Reviewed April 2025

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Introduction

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Working with Children and young people is a privilege which brings with it a responsibility to keep them safe. Carlam Limited is committed to ensuring that children involved in the work of Carlam are safeguarded and their rights protected at all times. Therefore for all Staff members and freelancers the safety and welfare of Children and young people is of paramount consideration.

 

There are three elements to our policy:-

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• Prevention through awareness of each individual child’s needs.

• Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect

• Procedures for identifying and reporting cases or suspected cases of abuse.

 

The aim of the policy is to promote good practice, providing children and young people with appropriate safety/protection whilst in the care of Carlam Ltd and to allow staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.

 

Prevention

We recognise that the “entertainment industry” can be a very “adult” environment and we expect that all staff, chaperones, parents/legal guardians, volunteers and anyone else who comes into contact with children behave in an appropriate manner at all times, and remember that “The Welfare of the Child is Paramount”.

 

This policy establishes the responsibilities of everyone who works for Carlam with regard to the protection of children and young people when working with or when brought into contact with children and young people.

 

In the context of child protection, children and young persons refers to anyone under 18 years of age.

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This policy reflects the principles of both UK legislation and guidance and seeks to be consistent with 'Best Practice' within the field of child protection.

 

This policy is also designed to adhere to the child protection standards established by UK broadcasters. The key principles are:

     

• The welfare of the child or young person is the paramount consideration and should be at the heart of the production;

•  All children and young people, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial or ethnic origin, religious belief and sexual identity have a right to protection from harm or abuse;

•  It is the responsibility of all staff of Carlam to promote the protection of children and young people and to comply with this policy. Staff are always expected to maintain a sense of proportion, apply common sense to situations and protect the child's welfare as priority.

 

This policy is approved, supported and established by Senior/Management of Carlam.

 

                                             

                                                           DERWENA BURT

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Principles of Good Practice 

 

 

• Act within the Children’s Act 1989 & 2004 

• Act within The Children (Performances and Activities) (Wales) Regulations 2015 

• Safeguarding vulnerable groups Act 2006 

• Protection of Freedom Act 2012 

• Data Protection Act 1998 – GDPR 

• Regulation EU and the Data Protection Act 2018

• Working together to safeguard people – Welsh Government 2018

• Wales Safeguarding Procedures 2019 – A Children’s Rights Approach in Wales

 

Carlam undertakes to:

 

Treat children and young people with care, respect and dignity:

 

Recognise that those working for Carlam Ltd will be perceived by children and young people as trusted persons and therefore all staff must comply with this policy. Ensure communication with children and young people is open and clear; 

Assess the risks posed to children when undertaking activities; 

Ensure staff avoid physical contact with children and young people except for reason of health and safety, or under supervision. 

Respond to allegations appropriately and implement a disciplinary process as appropriate. 

Review this policy on a regular basis.

 

Recruitment and disclosure

 

New appointments

 

As part of Carlam’s recruitment and selection procedures, all staff recruited to work Specifically with children will complete a Child Protection Self Disclosure form to confirm that they have no previous record of any child-related offence.

 

Where a position entails regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children offers of employment will be subject to to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and satisfactory references:

 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Employment/Startinganewjob/DG_195811

 

Current Staff

Current staff, whose roles do not entail working with children, may on occasion work on projects that involve supervised contact with children. In such circumstances, they will be required to complete a Child Protection Personal Disclosure form. Staff who disclose that they have been convicted of any offence relating to children and young people; and/or disciplinary action or sanction relating to children, will not be permitted to work on any production/project which involves children.

 

In cases where a role entails regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children a DBS disclosure will be required before the role is undertaken. The appointed Child Protection Officer will check at regular intervals to see if a DBS in place needs renewing.

 

Management responsibility – Child Protection Officer:

 

Derwena Burt shall be the company’s Child Safeguarding Officer and with the advice of other Carlam Senior Management will decide which positions require DBS disclosures. Derwena Burt will be the focal point for all child protection issues.

 

The Child Safeguarding Officer should be contacted if staff believe that a child may be at risk of harm, and/ or staff are told by a child or young person of a child welfare issue.

 

The Procedures for concerns regarding children and young persons under the Company’s control are set out in Appendix A.

 

Health and Safety

 

Carlam’s Health and Safety policy gives guidance to those whose roles involve working with children and young persons.

