Youth Policies brief

Policies for young peoples’ leaders – Safeguarding your organisation and yourself

Social Media Interactive social media technology has transformed the way people communicate. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, blogs, instant messaging, photo and video social sites are increasingly popular, and provide an opportunity to connect with young people and vulnerable adults. With these advancements in the form of social networking sites, also come a range of potential safeguarding risks to young people, vulnerable adults and their leaders.

Avoid taking personal details of children and young people - Don't ask users to disclose any personal details - including home and email addresses, schools or mobile numbers – ask your leader for any child’s contact details if you need it.

Photos Be careful how you use images of children, young people and vulnerable adults Any image whether in pictures or videos of a young person and vulnerable adult can be used abusively to identify them and coax them through vulnerability. To counteract this risk: • Use models, sketches or illustrations instead of real images • If a child or vulnerable adult is named, do not use their image with the same document and viceversa - Usually, the leader would obtain parents' written consent to use photographs on web sites or other media for young people in their care.

Ratios Adult to children ratios is usually 1 adult to about 5-9 youngsters depending on the age of the children involved, the degree of risk involved and whether there are disability needs within the group. For younger membered groups, there should be more supervision and also in mixed gender groups, there should be a balanced corresponding male and female adult presence.

Importantly, there should always be a minimum of two adults present with any number of youngsters. This ensures a basic cover in the event of something coming up that engages the other adult during the session. One-to-ones with young people should be held in public places or with doors open for easy access to others. This should be a norm.

Welfare Injuries and illness Where adults witness an injury, the parents must contacted as soon as possible, as well as the leader.

Discipline When discipline is enforced, it should be with the clear intention of teaching or reinforcing appropriate behaviour. It must not be used impulsively, to gain power, or to embarrass or humiliate any young person.

©Tola Awe, 2010-11

Policies for young peoples’ leaders – Safeguarding your organisation and yourself Discipline should be used only to: • Develop a sense of responsibility for behaviour and respect for others and their property •

Remind young people about the rules or values of the organisation

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Reinforce general positive behaviour or attitudes

Sanctions The use of sanctions is an important element in the maintenance of discipline.

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Rules should be stated clearly and agreed as a group

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A warning should first be given if a rule is broken

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A sanction (for example, use of time out) should be applied if a rule is broken for a second time. The parents/guardians may be involved if persistent or mediation with leader.

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Sanctions should be used sparingly, to prevent abuse or loss of impact. Constant sanctioning and criticism can cause a child to deviate or lose interest.

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Integration after placing sanctions is important to re-engage a young person and stir their interest

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All or most sanctions need to be recorded and parents informed if they involve excluding a young person for any reason.

Physical contact Adults may need to use it to encourage, protect or comfort (depending on the agreed conduct in the group). The adult must explain the reason for the physical contact to the child, unless the situation is an emergency, even in which the adult should still ask the child for permission. Physical contact should not take place in secret or out of sight of others.

Vulnerability of those with a disability Please be reminded that children with any disability: • Have the same needs and require the same safeguards as all children •

May be unable to recognise abusive behaviour because they may have learning difficulties, a lack of awareness, or reduced exposure to normal of adult/child interactions. They may have difficulty for instance in distinguishing between a perverted touch from a caring one.

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Struggle with identity issues

Safeguarding Information Sharing One of the main issues of safeguarding is ensuring that all information relating to young people and concerns are shared with/or between relevant bodies (senior management adults) in order to protect the young people in their care. ©Tola Awe, 2010-11

Policies for young peoples’ leaders – Safeguarding your organisation and yourself

The Data Protection Act The Data Protection Act of 1998 provides a framework to ensure that personal information is handled properly; it is not a barrier to sharing information. It gives individuals the right to know what information is held about them.

Text, Chat and Email Messaging – Safeguarding The significant benefit of text messaging is that it is not only cheap or free, but it is one of the most direct forms of communication as most young people have mobile phones with them at all times.

For adults involved risks include: • • •

misinterpretation of their communication with young people potential investigation (internal or by statutory agencies like the police) potential disciplinary action for misinterpreted messages

Due to the many risks of communicating with written words, especially with young people, using mass texts i.e. the same text message being sent to several young people in a group or involved with a particular activity or programme should be encouraged.

Anti-bullying policy The individual young person should be taught to: • •

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Respect every individual’s feelings and views.

Understand and show that everyone is important and that our many differences make us unique, special and one of your kind.

Show appreciation of others by celebrating individual qualities, achievements and progress.

Bullying will not be accepted or condoned in the group. All forms of bullying are dealt with.

Bullying can include*: - Physical pushing, kicking, hitting, pinching etc.

- Name-calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, persistent teasing and emotional torment through ridicule, humiliation and the continual ignoring of individuals - Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures - Cyber bullying - Sexual comments and/or suggestions - Unwanted physical contact.

Where a child’s bullying behaviour is of a particularly violent or aggressive nature address the behaviour through behaviour management strategies or disciplinary measures within – the leader should be informed.

*Resources: Guide to Raising Exceptional Youngsters by Tola Awe ©Tola Awe, 2010-11