CHILD AND YOUTH WELFARE POLICY VERSION 1.0

Transcription

1 CHILD AND YOUTH WELFARE POLICY VERSION 1.0

2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction Admissions Family Camping Radio Communication Welfare & Personnel Abuse Disclosure Fig Medical Treatment Social Disorder Missing & Found Children Definitions Found Child Upon Finding Fig Welfare Tent Procedure Fig Unclaimed Child Missing Child Fig Search Procedures Fig Teens/Youth Youth and alcohol or drugs Drink and Drugs Antisocial Behaviour APPENDIX 1 - ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 2 of 14 17/12/2015

3 1. Introduction As well as being one of the licensing objectives to ensure of the safety of children, the Festival recognizes its responsibility for the welfare of all children on site. This includes older children or youth not yet 18. The risks to children will vary depending upon the style and character of the event, the audience profile, the type of activities taking place, the age of the children and whether they are accompanied and supervised by a responsible adult and may include: Children being vulnerable to sexual or criminal predators Consumption of alcohol Children witnessing or being involved in substance misuse Anti-social behaviour Accidental harm Bullying Children who are unaccompanied/unsupervised Risks in relation to children involved in employment, entertainment or performance Children witnessing or being involved with inappropriate or dangerous adult behaviour In considering situations where child welfare is at stake, we will put the following policy into practice. 2. Admissions For information on admissions please see ESMP (section on Crowd Management, Security and Stewarding) and also Appendix 1 to this document, Acceptable forms of identification. 3. Family Camping For information on Family Camping, please see the Crowd Management Plan and Site Map. 4. Radio Communication Please refer to Appendix S - Communications Plan. 5. Welfare & Personnel Anyone onsite who is in a position to work with or keep safe a child for any length of time will be CRB checked and present credentials and references. These will be collected prior to the event and stored with the other health and safety documentation for concessions in Appendix E to the ESMP. The festival will have a Welfare Point. The purpose of this area is to provide 24hour support from a dedicated team of personnel who will perform such duties as: Mind children who are found (see definition below) until the parent or guardian can be located Help instigate the searching procedure for missing children (see definition below) COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 3 of 14 17/12/2015

4 Offer support to the festival medics and security who may have to deal with an under-aged persons when there is no parent / guardian available Offer information if requested on issues like protection of children s hearing, keeping your child safe at events, NSPCC or Childline numbers and so on. The Welfare Point will be managed by a Welfare Manager and a team of selected welfare crew. The Welfare Manager will report directly to the festival H&S Manager if there are incidents involving children. All personnel working with the Welfare Point will be enhanced DBS checked, insured and present references. The Welfare Manager takes direction and advice from SAFEchild (established in 1999, SAFEchild is a registered charity dedicated to child protection Abuse Disclosure If any child or teen should disclose information to a member of Festival staff in relation to suffering abuse then the festival will act responsibly. Likewise if a child is found to be neglected by the parent or guardian, the festival will take action. The child or youth will be minded by someone from the Welfare Point if they feel they need protection or support a call shall be placed to the Child Social Care (details can be found in Appendix C - Contacts) for advice on how to proceed and police shall be called if the incident warrants their involvement Fig 1 Abuse Disclosure Child discloses information to a member of staff In relation to suffering abuse. Security and Welfare are contacted and the child Is minded at the welfare tent with security present. If the child feels that they need protection or Support a call shall be placed to the relevant child social care For advice on how to proceed. Police shall be called if the incident warrants their involvement. COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 4 of 14 17/12/2015

5 7. Medical Treatment Any child needing medical treatment must be accompanied by their parent / guardian. If a life threatening occurrence has taken place requiring immediate medical attention and no parent/guardian is around, then lifesaving becomes the priority and every effort will be made to contact the responsible adult. No child or teen under 16 being treated will be released back to the festival without the presence of their parent or responsible adult. 8. Social Disorder Any child or youth having committed a crime or causing a social disorder will have their parent or guardian notified. The child or youth will be held by either Security with a Welfare member present or by Welfare until either the parent or guardian is located. No child or teen will be released back into the festival without the presence of their parent / guardian. 9. Missing & Found Children 9.1. Definitions The term lost child is often used to describe a child found without a parent / guardian or a child reported as missing by the parent or guardian. For the purpose of this policy and where possible within site conversations we will use the following terms: Found Child This is often what is meant when someone says they have a lost child. This is a situation where a child is found without their parent or guardian and needs to be safely looked after until the parent/guardian can be located. Missing Child This is where a parent/guardian cannot find their child and have asked for help. This is a very serious situation as the child may be in a position of danger and their safety compromised Found Child Most public on site finding a child who is lost will take them to the nearest official looking person. This will often be a festival steward in a hi-viz or security person in uniform or any obvious member of festival staff or crew. The following procedure will be put into place for a Found Child Upon Finding In being presented with a child, the best recourse for the steward, security or staff member is to stand still with the child for approximately 5 minutes. It is likely that the parents are nearby searching and will spot the nearest person in a hi viz or uniform. 1. If the steward/security is presented with a child and they have a radio, they should radio Welfare and say I m standing with Mr Moses. I ll get back to you soon. This is to log the fact that one of our members of staff is standing with a child. 2. The person standing with the found child may ask the child his name and also the name of the parent or guardian. This information can be used as back up information from the claiming adult. They may also call the number on the child s wrist band if there is one. COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 5 of 14 17/12/2015

