Safeguarding Policy for Children & Young People 

(up to 18yrs, including the children of adults who use our services)

Inner Art writes this safeguarding policy with the view to

• providing a safe time and space for children and young people to enjoy Art tuition
• sharing how Inner Art keeps children safe, with the support of parents and external agencies.
• adhering to NSPCC guidelines as per The Children Act 1989.

We believe that:

• children and young people should never experience abuse of any kind.
• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people, to keep them safe and to work in a way that protects them.

 We recognise that:

• the welfare of children is paramount in all the work we do and in all the decisions we take.
• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.
• all children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.

This policy statement should be read alongside Inner Art policies:

• Terms & Conditions 
• Health & Safety
• Risk Assessments 
• Equal Opportunity
• Privacy Policy

Any concerns by members of the public, parents, teachers, organisers etc should be reported to Katie Beth Hooper via hello@innerart.co.uk. Anything that requires a level of child protection outside the boundaries of normal day to day support may be reported to social services or relevant public services.

It is important that all people within Inner Art have the confidence to come forward to speak or act if they are unhappy with anything, or raise a concern about dangerous or illegal activity, or any wrong-doing within their organisation. This includes concerns about another employee or volunteer.

Nominated child protection lead: Katie Beth Hooper

Phone: 07707 661279

Email: hello@innerart.co.uk

NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000

Information available from the NSPCC at www.nspcc.org.uk:

• Neglect
• Domestic abuse
• Further types of abuse
• Keeping children safe in education
• Further safeguarding information
• What to do if you are worried a child is being abused
• Working together to safeguard children
• DBS checks 

Katie Beth and all Inner Art Tutors are DBS checked. Art helpers and work experience students (eg GCSE/A level students studying Art) will not be DBS checked, and are supervised at all times by an Inner Art Tutor.

Setting 

Inner Art delivers Art tutoring for children in a calm space with an atmosphere of concentration. Children work in an open plan shared space. We aim to retain safety and comfort of all attendees equally and raise any behavioral concerns initially with the child, and if problems persist, with parents/carers.

Supervision

Inner Art Tutors are responsible for safety of each child. Parent/carer contact numbers are accessible by Inner Art tutors throughout each booked session. If for any reason the phone number provided when booking is not available, a second number should be provided by the parent/carer in advance to hello@innerart.co.uk.

Children are left in the care of a specified Inner Art Tutor at Inner Art Studio for the duration of their booked session, and parents/carers have the option to stay in the waiting area of Inner Art Studio. Parents/carers are not permitted to participate in activities nor move around the studio areas. 

Drop off and collection time is adhered to for the safety for all children - unless by prior arrangement. Children at or under Year 6, are expected to be accompanied by their parent/carer to and from Inner Art Studio. Elder siblings or grandparents of the pupil can take the child if the usual parent/carer confirms with the Inner Art Tutor. If these arrangements without prior arrangement, and the child gives any cause for concern, we will use the phone number provided to confirm arrangements.

Physical Contact 

Inner Art Tutors are “hands-off” with children when welcoming children or saying goodbye. Occasionally a greeting may be offered in the form of a brief hug or handshake - this will not be rejected by Inner Art Tutors, but not initiated. There may be occasions when physical contact is necessary, such as tying aprons or assisting children with cleaning art materials from hands, face or clothes, (for instance clay) at the sink. These are exceptions and pupils will normally clean themselves, or remove materials after leaving.

Conversation

Children are tutored on an individual basis and one to one discussions take place in main areas of Inner Art Studio. All conversations have the sole focus of ensuring a high quality Art Tuition experience for students. 

Social Media 

Inner Art social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Inner Art website) celebrates children’s Art progress via photographs or videos. Prior permission is given at the time of booking, unless opted out.

Comfort

There may be occasions when children are upset. Inner Art Tutors provide a level of comfort that is within normal bounds, and in clear sight. Depending on the severity the parent may be phoned / the matter discussed with parent at pick up / in extreme cases 999 called.

Toilet facilities

A toilet is available, and on no occasion do Inner Art Tutors assist with toilet visits in any way. It is expected visits to the toilet are infrequent, and if they become regular for an individual (regular being more than two times in consecutive sessions), we will inform the parent/carer to discuss.

Illness/Medical 

Inner Art Studio has a basic first aid kit. Inner Art Tutors are not administers of routine medication. In the case of EpiPens for allergic reaction, the responsibility is with the parent to communicate and discuss requirements in advance via hello@innerart.co.uk. If a child is obviously sick or overly distressed we reserve the right to be cancel the session and make alternative arrangements vie hello@innerart.co.uk. If a child becomes sick as in vomiting, we will call the parent/carer immediately.

Disclosures

On receipt of a disclosure, Inner Art Tutors are required to tell the child their duty of care means they have to tell someone else about what was said. Inner Art Tutors have responsibility for all students in their care, and it will is not viable to make phone calls or other communications during the session. Where behaviour and disclosure gives rise for immediate concern over the child returning home after the session, the Inner Art Tutor will call 999 and request immediate assistance. In reporting disclosures, it is recognised child protection is a higher priority than data protection. Inner Art Tutors are required to follow post disclosure guidelines, which may include writing a short summary of the situation via a form ‘Incident Report Sheet’, then sent to hello@innerart.co.uk.

Online tuition

The above guidelines are followed where relevant, with the addition of:

• Inner Art Online Tuition takes place only during designated booked sessions, via Zoom.
• Screen sharing is permissible only to resources and imagery relevant to the Art tuition taking  place. 
• Sessions take place in a location that does not expose personal information or access to inappropriate background content
• Dress is appropriate, in a manner that would be suitable for attendance in a workplace/school in person.
• Sessions are not recorded by video, still images or audio.
• Sessions are conducted without disruption (mobile phones should be set to silent and away from gaze) or supervision by any other persons not approved by Inner Art.

Safeguarding Policy for Adults (18yrs+)

While there is no legal responsibility for Inner Art to have an adult safeguarding policy equivalent to children, it is anticipated that there may be occasions where adult students confide in an Inner Art Tutor in connection to their safety. Inner Art Policy is to follow the first step of Safeguarding Policy for Children & Young People by telling the adult that disclosures regarding safeguarding are reported to the safeguarding lead.

All adults are required to leave Inner Art Studio at the end of their booked sessions to avoid Inner Art Tutors being alone with any single adult student, with respect to employee safety. If the situation appears to be urgent and an adult insists on a disclosure, the Inner Art Tutor’s safety is paramount. Therefore the policy is to call 999 and report (a) that a refuge is needed tonight and (b) that the inner Art Tutor is alone in the studio with the adult needing refuge.

Inner Art Tutors may offer to provide the adult details for a professional organisation. This action itself has the potential to result in further disclosures so establishing maintaining the boundaries of a professional relationship is essential.

Immediate danger: 999

Domestic Abuse helpline: 0808 2000 247

Self-harm or Suicidal thoughts, Samaritans: 116 123