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Applied safeguarding for dance events ISTD member and safeguarding expert, Kayleigh Chambers, takes a comprehensive look at safeguarding best practices for your events. Standing Items
Risk Assessments • Policies • Designated Safeguarding Lead • Body of Persons Applications
Kayleigh Chambers, who holds a BA (Hons) in Education and Early Childhood Studies, has over 15 years of experience in child protection and safeguarding. As the head of Chambers Dance, what follows is her helpful advice on safeguarding at dance events. The latest ISTD member survey showed that 57% of members wanted more support with safeguarding. Here we will look at good safeguarding practice when we’re away from the comfort of our own studios. As always, most of the hard work is done ‘behind the scenes’ – or in advance. So let’s go through a timeline of what we need to plan safe events:
Planning the event
Hair, makeup and costumes • Chaperones • Travel • Consent
Standing Items There are certain things we should already have in place so when we plan events, they either already exist, or require minor amendments to be specific for the event. These include: Risk Assessments – Risk assessments need to be relevant and usable. Have a template structure and think about;
Policies – Dance school may carry a range of policies which can be adapted or can include attending events. These might include • Social Media • Photography • Safeguarding Children • Safeguarding Adults
• What are the hazards?
• Health & Safety
• Who might be harmed, and how?
• Equality / Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
• What are you already doing to control the risks?
• Complaints procedure
• What further action do you need to take to control the risks? • Who needs to carry out the action? • When is the action needed by? 12 Dance | Issue 502
• First Aid
Designated Safeguarding Lead – Each setting or event should have a Designated Safeguarding lead (DSL). Ensure it is someone who is appropriately trained and equipped, then ask them to help with the planning, risk assessments and policy reviews. Body of Persons Applications – BOPA exists to ensure the safety and welfare of attending/performing children. A BOPA licenses the event rather than the individual performer and can be valid for a year. These are issued by the Local Authority in which the event is being held so they vary slightly between authorities.