6 3. If the parents see the child standing there, they will come up and claim him or her. The festival person with the child should ask the parent their name as a check that they are the correct person. If this happens, the person standing with the Found child needs to radio Child Welfare and report that Mr Moses is now reunited with his party. 4. If after 5 minutes no parent has come forward, then the child is now the responsibility of the Festival for keeping safe until the parent can be found. At this point, the member of staff will radio Welfare and say I m bringing Mr Moses to you. 5. The times when the radio calls are made will be logged to show that the member of staff has spent a recorded amount of time with the child. 6. If the staff member with the child has no radio, they look about for another member of staff to stand with them so that no one person is left alone with a child. If there is no one else, they should walk directly to the nearest Security or Steward with a radio. 7. If the found child is too young to speak, they should be taken directly to the Welfare Tent for minding Fig 2 Found Child Child presented to Festival staff Childs name ascertained and wrist band checked. No number present then member of staff waits with the child for 5 minutes. If phone no. present then Parents called No guardians have come forward or been Successfully contacted. Parents see child and member of staff Phone answered Welfare is Radioed And told that MR Moses is on the way. Family re-united Child Taken to Welfare Welfare Tent Procedure Once the found child is taken to the Child Welfare tent, one of the minders will take custody. 1. On taking in the child, the minder will fill in a simple form with information: who the child is, gender, age, where they were found etc. 2. They will see if the child is wearing a white wristband with a number and will call that number. If the parent answers, they will be told where to come to find their child. COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 6 of 14 17/12/2015

7 3. If the number is not answered or there is no wrist band, then the child will be kept safe and calm until the parent/guardian is located. There will be facilities in the Welfare Point to keep the child comfortable and entertained while waiting. NOTE: L Found Children will never be mixed with those receiving welfare attention due to medical or social causes. 4. No refreshments will be offered to the child other than water, as we have no information about allergies or special diets. 5. The child will be out of view of the public. That way the parent/guardian claiming the child must identify the child and that identity match the child being held before the child is brought to view and released. If the child shows any fear or hesitation in going to the parent/guardian then they will not be released. The Welfare personnel will radio for H&S Manager to attend and assess the situation. Security may be called along as back up. The ID of the parent/guardian will be asked for. 6. The claiming parent/guardian must sign a release form for the child Fig 3 Welfare Tent Procedure Welfare minder will fill in the child s information form. The Minder will search for clues to contact the parents/ guardians The child will be kept safe and calm and Away from welfare patients. The child will only be offered water as refreshment. Should the parents come to the welfare tent looking for their child the child will be kept out of view and they must give an accurate description of the child before they are allowed to see it. Should no parent arrive a description of the parents should be ascertained from the child if possible and a stage announcement made If the child shows any fear or hesitation in going to the parent/guardian then they will not be released. The Claiming Parent/ guardian must sign a release form. In an extreme case scenario, if the child has been held for a lengthy time, the Festival Management may have no recourse other than calling the police or the local Child Social Care. COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 7 of 14 17/12/2015

8 Unclaimed Child If the Welfare tent has held the child for over an hour with no parent/guardian coming forward, then the H&S Manager will be contacted. At this point, Festival Management must decide how to re-unite the child with their parent. Some of the decisions may include: 1. Making some stage announcements for Mr or Mrs xx to contact the nearest Security person or go to the Information Point. 2. Try to get a full description of the parent / guardian and put out search 3. In an extreme case scenario, if the child has been held for a lengthy time, the Festival Management may have no recourse other than calling the police or the local Child Social Care (Details in Appendix C - Contacts) Missing Child Most parents/guardians having realised that their child is missing will approach the nearest steward in a hi-viz, security person or obvious member of staff to find out what to do. The following procedure will be put into place for a Missing Child. 1. The Festival staff member shall direct the person to the Welfare Tent. If the security or steward has a radio, they will call Welfare and report: We are sending someone to talk to you about Mr Moses. 2. At the Welfare Point the person will be asked a few questions which will be logged onto a form: description of child, where last seen etc. 3. The Welfare team will then do one of the following. If they are minding a child of that description, they will reunite the child and parent. Parents will then sign the form to register that they have claimed their child. If they are not minding a child of that description, then we have a genuine missing child and immediate action is required as per the following points. 4. The information about the Missing Child will be called through to Security Control and the Event Radio Controller. They in turn will put out the message: We have an urgent message regarding Mr Moses please listen they will then give a brief description of the child and where last seen. 5. Security and stewards will begin the search procedure (see below). The Welfare Manger will ask the parents to either stay with them while the search goes on OR if the parent wishes to continue their own searching, ask for a contact mobile number so that the parent is informed once the child is found. 6. It is important to emphasise to the parent that they must let Information or a Security person know if they find the child themselves, as the search will continue until the child is found or reported missing to the police. 7. If the child is found by security, stewards or a Festival staff member, they must radio Welfare to say that they are coming in with the Mr Moses we have been looking for COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 8 of 14 17/12/2015

