;
• Do not make direct contact with student under the age of 18 outside of lesson times unless for the reasons outlined below;
• Never allow any student to access any of your accounts on social networking sites;
• Always report and challenge any inappropriate and/or abusive activities such as ridicule, bullying (cyber or otherwise) among children or involving an adult to child;
• Remain wary of significant intention that may be behind gifts that you receive and report it if you suspect it to be inappropriate;
• Report any health and safety issues without delay;
• Remain wary of disclosing any personal information to students.

Direct Contact Between Staff and Students:

There may be inevitable situations where direct contact between a member of staff and a student is entirely necessary and proper. When students are under the age of 16, students should never be contacted directly unless specifically asked otherwise by the carer – staff must ensure that they receive this instruction in writing. Once over the age of 16 or written instruction is received from a parent, staff may contact students directly, ensuring that carers are copied into all correspondence. Once a student is 18 or over, they are treated as an adult member of the student body.

These guidelines ensure that:

• Both staff and students have the confidence to make contact without feeling vulnerable or that their actions may be misinterpreted;
• To ensure contact is made only when necessary as part of the tuition of the students and associated administration;
• To ensure that staff and students are equipped to identify what is and is not appropriate contact.

Contact should ideally be over email and following the above guidelines. Should text or messaging (e.g. Whatsapp or Zoom) contact be necessary (to overcome technical difficulties etc.) then written permission from the carer should be sought after by the tutor when this is direct to the student. The same applies to phone calls.

10. Allegations of Abuse Against a Member of Staff

If an allegation of abuse is made against anyone working with or for AS Music School, steps will be taken immediately to ensure the safety of the individual in question. The DSL will also take immediate and efficient action to clarify the nature of the complaint and provide support to both the complainant and their family (if appropriate) and to the member of staff in question. In all cases, national guidelines will be followed as appropriate in accordance with the details of the case (age of complainant, type of abuse etc.).

If a member of staff feels an allegation may be made against them, they feel they have behaved inappropriately or may have upset a student, they should contact the DSL immediately.

11. Safe Recruitment

All staff who work at AS Music School must present a current Enhanced DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) Certificate or be prepared to undergo the necessary checks to obtain one before working with students. Staff and volunteers are required to disclose any convictions, cautions or additional information that may appear on a DBS check before it is received or renewed. Failure to do so could result in disciplinary action. AS Music School has the legal right to request to see an enhanced DBS certificate from all staff members at any time. AS Music School will apply for a DBS check on behalf of an employee as and when certificates are due for renewal, which is every three years. AS Music School will only cover the cost of the initial DBS check if a member of staff does not have one.

AS Music School also asks staff to register with the Update Service at the point of renewal.

Staff will be interviewed (outside of teaching hours where possible) before commencing employment.

12. E-safety

It is important that professionals understand that social media is now integral to modern life and that children and young people often engage with social media more than any other group in society with significant influence on their lives.

It is important that all members of staff are made aware that their online conduct can have an impact on their role and reputation. This policy is not intended to restrict employee activity on social media yet caution and professional judgement should be exercised. Employees should be aware that information they share through social media (even on private spaces) is still subject to copyright, data protection, Freedom of Information legislation and safeguarding legislation. These regulations apply both for work and personal purposes. Civil, legal or disciplinary action could be taken should an employee be found to have brought AS Music School into disrepute or if behaviour is felt to have undermined confidence in their professional abilities.

Examples of inappropriate activity which could result in disciplinary action are:

• Comments posted on social media sites about pupils or their families and/or partnership organisations which divulge personal information;
• Commenting on or sending inappropriate messages about colleagues which might constitute harassment, discrimination, victimisation or bullying;
• Posting extreme personal views on issues in the public domain;
• Illegal, sexual or offensive posts with content based on race, sex, disability, age or religion.

Do

• Try to avoid referring to work on your own private social media networks unless promoting concerts, projects or events.;
• Carefully consider whether it is appropriate to accept colleagues, parents or students as ‘friends’ on your private networks;
• Check your privacy settings on any social media sites. Staff should remember that once content is shared online it can be circulated more widely than intended without consent or knowledge.

Use of mobile phones by younger students

Staff should be aware that mobile phones can be a tool for sharing unpleasant photos, bullying behaviour or grooming by adults. If you find anything or receive a report that inappropriate content is on a student’s phone:

• Don’t delete the content;
• Do not promise confidentiality;
• Report your concerns to the DSL or DSL/D