Overview 
Commitment to safeguarding:  MusicMOB believes that a child, young person or adult at risk should never experience abuse of any kind. We recognise that we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk. We are committed to safeguarding the well-being of all children, young people and adults at risk we come into contact with and to protecting them from harm.
About this policy 
⦁    This policy applies to all trustees, staff (whether employees or freelances), volunteers and anyone working on behalf of MusicMOB or taking part in MusicMOB activities. 
⦁    The purpose of this policy is to provide trustees, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to the protection of all vulnerable people 
This policy recognises vulnerable people as:
⦁    Children up to the age of 16 or young people aged 16-18.
⦁    Adults aged over 18 at risk as defined by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. This might include adults with a learning or physical disability, a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs, or reduced physical or mental capacity. This policy also recognises risk is determined by the activity an adult is taking part in and not solely on the personal characteristics or circumstances of the adult, as such any adult can be at risk, and the risk can be temporary.
This policy aims to: 
⦁    Protect children, young people and vulnerable adults at risk. This includes those who receive services from, volunteer for, or are trustees of MusicMOB
⦁    Ensure trustees, staff and volunteers working with children, young people and adults at risk are carefully recruited and understand and accept responsibility for the safeguarding of those vulnerable individuals they are interacting with.
⦁    Ensure that safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk is a primary consideration when MusicMOB undertakes any activity, event or project.

How MusicMOB might work with vulnerable people: We provide funding for young people to access teaching in music theory and practice. We provide musical instruments and funding for support materials to learn musical skills. We put on concerts for the general public. As such our involvement with vulnerable people might include, but is not limited to: 
⦁    Teachers providing music tuition
⦁    Volunteers meeting with young people at school visits, loaning instruments or at public performances 
⦁    Relatives and friends of volunteers who attend meetings and concerts in a volunteering capacity 
⦁    Audience members at public concerts 

Named safeguarding person: Sue Turner has responsibility for safeguarding issues. All queries and concerns relating to safeguarding should be referred to Sue Turner in the first instance. All concerns will be taken seriously and if appropriate will be investigated and referred on to the appropriate authorities. If a concern is about the named safeguarding person, the concerns should be shared with the chairperson of the charity.
Any projects, events or other activities that will involve vulnerable people must be planned with the involvement of Sue Turner and in line with established procedures and ground rules (see below).
Procedures and ground rules: A further document – ‘Ground rules, ways of working and procedures’ is available and forms part of this policy. 
Policy review: This policy will be reviewed and amended (if necessary) on an annual basis by the Board of Trustees. It will also be reviewed in response to changes in relevant legislation, good practice, or in response to an identified failing in its effectiveness.
 

Safeguarding policy –MusicMOB- Ground rules, ways of working and procedures 
This document forms part of the MusicMOB Safeguarding policy
⦁    The policy applies to all trustees, staff (whether employees or freelances), volunteers and anyone working on behalf of MusicMOB or taking part in MusicMOB activities. 
⦁    The purpose of this policy is to provide trustees, staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to the protection of vulnerable people. 
⦁    This policy recognises vulnerable people as:
⦁    Children up to the age of 16 or young people aged 16-18.
⦁    Adults aged over 18 at risk including those defined as vulnerable by the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006; this might include adults with a learning or physical disability, a physical or mental illness, chronic or otherwise, including an addiction to alcohol or drugs, or reduced physical or mental capacity.
This document includes: 
⦁    Recruitment practices around safeguarding
⦁    Ground rules and ways for working regarding safeguarding of vulnerable people
⦁    Procedures for raising safeguarding concerns and incidents of abuse 
⦁    Procedures for dealing with concerns and incident of abuse 
Recruitment practices around safeguarding
If an existing or potential new trustee, staff member or volunteer will be working with vulnerable people as part of MusicMOB activities the appropriate level of DBS will be requested before that work is undertaken. 
The level of DBS check required will be decided by the Safeguarding officer and in line with DBS rules regarding regulated activity. The results of any check to inform a decision will be used confidentially. 
All those teachers providing music teaching funded by MUSICMOB will be required to provide evidence of an Enhanced DBS check before being recognised as a suitable provider of music education by MUSICMOB
Ground rules and ways for working regarding safeguarding of vulnerable people
When MusicMOB organises an activity or event where it will be responsible for vulnerable people it will ensure:
⦁    Planning is carried out in line with this policy and procedures.
⦁    The event is attended by an appropriate number of DBS checked adults – this will be a minimum of one but more when practically possible.
⦁    Where practically possible the total number of adults in attendance (not necessarily DBS checked) compared with the total number of children will be in line with the ratio table below  - as per Ofsted recommendations. 
⦁    There is a main contact for safeguarding on the day - this will be an individual who has been DBS checked. 
⦁    The main contact has access to emergency contact details and other relevant details (e.g. information about picking up arrangements for vulnerable people). 
⦁    That if vulnerable people of different gender will be taking part in activities adults of different gender will be in attendance too.
⦁    A vulnerable person is not be left alone with an adult, unless that adult is DBS checked and carrying out regulated activity.  
⦁    Two adults (one DBS checked) should be the last to leave a venue once the activity has finished and will be responsible for ensuring vulnerable people get home safely. 