9 8. Once the child s identity has been confirmed as that of the Missing Child, Welfare will locate the parents and ask them to return. Procedure will be followed as above for a parent claiming a child Fig 4 Missing Child Festival staff will direct the parent or guardian to the Welfare tent. Welfare shall be contacted by the message we are sending someone to talk to You about Mr. Moses. If security spots the child they must radio Welfare and radio that they are coming with the Mr. Moses that they have been looking for. Welfare shall complete a form regarding the missing child. Info on the child will be called through to security and a search will begin. If the family find the child they must report back to welfare and security in order for them to call of the search. If a child of that description is being minded then they will be reunited. The parents must leave a contact number if they decide to go looking for their selves. Once the child s identity has been confirmed as the Missing child the family will be contacted and reunited Search Procedures Security and stewards will be most active in the search for missing children as these teams are spread across the site in all areas. However, other festival staff will be called in to keep an eye open for the child. This includes: on-site medics, campsite crew, festival site staff and all crew with radios. Procedure for carrying out a Missing Child search shall be as follows. COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 9 of 14 17/12/2015

10 1. Having received the call from Welfare that there is a missing Mr Moses, Security and Steward Control shall use their radio channel to contact all on Radio that We have a call to look for Mr Moses This is the key phrase to initiate the search. Event Radio Control will issue the same message. The radio calls will give a brief description of Mr Moses without giving a name (gender, ethnicity, clothing, hair & eye colour, last known location). Security and Stewards, particularly near the last known location will begin a search. Those assigned to a post that they cannot leave without jeopardising event safety will visually scour the area near them. Security and Stewards at gates into and out of the site will pay close attention to all children leaving with adults to ensure that no adult is trying to leave site with the missing child. Security and Steward Control has the option to assign mobile security persons a particular area or patch of the site to search. Those on active, mobile search will methodically check their area, looking inside marquees, tents, toilet areas and back stage/no go areas where a child may have roamed. 2. While Security and Steward Control have initiated their search Event Radio Control shall radio other channels to begin a search: The Medical crew will be contacted in case a child of that description has been brought in ill or injured. Any foot patrols will be asked to keep an eye out for the child Children s Activities Manager will be notified as some children return to play there and don t always tell the parent / guardian Campsite Welfare crew will be contacted and asked to watch movement of children within the campsite as the child may be trying to find their tent / caravan Site and Production will be told as they will be on the ground in various areas of the site and can help with the search 3. When the child has been located, the person finding the child will radio Welfare to say they are coming to the tent with the Mr Moses we were looking for. Welfare will to get in touch with the parents The child will be clearly identified as the one that was reported missing. Once this is established, Welfare will radio Security, Steward and Event Radio Controller to say we may have found Mr Moses - Stand by. Once parents have made a positive identification and claimed their child, Welfare will contact the radio control points to say all is OK, Mr Moses has been claimed The controllers will put the message across to all. If the child has not been found after one hour s search, then Festival Management will call an emergency meeting with Security and discuss the next step which may mean a lockdown on site, calling police for advice or help in searching for a missing person. Parents will be consulted during COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 10 of 14 17/12/2015

11 this decision process. If at any time there are concerns about the child s supervision then Social care will be informed Fig 5 Search Procedures Call received by security, and description given. Information shall be radioed through to stewards and All security detailing appearance but not name. Search will begin. Those who cannot leave their post will visually scour the area. Special interest shall be paid at the gates to ensure that no one is trying to leave with the child. All areas and structures must be searched by those mobile and on the ground, including toilets and marquees. Event control shall radio the medical team and other channels to begin a search. Foot patrols shall be asked to keep an eye out and the medical team will report back if they have a patient matching the description. Children s workshops shall be notified. Campsites will be monitored by security and welfare. When the child has been located the person who found the child will Radio through to welfare to say that they have the missing Mr Moses. The child must be clearly identified as the missing child, before welfare Contact security and event control and say that they may have found Mr Moses standby. COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 11 of 14 17/12/2015

