EAST HARPTREE PAVILION SAFEGUARDING POLICY
This statement of policy and procedures applies to users of, and activities in, East Harptree Pavilion and any ancillary activities which are the responsibility of the Village Hall & Playing Fields Committee.
• This policy is in place to protect all children (defined as anyone who has not reached their 18th birthday) and vulnerable adults regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality, religion or faith. The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount and is the responsibility of everyone. All children and vulnerable adults have the right to protection from abuse whether physical, verbal, sexual, bullying, exclusion or neglect.
• All people associated with the East Harptree Pavilion and its use have a responsibility for the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
• East Harptree Village Hall & Playing Fields Committee will endeavour to keep the premises safe for use.
• East Harptree Village Hall & Playing Fields Committee expects that any adult working with children or vulnerable adults (elderly, mentally and/or physically disabled), and having unsupervised access, must be in possession of appropriate clearance such as DBS. It is the hirer's responsibility to ensure that such clearance is in place before the hiring takes place. The management committee may ask to see evidence of this. It is the hirer's responsibility to ensure that anyone who has not had this check is never left alone with a child or vulnerable adult.
• Hirers must satisfy themselves that the premises and facilities are suitable for their needs. Hirers need to be aware that facilities such as toilets may be shared with other groups and that appropriate supervision / arrangements should be made.
• Acceptance of the Pavilion's safeguarding policy is part of the agreed contract taken out on hiring the Hall. Any organisations or individuals hiring the hall for the purposes of holding activities involving children or vulnerable adults are confirming by agreeing to the terms and conditions of booking that they have appropriate safeguarding policy in place.
• Anyone visiting the Pavilion and wishing to take a photograph of a child or children should be aware that permission should be obtained from a parent or carer firstly to take the photograph and secondly to reproduce it. Photographs of children should only be used if written consent has been obtained from a parent, guardian or carer.
• No member of the Management Committee, hirers, volunteers or outside contractors will have unsupervised access to children or vulnerable adults unless in possession of appropriate clearance.
• The only exception to the above is when the Pavilion is hired out for a private children's party or other family activities. The Management Committee takes no action to vet the person(s) hiring the Pavilion for these one-off bookings.
• Members of the Management Committee do not supervise children or vulnerable adults as part of their duties.
• The Committee will ensure that hirers are made aware of their obligations under the Licensing Act 2003 to ensure that alcohol is not sold to those under the age of 18 and that no children may be admitted to films when they are below the age classification for the film on show.
• In the event of a child or vulnerable adult not being collected after an event, the responsibility of dealing with the situation rests solely with the hirer, who if necessary must seek advice or involvement from the authorities or Police.
• Any allegations of any incident that take place on the Pavilion site that are made to the committee will be reported to the relevant authorities. The committee will not carry out any investigation but will refer the matter to the police and the social services safeguarding teams.
Policy updated October 2023
Note:
Bath and North East Somerset Safeguarding Contacts Children and Adults
Normal working hours phone Virgin Care - 0300 247 0201
On evenings, weekends and bank holidays phone the Emergency Duty Social Work Team on 01454 615 165.
In the event of an emergency always ring the police on 999. The non-urgent police number is 101.