2x2 OPERA CHILD PROTECTION CODE OF CONDUCT

All children will be treated equally and with respect and dignity;

Bullying will not be accepted or condoned;

All adult members of the society will provide a positive role model for dealing with other people;

We will ensure that there is more than one adult present during activities with children and young people or that they are within sight or hearing of others whenever possible.

 Action will be taken to stop any inappropriate verbal or physical behaviour;

All suspicions and allegations of abuse should be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;

2x2 Opera will hold a register of every child involved with the society and will retain a contact name and number close at hand in case of emergencies.

2x2 Opera believes it to be important that there is a partnership with parents. Our Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct are on our website and all parents will be offered a paper copy. Parents are encouraged to be involved in our activities and to share responsibility for the care of children.

• All parents have the responsibility to collect (or arrange collection of) their children after rehearsals or performances. It is NOT the responsibility of 2x2 Opera to take children home.

Suspicion of abuse

• If you see or suspect abuse of a child while in the care of 2x2 Opera, please

make this known to the person with responsibility for child protection. If you

suspect that the person with responsibility for child protection is the source of

the problem, you should make your concerns known to another Leader.

• Please make a note for your own records of what you witnessed as well as

your response, in case there is follow-up in which you are involved.  

Disclosure of abuse

 If a child confides in you that abuse has taken place:

Remain calm and in control but do not delay taking action.

Listen carefully to what has been said.

Allow the child to tell you at their own pace and ask questions only for clarification.

Don’t ask questions that suggest a particular answer.

Don’t promise to keep it a secret. Use the first opportunity you have to

share the information with the person with responsibility for child

protection. Make it clear to the child that you will need to share this

information with others. Make it clear that you will only tell the people

who need to know and who should be able to help.

Reassure the child that ‘they did the right thing’ in telling someone.

Tell the child what you are going to do next.

Speak immediately to the person with responsibility for child protection.

It is that person’s responsibility to liaise with the relevant authorities,

usually social services or the police.

As soon as possible after the disclosing conversation, make a note of

what was said, using the child’s own words. Note the date, time, any

names that were involved or mentioned, and who you gave the

information to. Make sure you sign and date your record.

• An accurate note shall be made of the date and time of the incident or

disclosure, the parties involved, what was said or done and by whom, any

action taken to investigate the matter, any further action taken eg. suspension

of an individual, where relevant the reasons why the matter was not referred to a statutory agency, and the name of the persons reporting and to whom it was

reported.

• The record will be stored securely and shared only with those who need to

know about the incident or allegation.

Date: January 2009