Safeguarding Children Policy

1. Introduction 

1.1 DMA is a for-profit organisation. 

1.2 DMAs registered address is at: Suite 10-12 Mezzanine Floor, Royal Liver Building, Pier Head, Liverpool, L3 1HU (DMA does not offer any services at this location).

1.3 DMA is managed by a management team. One of the management team has particular responsibility for safeguarding children. 

1.4 The management team has adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects every adult working or helping at DMA to support it and comply with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all staff, managers, trustees, directors, volunteers, clients, parents/guardians or anyone working on behalf of DMA. 

2. Purpose of the policy 

2.1 This policy is intended to protect children and young people who receive any sessions or service from us, including those who are the children of adults who may receive sessions or services from us. 

2.2 As an organisation we believe that no child or young person should experience abuse or harm and are committed to the protection of children and young people and this policy is intended to provide guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding. 

3. The risks to children 

3.1 Nearly every child grows up in a safe and happy environment and it is important not to exaggerate or overestimate the dangers. Nevertheless, there are situations where children may be vulnerable to neglect and abuse or exploitation from within their family and from individuals they come across in their daily lives. Abuse can take a variety of different forms: 

  • sexual, physical, emotional abuse, and neglect

  • grooming

  • exploitation by criminal gangs and organised crime groups

  • trafficking and modern slavery

  • domestic abuse

  • financial abuse

  • discriminatory abuse

  • inappropriate supervision by staff or volunteers (organisational abuse)

  • bullying, cyber bullying, acts of violence and aggression on site

  • online abuse

  • victimisation

  • self-harm

  • unsafe environments and activities

  • influences of extremism leading to radicalisation


    3.2 Safeguarding children is defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children as:

  • protecting children from maltreatment

  • preventing impairment of children’s health or development

  • ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes

4. Universality of protection 

4.1 We recognise that:

  • the welfare of the child is paramount

  • all children regardless of race, gender, religious belief, disability, age, sexual orientation or identity have a right to equal protection from harm

  • some children are more vulnerable to harm as a result of their circumstances, prior experiences, communication needs or level of dependency

  • working with children, young people, their parents and/or guardians, carers or other agencies is essential to protecting their wellbeing

5. Safeguarding children at events / activities 

5.1 At events and activities for unaccompanied children, children under the age of 16 must be enrolled by a responsible adult before being left with the event leader. The enrolment must record the child's name, age and address and the names and addresses of the child's parents, plus the parents' mobile telephone numbers. Young people aged 16 or 17 may attend unaccompanied if they bring the written consent and mobile telephone number of one of their parents. 

5.2 Both event and activities are to be defined broadly to include any occasions where DMA will be providing a service. 


6. Disclosure and barring 

6.1 DMA offers the following activities for children: private coaching, online coaching, weekly classes, elite masterclasses, self tape auditions, self tape demo reel, voice coaching and industry consultations.

6.2 Some of our activities may therefore require adult participants or adult leaders to undergo DBS and/or police checks under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006. The required level of checking (if any) will broadly reflect the degree and frequency of unsupervised access given to other people's children. Most coaches will also hold a child chaperone license as appropriate. 

6.3 The management team will take very seriously any allegation of impropriety on the part of any member of DMA. A member of DMA who discovers anything amiss should get in touch immediately with the following: Dominique Moore.

6.4 The management team will review the allegation and the likely risk to children and, if appropriate, will consider banning the member from future events or revoking his or her membership or both, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of DMA 

7. Health and safety aspects of safeguarding children 

7.1 Before starting any event for unaccompanied children, the management team will carry out a risk assessment and then take steps to minimise all risks to health and safety. Parents/guardians and children will be made aware of any particular risks and of the steps to be taken to minimise those risks. The management team will keep a record of all risk assessments. 

7.2 Sufficient adults must be present at any event for unaccompanied children to enable one adult to deal with any emergency while another adult supervises the children not directly affected by the emergency. 

8. Policy on the prevention of bullying 

8.1 We will not tolerate the bullying of children either by adults or by other children. If any incident of child-on-child bullying should arise at a DMA session or service, those involved will be separated immediately and the parents of the children involved will be asked to deal with the matter. The Team will review all incidents of child-on-child bullying and assess the likely future risk to children. If appropriate, the Team will consider banning a child from future events, but only in full accordance with the rules and procedures of DMA. Allegations of adults bullying children will be dealt with under paragraph 6.3 above. 

9. Photographing children 

9.1 No photos will be taken or published of any child attending a session or service unless prior written permission is sought from a person with parental responsibility. If any person has any concerns regarding any person taking photos at an event or activity, that person should contact DMA immediately. 

10. Managing behaviour, discipline and acceptable restrain

10.1 Adults supervising children at DMA sessions or services must never use any form of corporal punishment. If physical restraint is absolutely necessary to prevent injury to any person or to prevent serious damage to property, then the minimum necessary restraint may be used — but for that purpose only. 

10.2 Unacceptable behaviour at DMA for unaccompanied children will generally be stopped by separating the children from each other and from the group. The offenders will be suitably supervised and will be returned as soon as possible to the care of their parents/guardians. 

10.3 DMA may apply a further disciplinary sanction; namely the banning of the child from one or more future events over the following 18 months. 

10.4 A parent/guardian who is aggrieved by this ban may appeal to DMA who will hear the views of all relevant persons. The decision of DMA is then final. 

11. Legal Framework

11.1 This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of the key legislation is available from nspcc.org.uk/learning.

Note: This policy was approved by the following member of the management team on 3/8/2022 and is due for review every 2 years: Dominique Moore.