Child to adult ratio table 
Childs age    Number of adults     Number of children 
0-2    1    3
2-3    1    4
4-8    1    6
9-12    1    8
12-18    1    10

Working with parents/guardians: If a vulnerable person wishes to take part in MusicMOB activities written permission (email is fine) should be obtained from parents/guardians where appropriate, and before the activity takes place. Written permission should include: emergency contact details of any relevant pick-up arrangements – including permission for another adult to pick up the vulnerable person after the activity has finished.

 

Procedures for raising safeguarding concerns and incidents of abuse 
⦁    If any trustee, staff or volunteer in MusicMOB witnesses, suspects or is informed of a witnessed or suspected case of abuse they should immediately report it to the named safeguarding officer; Sue Turner.
⦁    If the named person is not available, or is involved in or connected to, the abuse, it should be reported to the chair of trustees or a DBS checked adult.
⦁    If an individual wishes to report an incident of abuse against themselves, they should report it to the named safeguarding officer or an individual they trust. 

Reports of a safeguarding concern can reach MusicMOB through various routes. This may be in a structured format such as a letter, e-mail, text or message on social media sent to trustee or volunteer or the MusicMOB  Safeguarding Focal Point person.  It may also be in the form of informal discussion or rumour.  If a volunteer or associated person receives a report or hears something in an informal discussion that they think is a safeguarding concern, they should report this to an appropriate person 

If a safeguarding concern is disclosed directly to a volunteer or associated person, the person receiving the report should bear the following in mind:
⦁    Listen carefully 
⦁    Ask who, when, where, what but not why 
⦁    Repeat/ check your understanding of the situation 
⦁    Report to an appropriate person (see below)
⦁    
The person who received the report should then work with an appropriate person to document the following information, using an Incident Report Form (see Annex A):
⦁    Name of person making report
⦁    Name(s) of alleged victim/survivor(s) of safeguarding incident(s) if different from above
⦁    Name(s) of alleged perpetrator(s)
⦁    Description of incident(s)
⦁    Dates(s), times(s) and location(s) of incident 

The Incident Report Form should be sent to an appropriate person within 24 hours and received by the MusicMOB’s Safeguarding lead within 48 hours.

Due to the sensitive nature of safeguarding concerns, confidentiality must be maintained during all stages of the reporting process, and information shared on a limited ‘need to know’ basis only.  

If the reporting person is not satisfied that the organisation is appropriately addressing the report, they have a right to escalate the report to the Chair of MusicMOB or to an external statutory body.

Procedures for dealing with concerns and incidents of abuse 
The Named person (or person reported in their absence) will first make a decision based on the immediacy of the concern and the following two factors: 
⦁    If the vulnerable person is in immediate danger or needs emergency medical attention – call the police and/or ambulance service. 
⦁    If the person at the centre of the allegation is working with vulnerable persons at the current time – remove them, in a sensitive manner, from direct contact with vulnerable people and follow the procedures below.
If none of the above applies the named person will: 
⦁    Make a note of the concerns reported to them.
⦁    Speak with committee members to decide how to handle the reported abuse (excluding any committee member who may be involved in the incident. 
⦁    Escalate the report by either: 
⦁    Raising concerns with the police – for serious or possible criminal offences. 
⦁    Requesting an assessment by the local authority social care department about whether a vulnerable person is in need of protection.
⦁    An internal investigation – for less serious incidents where they feel internal mediation will be successful. 

⦁    Where cases are escalated the committee will cooperate with the police or local authority in dealing with the reported incident. 
⦁    Where an internal investigation takes place, the committee will: 
⦁    Inform all parties involved of the reported abuse as soon as possible. 
⦁    Inform the family/guardians of the person reported as being been abused of the incident. 
⦁    Arrange separate meetings with both parties within 10 days of the reported incident. A joint meeting may be arranged if appropriate.
⦁    Both parties should be given the chance to bring a friend or representative to the meeting.
⦁    Meetings will be attended by the named safeguarding officer and at least one other trustee who should also have an up to date DBS check and recent safeguarding training. 
⦁    All parties will also be invited to submit a written statement in advance of the meeting.
⦁    Once meetings have taken place the committee will decide on next steps and communicate them to all parties in writing within 5 days. They will be either: 
⦁    Escalation of the incident to the relevant authority. 
⦁    Further investigation – with established procedures and timelines to work towards a resolution.
⦁    A decision or resolution. 

Resolution and disciplinary action 
⦁    If abuse is found to have taken place any final resolution or decision will be taken first in the best interest of the person who has suffered the abuse and secondly the best interests of MusicMOB
⦁    Any disciplinary action will be taken in line with the MusicMOB constitution.