Child protection and safeguarding

Design Club's safeguarding policy

Introduction

Design Club mentors work with children and young people, and should follow best practice for safeguarding. This section contains essential advice. You should also ask the school (or venue) if they have their own safeguarding policy. And find out if they need you to have an enhanced DBS check.

Advice for working with children

• Do think about what you wear. Eg: avoid swearwords or nudity on t-shirts

• Do not be left alone with a child. Remove yourself from any situation where you might find yourself alone with a child. Eg: do not accompany a child to the toilet.

• Do not make physical contact. Manage personal space and be aware of what may be perceived as inappropriate contact. Avoid contact if at all possible.

• Do not share your personal details or befriend online. Use your first name only.

• Do not share your social media details with young people.

• Do not take photos or video without permission. To take photos of children (under 16 years old) you will need to gain consent from their parent or caregiver. Use our image release form. You can either ask the school to arrange this in advance or send it home with the children after your first session.

• Do not keep personal data of the children.

What to do if you are concerned about a child

It's unlikely that a child in your care will make a disclosure to you about any type of abuse that is happening to them, but you need to know what to do should this happen. Here are some steps to follow:

• If a young person chooses to disclose something to you, avoid being in a room alone (or if unavoidable leave the door open). Avoid physical contact.

• Inform them that it is good that they have decided to tell someone.

• Listen carefully and empathetically.

• Do not promise confidentiality to the young person – you must inform them that you will have to tell someone.

• Write down all details you remember as soon as you can.

• Contact the school (or event manager) as soon as possible and ask to speak with the person who deals with safeguarding disclosures.

What to do if you are concerned about another adult in a position of caregiving

• Write down as soon as you can all details of any incident that has caused you concern.

• Contact the school (or event manager) as soon as possible and ask to speak to the person who deals with safeguarding disclosures.