Working with children and young people at the BBC - Code of conduct06/Online Checklist03/Child protection04
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Working with children and
young people at the BBC.
Checklist /Child protection /
03 04
Code of conduct /Online
06
safety /Staff checks /Consent /
07 08 10
Licences /Risk assessment
11 12
www.bbc.co.uk/workingwithchildrenWorking with children and
young people at the BBC
www.bbc.co.uk/
workingwithchildren 02
Welcome
In this guidance
Informing, educating and entertaining Who is this guide for? The term “children and
young audiences is right at the If you are working directly with children young people” (often
heart of the BBC’s remit as a public for, or on behalf of, the BBC then this shortened to just “children”)
means people under 18
service broadcaster. guide is for you. That includes BBC years old.
employees in all divisions and in any role,
To achieve this we work directly with Talent (presenters/actors/celebrities); Editorial issues for making
children’s content are not
a significant number of children and freelancers, contractors, and Indies covered in this publication;
young people as contributors to (independent production companies). these can be found within
content; actors/performers under BBC Editorial Guidelines
Section 5: Harm & Offence.
licence; spectators and participants How to use this guide
at shows and events; and visitors to This guide will lead you through
our buildings. the process of working with children
and young people in a way that
safeguards their welfare at all times.
Start with the Checklist on page 03.
It lists all the key points you need to
consider – then click through for more
detailed information.
Version 1
September 201303
Checklist Back to index
This checklist includes all the key Do you know who your local
points you need to consider when Contact at the BBC is for child
working with children for, or on behalf protection?
of, the BBC in any capacity. Page 13
Have you read: Have you carried out the
appropriate Staff checks to ensure
The BBC Child Protection Policy? that everyone working directly with
www.bbc.co.uk/workingwithchildren children on your project is suitable?
Page 08
The BBC’s Code of Conduct for
working with children? Do you have appropriate records
Page 06 of Consent?
Page 10
Online Safety Guidance?
Page 07 Do you have the correct
performance Licences in place?
Page 11
oes your Risk assessment
D
take into account specific risks
to children?
Page 1204
Child protection
1/2
Back to index
ur approach
O
At the BBC, child protection is
People often worry they might make a
situation worse by reporting a concern At the BBC,
everybody’s business. We all have a of this nature. Everyone has a duty to child protection
responsibility to report any concerns
and keep children and young people
raise their concern, but you will not be
expected to make a judgement call or is everybody’s
safe. Our child protection policy and take the matter forward - that is the role business.
protocols apply to everyone working of your local Contact (page 13).
for, or on behalf, of the BBC. This
includes BBC employees in all divisions
and in any role, Talent (presenters/
actors/celebrities); freelancers,
contractors, and Indies (independent
production companies).
If you are at all concerned about the
welfare of a child, or the behaviour of an
adult working with children, you should
refer to the BBC Child Protection Policy,
and alert your local Contact at the BBC
for child protection (page 13), who will
take the matter forward as appropriate.05
Child protection
2/2
Back to index
Working directly with children Bringing children to work
If you work directly with children in If anyone working for or on behalf of the
any capacity for, or on behalf of, the BBC has problems meeting childcare
BBC, it is essential that you read and needs, they should not bring their
comply with: children into the workplace. However,
• The BBC Child Protection Policy; it is recognised that sometimes
www.bbc.co.uk/workingwithchildren exceptional circumstances can arise
which mean this is necessary. In such
• Our Code of Conduct – ten golden cases the individual must get permission
rules to guide your behaviour from their line manager; contracting
around children; and manager or commissioning editor.
Page 06
• Our Online Safety Guidance, If permission has been given for a
which explains how to keep child to be brought into the workplace,
children safe in online spaces. the child must remain under the direct
Page 07 supervision of their parent/guardian at
all times.
It’s also crucial that you know who your
local Contact at the BBC is for child This applies to BBC employees in
protection (page 13). all divisions and in any role, Talent
(presenters/actors/celebrities);
freelancers, contractors, and Indies
(independent production companies).06
Code of conduct Back to index
Follow these ten golden rules when you interact directly with children and young
people in any capacity on behalf of the BBC:
Prioritise
01 the safety and wellbeing 07 Listento and respect children at all
of the child at all times. times; don’t patronise them.
02 Never take sole responsibility for a 08 Avoidfavouritism, and treat children
child; if a child needs care alert the and young people fairly and without
parent or chaperone. prejudice or discrimination.
03 Only take on practical caring 09 Always act within professional
responsibilities, for example, taking boundaries; ensure all contact
a child to the toilet, in an emergency. with children is essential to the
04 Never give out your personal programme/event/activity/project
contact details, and do not ‘friend’ you are working on.
or ‘follow’ children you are working 10 Ultimately,if you feel anyone is
with on social networking sites. behaving inappropriately around
05 Remember they are children first, children, you have a duty to report
and contributors or participants your concern to your local Contact
second. at the BBC for child protection
(page 13).