12 10. Teens/Youth Youth and alcohol or drugs The only outlets for alcohol sales on site are all managed by the festival company, with experienced staff who will be aware of the necessity to sell alcohol responsibly. All bars will look for wristbands when selling alcohol and not sell to anyone wearing a teen wrist band. A Challenge 25 system will be in place and bar staff will ask for photo ID for anyone looking under 25 to back up the wristband system. Drugs are not tolerated at the festival and security measures are in place to stop drugs from coming onto site or dealing with any drug holders that may be found. Please see the Crowd Management Plan for further information. Should Security personnel notice alcohol in the hands of someone wearing a teen wrist band, the drink shall be confiscated and poured out. Should they notice drugs in the hands of a teen the young person will be detained and the procedure as described in section 10.2 shall be followed Drink and Drugs Despite all efforts to monitor alcohol and drugs on site, there may be instances when a teen may have had access to drink or a drug and has indulged to the point of illness or socially disruptive behaviour. In these instances, the following processes shall be adhered to. 1. Should Security, Stewards or any festival staff be presented with a youth who is ill or incapacitated due to intoxication of possible drug use, they shall be taken to the medical tent as soon as possible either on foot (if able to walk) or a medical unit will be called to them. 2. The medics on site will be trained and experienced in working with the conditions presented and their medical treatment, particularly of life threatening conditions will take priority. They will be in a position to ascertain the name of the young person. 3. Once the teen is out of danger medically but still in need of being watched, they will be handed to welfare. NOTE: The medics are not allowed to release anyone under 16 back into the festival without a parent / guardian no matter what condition they are in. If the youth is so incapacitated that they cannot give a name or they give a false name or the responsible adult/ guardian cannot be located, then that teen s welfare is the responsibility of the Festival Management under License Objective As long as the young person is being medically treated they are under the care of the medical personnel. 2. If medical treatment requires the young person to be taken to the hospital and no guardian / responsible adult has been located then police or Child Social Care shall be consulted regarding assuming responsibility once the young person has left site in the ambulance. Efforts will continue to contact the guardian. COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 12 of 14 17/12/2015

13 3. Should the personnel feel that the immediate treatment has been given, yet the youth is not ready to be released, the medics may pass the youth to welfare for further recovery. 4. If the youth has fully recovered and the medics feel they can be released and no name has been given or no guardian / responsible adult has been located on site, then Welfare will try to persuade the young person to contact the parent / guardian. They will mind the youth until the parent/guardian arrives or hand over to Police or Child Social Care who will assume responsibility. 5. No youth under 16 having received medical attention shall be released back into the festival unless released to their guardian / responsible adult Antisocial Behaviour Should Security be alerted to a social disorder situation that involves a teen, then that teen shall be held, their name taken and as with a medical situation, Welfare will attempt to locate the guardian / responsible adult who accompanied that teen. If a false name has been given or the guardian / responsible adult not located then Welfare will consult with Festival Management about informing police of the situation and Police will then assume responsibility for the young person. Every effort will continue to locate the guardian / responsible adult on site and no youth having been held by security shall be released back into the festival unless released to their guardian / responsible adult. 11. APPENDIX 1 - ACCEPTABLE FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION Age verification policy (1) The premises licence holder or club premises certificate holder shall ensure that an age verification policy applies to the premises in relation to the sale or supply of alcohol (2) The policy must require individuals who appear to the responsible person to be under 25 years of age (or such older age as may be specified in the policy) to produce on request, before being served alcohol, identification bearing their photograph, date of birth and a holographic mark." COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 13 of 14 17/12/2015

14 Individuals who appear to be under 25 years of age will be required to produce on request, before being served alcohol, identification bearing their photograph, date of birth and a holographic mark. If an individual is found to be consuming alcohol on this premise, and appears to be under 25 years of age, they will be required to produce on request, before being allowed to continue consuming alcohol, identification bearing their photograph, date of birth and a holographic mark. To further assist in preventing sales to those under 18 years of age, this premises has adopted the challenge 25 scheme. Customers who appear under 25 years of age should therefore be prepared to produce on request, before being served alcohol, identification bearing their photograph, date of birth and a holographic mark. If acceptable identification cannot be produced the individual will be refused sale or have alcohol removed and asked to leave the premises. Acceptable forms of identification include Valid Cards bearing the PASS hologram Valid Photographic driving licence Valid Passport Please note it is a criminal offence for a person under 18 years of age to buy or attempt to buy alcohol. It is also an offence for a person to buy or attempt to buy alcohol on behalf of an individual under 18 years of age. Further to this, it is an offence for a person under 18 years of age to consume alcohol on licensed premises. COUNT OF TEN GROUP Page 14 of 14 17/12/2015