Safeguarding Policies

Lighthouse is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all. This includes safeguarding children, young people and all other participants across our activities, and a zero tolerance of any behaviour that constitutes discrimination, bullying or harassment of any form. All staff and volunteers are expected to share this commitment, and the principles of this statement extend to our expectations of contractors, visitors, and others in the Lighthouse community.

Our Safeguarding Children & Young People and Bullying & Harassment policies outline the processes and procedures we have in place to counter and deal with misconduct, and provide information and guidance to anyone who experiences or witnesses inappropriate, threatening or unwanted behaviour.

Safeguarding Children & Young People

Lighthouse is a leading digital arts organisation that produces a year round programme of exhibitions, film events, mentoring schemes, education projects and short courses. Our premises contain a public gallery space, admin offices, rented workspaces and meeting rooms. Children and vulnerable adults visit the premises to attend exhibitions and events, and are usually accompanied by parents or carers. We also work with children and young people through various projects and schemes, both on and off the premises.

Child Protection is protecting children from abuse and neglect. Child Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding means:

• Protecting children from abuse and maltreatment
• Preventing harm to children’s health or development
• Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
• Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes

Policy Remit

• Lighthouse is committed to providing a safe and protected environment for children and vulnerable adults visiting the premises or participating in off-site projects and events.
• For the purpose of this policy, a child is anyone under the age of 18. A vulnerable adult is someone who may be at risk because of their age, ill health, or physical or mental ability.
• Lighthouse believes that every child, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial or ethnic origin, religious belief and sexual identity has the right to be protected from abuse and harm.
• Child protection is the responsibility of every adult who has involvement with children. It is the duty of all staff and volunteers working for Lighthouse to prevent the physical, sexual or emotional abuse of children with whom they come into contact through the course of their employment.
• Adults working with children must also be provided with safeguards and made aware of best practice so they can safeguard children while protecting themselves against wrongful allegations.
• This policy applies to all Lighthouse employees, trustees and volunteers
• This policy has been drawn up on the basis of law and guidance that seeks to protect children listed as follows:

Children’s Act 1989, United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991, Data Protection Act 2018, Human Rights Act 1998, Sexual offences Act 2003, Children Act 2004, Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006, Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, Children and Families Act 2014, Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) code of practice 0-25 yrs. – HM Government 2014, Information Sharing Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people and parents and carers HM Government 2015, Working Together to Safeguard Children HM Government 2015; revised 2018

Awareness and Prevention

• Lighthouse recognises there are four main types of abuse suffered by children. These are physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.
• Lighthouse staff, trustees and volunteers should be made aware of the child protection policy through training and induction.
• Through awareness and good practice, Lighthouse employees can minimise the risk of abuse to children and also protect themselves against false allegations of abuse.
• Lighthouse is committed to careful planning and appropriate management of its exhibitions, activities, projects and events, so that the risk of abuse or harm to children is minimised.

Recruitment

• Lighthouse staff, trustees and volunteers are carefully selected, trained and monitored to ensure that children with whom they may come into contact are protected.

• If a Lighthouse member of staff, volunteer or facilitator is required to have regular or unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults they will be expected to complete a satisfactory DBS check.

Child Protection Officer

Lighthouse has a designated member of staff to act as a Child Protection Officer (CPO) for the organisation.

• The CPO is: Emma Wickham, Head of Operations
• The deputy CPO is: Alli Beddoes, CEO/Artistic Director

The CPO is responsible for the following:

• To keep informed about legislation and policies, and to review and update company policy regularly
• To have regular training and to make sure that all staff and volunteers follow good practice guidelines.
• To be the main point of contact for staff and volunteers when reporting an incident, allegation, suspicion or concern.
• To decide what action is required after having an incident, allegation, suspicion or concern reported, and to make any necessary contact with social services or the police.
• To record reported incidents and to provide information to the Chief Executive regarding the number, nature and outcomes of referrals made.
• A second named CPO will also undertake regular training and will deputise for the CPO in his or her absence.

Lighthouse also has a lead member for child and vulnerable adult protection on its Board of Trustees.

• This person is: Michael Cole, Trustee