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The Big Screen Youth Academy (TBSYA)

Safeguarding Policy

(v. May 2026)

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to define how ‘The Big Screen Youth Academy’ (TBSYA) operates to safeguard children in order to;

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  • protect them from harm.

  • provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.

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We recognise we have a duty of care and we are committed to the protection and safety of everyone who comes into contact with our organisation, including children involved as visitors and as participants in all of our activities, both on and off-site. We also have a duty to safeguard and support our staff and volunteers.

This policy is a fundamental part of our governance responsibilities and priorities.  TBSYA managers’ responsibilities include ensuring that TBSYA provides a safe environment and protects staff, volunteers, and anyone who comes into contact with it from any form of abuse or maltreatment.

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We are committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects our legal responsibilities, government guidance and The Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership (KBSP)[1].  

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TBSYA recognises that it has responsibilities for the safety and care of children under the Children Act 1989 and 2004 and Working Together 2023. TBSYA will act in accordance with all relevant legislation, including the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, the Terrorism Act (2000) and the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

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This policy needs to be read in conjunction with the safeguarding procedures and the wider policies and procedures for TBSYA which, when combined, develop a comprehensive and more robust framework for safeguarding, including: 

 

  • Safeguarding Policy

  • Risk Assessment

  • Incident & Near Miss Form

  • Safegaurding Flowchart

  • Code of Conduct for Staff, Volunteers & Third-Parties– Internal Doc

  • Data Protection and Privacy Policy

  • Equal Opportunities Policy

  • Health and Safety & Environment Policy

  • Whistleblowing Policy & Procedure

  • Internal Conflicts of Interest Policy

  • Photography & Media Policy

  • Malpractice and Maladministration Policy

  • Complaints, grievances, and whistleblowing policy and procedure  

  • Learner Registration Policy & Procedure

  • Safer Recruitment & Human Resources & Disciplinary Policy & Procedures – Internal Doc

  • Participant Terms of Service

Definitions

  • Children are defined as those persons aged under 18 years old.

  • Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children is defined in Working Together 2023 as:

    • providing help and support to meet the needs of children as soon as problems emerge

    •  protecting children from maltreatment, whether that is within or outside the home, including online

    • preventing impairment of children’s mental and physical health or development

    • ensuring that children grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care

    • promoting the upbringing of children with their birth parents, or otherwise their family network through a kinship care arrangement, whenever possible and where this is in the best interests of the children

  • taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes in line with the outcomes set out in the Children’s Social Care National Framework.

Persons affected

This policy applies to everyone working/ volunteering on behalf of TBSYA, including the board members, paid staff, volunteers, sessional workers, contractors and agency staff.

Safeguarding Policy

  • We believe everyone has a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.

  • We recognise that while it is the responsibility of the relevant statutory agencies to determine whether or not abuse has taken place, it is everyone’s responsibility to report any concerns, and all staff, volunteers, board members, and contractors will know how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns.

  • We have a zero-tolerance approach to abuse. There are no excuses for not taking all reasonable actions to protect children at risk of abuse, exploitation, radicalisation and mistreatment.

  • We recognise that all children, whatever their age, ability, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity, have equal rights to protection from abuse.

  • We are committed to interagency collaboration and information sharing to safeguard children

  • We recognise the need to protect children from harm both in person and/or from cyber/ virtual risks.

 

  • We ensure all of TBSYA’s operations and activities are designed and delivered with effective safeguarding in mind to protect children from abuse.

We will keep children safe by;

 

  • Valuing, listening to and respecting them
     

  • Recognising;

  • The welfare of the child is paramount

  • All children have the right to protection from abuse

  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility

  • Professional curiosity is important in recognising and responding to safeguarding concerns

  • The importance of following information-sharing procedures in safeguarding

  • Providing effective management, induction training, regular refresher training and support for all staff, volunteers and board members to know about and follow our safeguarding policy and procedures for safeguarding children.

  • Using our safeguarding policies and procedures to share and report all safeguarding concerns to the relevant internal staff and external authorities swiftly and appropriately.

  • Using our safeguarding policies and procedures to share and manage any allegations of safeguarding concerns about staff or volunteers against a child/ren using the Local Authority Designated Officer process (Bristol LADO) which is highlighted in the safeguarding flowchart below.

  • We will make a clear distinction between an allegation, a concern about the quality of care or practice or a complaint. An allegation may relate to a person who works/volunteers with children who has:

    • behaved in a way that has harmed a child, or may have harmed a child;

    • possibly committed a criminal offence against or related to a child; or

    • behaved towards a child or children in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children.