06 Neverlose sight of the fact that
you are with children – behave
appropriately and use appropriate
language at all times.07
Online safety Back to index
Please note
Children and young people can be Talk to your local Contact (page 13) at As stated in the BBC
particularly vulnerable in online spaces. the BBC for child protection for advice Code of Conduct for Child
When you’re working with children you about safeguarding under 18s online Protection, do not ‘friend’
or ‘follow’ children or young
must consider online safety as part of and also if you have more serious people you are working with
your risk assessment, particularly if the concerns such as: on social networking sites.
project has an online element. • If you think that a BBC presenter,
actor, production team or brand -
Production/project teams should have particularly if it is one that is popular
a conversation about the possibility with children or young people - is
of unwanted attention online as part being impersonated online.
of their initial discussions with young
contributors/on-screen talent and • If you have been sent something
their parents/chaperones/management. that you have reason to believe may
be child abuse images or video
For example, depending on the (NEVER open or forward suspect
circumstances, it may be appropriate attachments).
to recommend that a young • If you have reason to think a child is
contributor’s social media profiles are being groomed online.
temporarily suspended.
Remember that most social networks
are not intended for children under the
age of 13, and therefore should not be
used to speak to this age group.08
Staff checks
1/2
Back to index
When you are planning a production, In addition to the above, you must make
event, activity or project involving sure everyone working on your project
children, you must take steps to ensure is fully aware of the BBC’s approach
that everyone working with you who will to child protection. It’s particularly
(or might) interact directly with children important to highlight the
is suitable for this role. Code of Conduct (page 06).
Some suggestions of how to approach Record your conclusions and any
this are below: related actions in your risk assessment.
• If eligible, request a DBS/PVG check
(page 09)
• Take into account their previous
experience of working with children
• Consider any training they have
done or could do
• Ask for references09
Staff checks
2/2
Back to index
What are DBS/PVG checks? as part of their normal duties or For the full details of the How do I request a DBS/
types of role that can PVG check?
DBS checks and PVG scheme for intensive periods. be DBS checked visit
membership will reveal all unspent •
Drive a vehicle solely for children the Disclosure & Barring BBC staff
convictions, and spent convictions, without supervision.
Service website: should follow the
http://www.gov.uk/ guidance available on
cautions, final warnings and reprimands disclosure-barring- Gateway (search for
which are not eligible for filtering. •
Monitor online content or services service-check Working with Children)
They can help to prevent unsuitable used mainly by children for the
people from working with vulnerable purposes of child protection For full details of the Indies
types of role that can (independent production
groups, including children, and •
Provide a service as a registered be PVG checked, visit companies) should
therefore play an important role professional, such as a doctor the Disclosure Scotland check their own staff
website: and liaise with their
in safeguarding their welfare. or solicitor. http://www. Commissioning Editor.
disclosurescotland.co.uk
•
Manage someone taking on
What are the criteria for a DBS/ Freelancers
an activity eligible for a DBS/ should raise any queries
PVG check?
PVG check. they have with their
We are only permitted by law to request contracting manager
checks for specific activities and at the BBC.
positions. Typically, in the context of
the work of the BBC, a DBS/PVG check
might be carried out when an individual
is required to:
•
Care for, teach, train, supervise
or personally assist (eg. costume
fitting or removing make-up) a child10 Consent Back to index Informed consent from the child and an individual or organisation with parental responsibility for the child should always be obtained in advance of working with children in any capacity. Keep documented evidence of consent. 16–17 year olds can sign their own consent form if the project is not contentious as stated in the BBC Editorial Guidelines. If you’re on location it’s a good idea to print a few spare consent forms and have them with you. Use the template consent letter and form available at www.bbc.co.uk/workingwithchildren
11
Licences Back to index
A child or young person contributing to For daily news, documentaries and
BBC content as an actor or performer some other appearances a licence
may need a ‘Child Licence’. These are may not be required. Seek legal advice
granted by the Local Authority for the before proceeding.
area where the child lives.
The BBC’s full Guidelines for Child
There are specific regulations regarding Licensing and forms for recording
working with children under licence – working hours and tuition are available
for example, limited working hours or at www.bbc.co.uk/workingwithchildren
number of breaks.
Children working as actors, performers
or ‘under licence’ in other instances
must always be accompanied by an
adult. This can be a parent or guardian
of the child, but a licensed chaperone
is preferable. In either case, the adult
should be solely focused on the safety
and wellbeing of the child – make sure
they don’t get carried away by the
excitement of programme making!12
Risk assessment Back to index
Finally, all of your thinking around Aftercare
safeguarding children and young It’s also really important to consider
people should be recorded in your any potential long-term consequences
risk assessment. for the child.
Some additional points to consider Are there likely to be any post-
in your risk assessment: transmission repercussions such as
bullying or unwanted attention? If you
Health & Safety do identify this kind of risk, ensure you
When considering health and safety explain it clearly to the participant and
risks, remember that children are their responsible adult at the time of
generally: seeking consent. You might also need
• Less able to recognise danger; to consider what sort of support might
be helpful to the child when the filming
• ikely to be in an environment
L has finished.
which is unfamilar to them;
• ery inquisitive, which can mean
V Access the BBC’s risk assessment tool
they are more likely to take risks; online at www.bbc.co.uk/safety
and
• ikely to be more prone to tiredness,
L
anxiety and stress in response
to pressure and long hours.13 Contacts Back to index If you are concerned about a child, or about the behaviour of an adult around a child, you should raise the matter with your local contact at the BBC as soon as possible. BBC staff should contact the ‘nominated manager’ responsible for child protection in their division. An up to date list of nominated managers can be found on Gateway (search for Working with Children) Indies (independent production companies) should contact their Commissioning Editor. Freelancers should contact their contracting manager.
You can also read