 

A full health and safety risk assessment will be completed before bringing any child onto a location or set. Where a child or young person is involved, the risk assessment must take account of their particular vulnerabilities, which will include child protection.

 

The risk assessment should also set out what arrangements are in place for their care and supervision, e.g. by a school, parent, guardian or chaperone and how these arrangements will be communicated to the appropriate parties. It is recommended that during a production an appropriate person – a child “buddy” – is given responsibility to oversee, check and document the child’s welfare throughout and it is prudent that the child’s parent or guardian has access to this person throughout the production.

 

Carlam will always work within statutory hours allowed for working with children; tutoring will be provided in line with current legislation as required. Particular attention will be given to scheduling in regular rest breaks and ensuring that refreshments are provided.

 

Appropriate clothing and facilities will always be provided according to the conditions involved for filming, i.e. warm, dry shelter if filming in cold weather; water/sunscreen/shaded shelter from sun if filming in hot weather

 

Transport – Children

 

When children are being transported on behalf of Carlam they should be accompanied by a parent, guardian, chaperone or teacher

 

All children for whom a licence is required during engagement with the Producer must be accompanied by their registered chaperone or parent whilst travelling. The registered chaperone is the name that appears on the LEA licence.

 

In the very exceptional cases where a child who does not require a licence is to be transported unaccompanied by their parent, guardian, chaperone or teacher, this must be with taxi companies that provide drivers with suitable background checks and satisfactory DBS disclosures (approved taxi companies), or by a member of staff who has a satisfactory DBS disclosure, and in either case only with the specific prior consent of their parent or guardian.

 

Transport – Young Persons

 

A Young Person is someone who is over school leaving age, so does not require a licence or chaperone, but is under 18)

 

Young persons engaged on productions who may travel unaccompanied, on behalf of Carlam should be transported by approved taxi companies or a member of staff who has a satisfactory DBS check. Written parental/ guardian consent should be sought for this.

 

Accommodation - Children

 

Any child will be accompanied by a registered LEA chaperone if required to stay overnight on any production. Should a Parent/Guardian prefer to accompany and stay overnight with their child then this wish should be respected.

 

Young Persons (a Young Person is someone who is over school leaving age, but under 18)

 

Written parental/ guardian consent will be sought before a Young Person is asked to stay unaccompanied overnight in accommodation

 

Other general welfare considerations set out under the Ofcom Broadcasting Code

 

In addition to having in place appropriate essential Child Protection procedures, Carlam shall seek to comply with the general welfare obligations for children set out for broadcasters under the Ofcom Broadcasting Code:

 

Home - Ofcom

 

• The Broadcasting Code sets out the following duties of care for Broadcasters: 

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• Due care must be taken over the physical and emotional welfare and the dignity of people under eighteen who take part or are otherwise involved in programmes. This is irrespective of any consent given by the participant or by a parent, guardian or other person over the age of eighteen in loco parentis. 

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• Children under eighteen must not be caused unnecessary distress or anxiety by their involvement in programmes or by the broadcast of those programmes. 

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• Prizes aimed at children must be appropriate to the age range of both the target audience and the participants.

 

In order to ensure compliance with the Code Carlam shall also seek to adhere to any guidance issued by Ofcom from time to time that underpins these broadcaster duties. (See www.ofcom.org.uk). In addition, the producer should also liaise closely with those editorially responsible for the programme and with the broadcaster’s compliance and legal officers, as appropriate.

 

Appendix A

 

Concerns regarding children and young persons under the company’s control.

 

Any person working on behalf of Carlam who is concerned about a child or young person involved with the company should refer the matter to the nominated child protection officer / manager.

 

Based on the circumstances allegations of harm will be dealt with in the following way:

 

Where it is believed that a child or young person may have been abused, harmed or may be at imminent risk of harm:

 

• Contact the police and/or social services 

 

Where it is believed the child or young person is not at imminent risk of harm, but there are concerns:

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• The nominated child protection officer manager will clarify the concerns, record information and alert line management and decide a course of action

• A course of action may include:

 

1. Contacting the police;

2. Seeking guidance from social services and/or child protection agencies;

3. Investigation, followed by course of action agreed and implemented;

4. If concerns remain, agree to monitor and review the situation;

5. Record concerns, but further action not taken.

 

Allegations made against Staff would trigger an investigation and formal disciplinary process (as appropriate).

