Child Safeguarding Policy

The purpose and scope of this policy statement

The Edge Picture Company works with children and families on an occasional basis as part of our normal business activities.

These activities include: filming children and their families to create corporate and broadcast films for our clients.

The purpose of this policy statement is:

• To protect children and young people who work with us.
• To provide parents and staff with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
• To ensure we meet the legal requirements regards filming with children

This policy statement applies to anyone working on behalf of The Edge Picture Company, including senior managers and the Board, staff, freelancers, agency staff and students.

Legal framework

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in the UK. We will use the same framework worldwide as we believe the UK has some of the strongest safeguarding regulations.

We will at a minimum comply with the legal regulations around child employment regards to filming with children.

If we are filming with children of compulsory school age we will check whether the actor will require a Child Performance Licence.

Child Performance Licences are issued by the Education Welfare department of the local authority or borough in which the child resides, unless the child is at boarding school.

Timings

The Children (Performance) Regulations 1968 requires a licence applicant to give notice of 21 days. Whenever possible we will apply for the licence within this time frame. However, the absolute minimum amount of notice of seven days may be required on urgent productions.

In order to issue a short notice Child Performance Licence, the local authority will require all documentation to be submitted seven days before filming is due to take place.

Documentation required

There are currently two parts to the application

• Part 1 needs to be completed by the production company or the producer of the production
• Part 2 is completed by the child’s parent, carer or legal guardian

Other things we may need:

A letter authorising absence from school. This is only required if the child will be absent from school. It needs to be obtained from the school by the child’s parent, carer or legal guardian

A doctor’s or medical certificate.

It is a legal requirement that the child be supervised at all times by their parent/carer/legal guardian or a licensed chaperone.

We will need to inform the Education Welfare team who will be supervising the child.

Chaperones can only take responsibility for up to 12 children.

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 the child is paramount

• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
• Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues
• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• Valuing, listening to and respecting them
• Appointing a nominated child protection/safeguarding lead, a deputy child protection/safeguarding lead and a lead trustee/board member for safeguarding
• Developing child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures which reflect best practice
• Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
• Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
• Recruiting staff safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
• Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
• Implementing a code of conduct for staff
• Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
• Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
• Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people and staff, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
• Recording and storing information professionally and securely.

Related policies and procedures are available covering other aspects of our business.

 

Contact details

Nominated child protection lead

Name: Peter Burrows
Phone/email: peteb@edgepicture.com +44 (0) 20 7836 6262

Deputy child protection lead

Name(s): Norma Gaunt
Phone/email: norma@edgepicture.com +44 (0) 20 7836 6262

Senior lead for safeguarding and child protection

Name: Luigi Scibetta
Phone/email: luigi@edgepicture.com +44 (0) 20 7836 6262

 

Document Information

This policy will be reviewed and updated annually by the General Manager Luigi Scibetta and Operations Manager Peter Burrows.

Author:                        Peter Burrows
Updated:                     Jan 2020 by Peter Burrows
Version Number:         1.2
Review Date:               Jan  2021