  • Managing the risks of extremist or terrorist abuse: not supporting or enabling terrorism or other illegal conduct, such as hatred on the grounds of race, religion or sexual orientation.

  • Acting in an appropriate professional behaviour as set out in our Code of Conduct. Failure to maintain standards may result in disciplinary action, which is outlined in our Safer Recruitment & Human Resources & Disciplinary Policy & Procedures.

  • Recruiting and selecting staff and volunteers safely; ensuring all necessary checks are made, including on when to obtain a DBS check

  • Developing and implementing a comprehensive Cybersafety, IT and Social Media Policy. This plan aims to protect TBSYA, its staff, volunteers, and beneficiaries from the harms of cyber-attacks and other online risks.

  • Preventing and reporting extremism and radicalisation concerns

  • Recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance and our Data Protection and Privacy Policy

  • Having a culture that enables issues about safeguarding and promoting welfare to be addressed, and for staff/volunteers and board members to feel able to raise concerns and feel supported in fulfilling their safeguarding role.

  • Implementing effective safeguarding systems where;

    • The child’s needs are paramount, and staff, volunteers and board members use their professional judgement to put the child’s needs at the heart of the safeguarding system so that the right solution can be found for each individual.
       

  • Practising Professional Curiosity, understanding what life is like for the individual and being alert to the needs of children and any risks of harm that individual abusers, or potential abusers, may pose to children
     

  • Ensuring a senior manager leads takes leadership responsibility for TBSYA’s safeguarding arrangements.

  • Safeguarding procedures and emergency contact numbers will be made available to all staff members, volunteers, and board members.

  • Making our safeguarding children policy and procedures available on our website, and or on demand, for anyone using our services to know what to do if they have a concern.
     

  • Ensuring that we have effective Complaints, grievances, and whistleblowing policy and procedures 

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Review

This policy and related guidance will be monitored by Senior Managers and Board members on a regular basis for compliance and will be reviewed at least annually

 

 

Flowchart for referral for actual or suspected abuse

See it. Recognise it. Report it.

If the matter is urgent because a child is in immediate danger/risk of serious harm,
phone 999 for the Police.

 

 

 

See it.

Are they safe? If you are concerned about a child you could help stop abuse

if you follow the safeguarding policy and procedure (use this flowchart)

It is not your responsibility to decide if abuse has happened. It IS your responsibility to report it to the Safeguarding Lead and/or appropriate authority

 

 

 

Recognise it.

  • Every Local Authority has a statutory requirement to have a Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who is responsible for overseeing investigations into safeguarding concerns or allegations regarding an adult who works or volunteers with children and young people.

  • Refer to the LADO if your concerns meet the threshold for concern. The LADO Threshold refers to -

  • an allegation may relate to a person who works with children who has:

  • behaved in a way that has harmed a child or may have harmed a child

  • possibly committed a criminal offence related to a child

  • behaved in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children

  • behaved in a way that indicates they may not be suitable to work with children

  • Share your concerns/ information with the TBSYA Safeguarding Lead/ Deputy Safeguarding Lead.

  • If you need to discuss whether or not a referral is required, call the first response team 0117 903 6444 during office hours or contact the emergency duty team on 01454 615 165 outside of office hours.

  • If there is immediate danger to the child, call 999 for the Police.

  • Do not make any suggestions or promises (especially do not promise to keep anything secret/confidential).

  • Write down the incident asap – keep a factual account of events, only. Do not infer, make assumptions or guess what the child is talking about. 

 

 

 

 

Report it

Police: 999 if it is an emergency

Use the relevant incident reporting form and refer to a senior manager at TBSYA

Where necessary, complete the Local Authority Designated Officer Referral form and contact the Keeping Bristol Safe Partnership - on 0117 903 6444 during office hours, or to the emergency duty team on 01454 615 165 outside of office hours. Alternatively email lado@bristol.gov.uk

 

For further information see Bristol LADO -- Concerns About Professionals https://share.google/vaNLQNcJW9mprCnf9

 

USE the LADO Form if you believe it meets the threshold

 

 

 

Notes:

reporting for CYP

  • Parents/ carers should be advised that you are making a referral unless this might put the child at risk or cause any delay in referring
     

  • Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) Referrals
    If you have concerns about an adult working with a child under the age of 18 that you would like to report,  access the LADO page for more information
     

 

Remember ALL notes will be disclosable should a formal or criminal investigation occur. Ensure that your notes are signed, dated, professional, separate opinion from fact, are recorded verbatim using the same words as were used during the disclosure.

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[1] https://bristolsafeguarding.org/

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