Our Safeguarding policy
Introduction
The Saint Cecilia Singers operates as an affiliated choir of Gloucester Cathedral. As such, it is bound by and in full agreement with the cathedral's policies and procedures for the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. In accordance with government legislation and guidance, the choir accepts that it has a responsibility to protect and safeguard the interests of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
All members of the choir will be reminded regularly of this responsibility, particularly before an event involving children, young people or vulnerable adults.
The Saint Cecilia Singers is committed to taking all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children's welfare are minimised.
All members of the choir will be reminded regularly of this responsibility, particularly before an event involving children, young people or vulnerable adults.
The Saint Cecilia Singers is committed to taking all reasonable measures to ensure that the risks of harm to children's welfare are minimised.
- The choir recognises its duty of care towards children and young people.
- The choir upholds the right to protection from abuse of all children and young people.
- The choir recognises that all suspicions or allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
- The choir accepts that all choir staff and singing members have a duty of care to abide by this policy and to report concerns.
Implementation
In practice all members of the Saint Cecilia Singers are auditioned before being admitted to the choir. This is likely to mean that no children, young people or vulnerable adults will become full choir members. The most likely contact between choir members and children, young people or vulnerable adults is in the context of taking part in concerts together or in outreach activities where members may go into schools or work with children's or community choirs on a specific project.
Before any such event members will be reminded of their responsibilities to both the children, young people and vulnerable adults and to themselves.
In the case of taking part in concerts with children's and community choirs the Saint Cecilia Singers will ask to see a copy of the organisation's Safeguarding Policy prior to the event and will discuss arrangements with the children's choir leader. We will stress that responsibility for chaperoning will at all times lie with the staff of the relevant choir.
If a child chorister acts as a soloist for the choir, then the parent or a member of the cathedral staff will be responsible for chaperoning him or her.
Where choir members are invited to go into schools or attend rehearsals with a children's or community choir, they will be reminded that they should at all times abide by the safeguarding policies and procedures of that organisation, as well as our own. For example, there should always be a teacher or choir leader present.
Should the Conductor invite a choral scholar or member of the Cathedral Youth Choir who is under the age of 18 to join the choir it will be his / her responsibility to inform the committee of the Saint Cecilia Singers. All members will then be reminded of their responsibility for the welfare and safeguarding of the young person and of how to behave appropriately.
If a person with a disability passes the audition to become a member of the Saint Cecilia Singers, the choir and all its members will undertake to enable this person to participate as fully as possible in all its activities, and specifically will accept the responsibility to safeguard this person against significant harm and discrimination. Each case will be dealt with and assessed individually. For example, it may be necessary to allow a carer to be present. Members of the Saint Cecilia Singers will be reminded that, in addition to safeguarding others, they should not place themselves at risk of allegations, by avoiding being alone with any child at any time, especially in toilets and changing facilities.
In the unlikely event of a child disclosing possible abuse to a member of the Saint Cecilia Singers, members will be reminded of their duty to report this to a responsible person, such as a school teacher or choir leader and also to the designated person on the choir's committee. If it appears that the child's teacher or choir leader does not take the disclosure seriously, then in discussion with the Saint Cecilia Singers' designated person, it may be necessary to contact the statutory Children's Services.
If a child discloses:
Before any such event members will be reminded of their responsibilities to both the children, young people and vulnerable adults and to themselves.
In the case of taking part in concerts with children's and community choirs the Saint Cecilia Singers will ask to see a copy of the organisation's Safeguarding Policy prior to the event and will discuss arrangements with the children's choir leader. We will stress that responsibility for chaperoning will at all times lie with the staff of the relevant choir.
If a child chorister acts as a soloist for the choir, then the parent or a member of the cathedral staff will be responsible for chaperoning him or her.
Where choir members are invited to go into schools or attend rehearsals with a children's or community choir, they will be reminded that they should at all times abide by the safeguarding policies and procedures of that organisation, as well as our own. For example, there should always be a teacher or choir leader present.
Should the Conductor invite a choral scholar or member of the Cathedral Youth Choir who is under the age of 18 to join the choir it will be his / her responsibility to inform the committee of the Saint Cecilia Singers. All members will then be reminded of their responsibility for the welfare and safeguarding of the young person and of how to behave appropriately.
If a person with a disability passes the audition to become a member of the Saint Cecilia Singers, the choir and all its members will undertake to enable this person to participate as fully as possible in all its activities, and specifically will accept the responsibility to safeguard this person against significant harm and discrimination. Each case will be dealt with and assessed individually. For example, it may be necessary to allow a carer to be present. Members of the Saint Cecilia Singers will be reminded that, in addition to safeguarding others, they should not place themselves at risk of allegations, by avoiding being alone with any child at any time, especially in toilets and changing facilities.
In the unlikely event of a child disclosing possible abuse to a member of the Saint Cecilia Singers, members will be reminded of their duty to report this to a responsible person, such as a school teacher or choir leader and also to the designated person on the choir's committee. If it appears that the child's teacher or choir leader does not take the disclosure seriously, then in discussion with the Saint Cecilia Singers' designated person, it may be necessary to contact the statutory Children's Services.
If a child discloses:
- Remain calm, accessible and receptive
- Listen carefully without interrupting
- Be aware of the non-verbal messages you are giving
- Make it clear that you are taking the child seriously
- Acknowledge their courage and reassure them they are right to tell
- Reassure them that they should not feel guilty and that you are sorry that this has happened to them
- Avoid leading questions
- Tell the child what you are going to do next (i.e. inform a responsible person)
- Write down what was said and who was present, using the child's actual words wherever possible.
Disclosure & barring service
Disclosure and Barring ServiceWhile the Saint Cecilia Singers remains an affiliated choir of Gloucester Cathedral, the likelihood is that the Conductor of the choir will have a DBS certificate through his or her employment by the cathedral. Many members of the choir will have DBS certificates through their work as teachers or through a variety of voluntary work. It is not expected that the choir will apply for DBS checks for all its members.
If a new choir member is known to have a spent conviction for child abuse or is listed as a sex offender, this does not necessarily exclude him or her from becoming a member of the Saint Cecilia Singers (an adult choir). He or she has a right to join if the audition is passed. On occasions when the choir works with children, young people or vulnerable adults, the designated person on the committee will undertake to ensure that this choir member is supervised at all times and, specifically, is never left alone with any child. This will be through prior discussion and agreement with the individual concerned.
The designated person is currently: Vicki Ponsford
This policy was written and approved by the committee of the Saint Cecilia Singers.
Date: 9th May 2018
If a new choir member is known to have a spent conviction for child abuse or is listed as a sex offender, this does not necessarily exclude him or her from becoming a member of the Saint Cecilia Singers (an adult choir). He or she has a right to join if the audition is passed. On occasions when the choir works with children, young people or vulnerable adults, the designated person on the committee will undertake to ensure that this choir member is supervised at all times and, specifically, is never left alone with any child. This will be through prior discussion and agreement with the individual concerned.
The designated person is currently: Vicki Ponsford
This policy was written and approved by the committee of the Saint Cecilia Singers.
Date: 9th May 2018