Focal Space Photography Child Protection Policy

Introduction

At all times when working with or around children, The Focal Space will ensure 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 and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
• all personnel (paid/unpaid) working for The Focal Space have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate person

Personnel of The Focal Space are not trained to deal with situations of abuse or to decide if abuse has occurred.

Policy Statement:

The Focal Space has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved with The Focal Space from harm. All children have a right to protection, and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. The Focal Space will ensure the safety and protection of all children involved in The Focal Space through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by The Focal Space.

A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).

Policy aims

The aim of the The Focal Space Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice:

• providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst involved with The Focal Space
• allow all personnel to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.
  

Definitions:

• The Focal Space is the trading name of Paul Colwell with regard to his professional services relating to photography and digital imaging
• Personnel means any person, paid or unpaid, working for The Focal Space
• Carer means the child’s own parent/guardian or an adult who has been given permission to act in loco parentis by the child’s parent/guardian
  

Our Requirements:

The Focal Space expects all customers to adhere to the following:

• all children must be accompanied at all times by their carer
• the carer accepts the primary responsibility to ensure that the child behaves in a safe and controlled manner and does not cause damage to any property belonging to The Focal Space
• the carer accepts the primary responsibility to act, either verbally or physically, to prevent injury to the child
• the carer accepts the primary responsibility to administer appropriate discipline to the child in the event of the child behaving in an unsafe or socially unacceptable manner
  

Practice Guidelines:

Good Practices:

All personnel will endeavor to adhere to the following good practices:

• all personnel will demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to promote children’s welfare and reduce the likelihood of allegations being made
• always working in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets)
• treating all children equally, with respect and with dignity
• always putting the welfare of each child first, above achieving goals
• maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with children (e.g. it is not appropriate for personnel to have an intimate relationship with a child)
• ensuring that no-one enters a changing room/area whilst in use by a child, except that child’s own parent/carer or another child as deemed appropriate by the carer
• being an excellent role model - this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of young people
• giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism
• avoid any physical contact with children where possible; personnel may apply physical contact if they believe an injury is imminent, to a degree that is appropriate to the perceived level of risk
• keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given
  

Practices Never to be Sanctioned:

The following should never be sanctioned. Personnel should never:

• allow or engage in any form photography in which a child’s genitalia are visible
• allow or engage in any form photography in which a child is dressed or posed in a demeaning, sexually suggestive or otherwise inappropriate manner
• engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay
• share a room or screened off area with a child
• allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
• make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun
• reduce a child to tears as a form of control
• fail to act upon and record any allegations made by a child
• invite or allow children to depart the supervision of their carer
  

Incidents that Must be Reported / Recorded:

If any of the following occur, personnel should report this immediately to the appropriate person and record the incident. Personnel should also ensure the parent/guardian of the child is informed:

• if a child is injured
• if a child seems distressed in any manner
• if a child appears to be sexually aroused by a person’s actions
• if a child significantly misunderstands or misinterprets something a member of personnel has done
  

Responding to Allegations or Suspicions:

It is not the responsibility of anyone working in The Focal Space to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However there is a responsibility to act on any concerns by reporting these to the appropriate person or the appropriate authorities.

The Focal Space will assure all personnel that it will fully support and protect anyone who in good faith reports his or her concern that a colleague is, or may be, abusing a child.

Where there is a complaint against a member of personnel there may be three types of investigation:

• a criminal investigation
• a child protection investigation
• a disciplinary or misconduct investigation.

The results of the police and child protection investigation may well influence and inform the disciplinary investigation, but all available information will be used to reach a decision.

Action if there are Concerns:

Concerns about poor practice:

• If, following consideration, the allegation is clearly about poor practice; Paul Colwell (being the owner of the business) will deal with it as a misconduct issue.
• If the allegation is about poor practice by Paul Colwell, or if the matter has been handled inadequately and concerns remain, it should be reported to the relevant local authorities child protection officer who will decide how to deal with the allegation and whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings.

Concerns about suspected abuse:

• Any suspicion that a child has been abused by a member of personnel should be reported to the Paul Colwell (being the owner of the business), who will take such steps as considered necessary to ensure the safety of the child in question and any other child who may be at risk.
• Paul Colwell will refer the allegation to the social services department who may involve the police.
• The parent/guardian of the child will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the social services department.

Confidentiality:

Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. This includes the following people:

• Paul Colwell
• the parent/guardian of the child who is alleged to have been abused
• the person making the allegation
• social services/police

Social services advice will be sought on who should approach the alleged abuser (or parents if the alleged abuser is a child).

Information should be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws (e.g. that information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure).

Information for Social Services or the Police about Suspected Abuse:

To ensure that this information is as helpful as possible, a detailed record should always be made at the time of the disclosure/concern, which should, where possible, include the following:

• The child's name, age and date of birth of the child.
• The child's home address and telephone number.
• 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.
• Make a clear distinction between what is fact, opinion or hearsay.
• 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 account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred.
• Have the parents been contacted? If so what has been said? Has anyone else been consulted? If so record details.
• If the child was not the person who reported the incident, has the child been spoken to? If so what was said?
• Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? Record details.
• Where possible referral to the police or social services should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours and the name of the contact who took the referral should be recorded.