 

 

General links of relevance:

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Child protection system for Wales | NSPCC Learning

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Safeguarding Wales

 

Home - Ofcom

 

Disclosure and Barring Service - GOV.UK

 

http://www.isa.homeoffice.gov.uk/

 

CEOP Education

 

https://www.gov.wales/sites/default/files/publications/2019-07/working-together-tosafeguard-people-information-sharing-to-safeguard-children.pdf

 

Definitions of Child Abuse and Neglect :

 

          Harm means abuse or the impairment of (a) physical or mental health, or (b) physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development.’

 

          Abuse can take place in any setting whether in a private dwelling, an institution or any other place.

 

Useful link: Safeguarding Wales

 

A child is abused or neglected when somebody inflicts harm, or fails to act to prevent harm. A child or young person up to the age of 18 years can suffer abuse or neglect and require protection.

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• Physical Abuse - May involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning or suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child.

 

Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates or induces illness in a child whom they are looking after.

 

• Sexual Abuse - Forcing or enticing a child/young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not they are aware of what is happening, may involve: physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts; non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of pornographic material or watching sexual activities; or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

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• Neglect - Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

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• Emotional Abuse - The persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional and behavioural development. It may involve conveying to the child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age and developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. It may involve causing children to feel frightened or in danger, for example witnessing domestic abuse within the home or being bullied, or the exploitation or corruption of children.

 

Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment of a child, though it may occur alone

 

• Financial Abuse

 

This category will be less prevalent for a child but indicators could be:

1. not meeting their needs for care and support which are provided through direct payments; or

2. complaints that personal property is missing

 

Online Abuse - Online abuse takes a number of forms: 

 

• Cyberbullying – estimates of the number of children affected by cyberbullying vary between 6-25%+, depending on measures, and the reasons for victimisation are diverse. 

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• Sexting and sexual harassment – such forms of online sexual abuse are often associated with developing intimate relationships as teenagers. The wider context matters - the prevalence of gender inequalities, sexual stereotypes and coercion, and a lack of understanding of consent all serve to blur the boundaries between sexting and sexual harassment. Girls are more at risk, although there are also grounds for concern about boys, who can also be sexually harassed and are abused online. 

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• Online pornography – estimated prevalence varies, again by age and gender, but some estimates suggest the vast majority of teenagers have viewed pornography online; there is qualified evidence of adverse effects, including that children may be learning about sex from pornography, hence the importance of relationship and sexuality education. 

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• Sexual abuse online – research suggests this may affect up to one in ten children. This involves online grooming to facilitate online sexual abuse including securing images or video content and/or offline sexual abuse. This can include encouraging or asking a child to take and share explicit images of themselves; encouraging or asking a child to film themselves or to participate in live streaming of themselves performing a sexual activity. 

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• It is important to be aware that non-contact sexual abuse that may occur via live streaming or still images can include serious acts of sexual harm. 

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• Online Radicalisation – The internet and social media are also used by extremists and terrorists to promote their ideology and recruit or radicalise people, including young people.

 

Suspicion of Abuse

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If you see or suspect abuse of a child, immediately make this known to the designated individual/manager responsible for child protection.

 

Disclosure of Abuse

If a child tells you that they or another child or young person is being abused:-

 

• Always stop and listen straight away, show that you take their allegations seriously.

• Encourage the child to talk, but do not ask leading questions, interrupt or ask the child to repeat itself.

• Never promise that you will keep what is said confidential or secret – explain that if you are told something of concern that you will need to let someone know but that you will only tell the people who need to know and can help.

• Record what you have been told accurately and as soon as possible. Use the child‘s own words. Make a note of the time, location, whether anyone else present and of the Child’s demeanor.

• Ensure that your concerns are reported immediately to the designated individual/manager DERWENA BURT

• Do not confront the alleged abuser.

 

DO NOT worry that you might be mistaken; you have a responsibility to pass on your concerns following a disclosure. Never think abuse is impossible, or that an accusation about a person you know well and trust is bound to be wrong.

 

IT IS YOUR DUTY TO REFER CONCERNS ON, NOT TO INVESTIGATE

 

The Designated Individuals/Managers for child protection and safeguarding

 

Name    DERWENA BURT [BROADCAST]

 

Position in company HEAD OF PRODUCTION

Contact details : 07798 602596