Policies and procedures

As well as Youth Music’s minimum safeguarding standards, it’s important to make sure your safeguarding policies and procedures:  

• Reflect the context of your organisation, where you work and who you work with.
• Meet the relevant statutory guidance for your organisation and the contexts you work in.

This could include:

• A deputy safeguarding lead, with name and contact details in your safeguarding policy.
• Wider safer recruitment measures which, in addition to DBS checks, also include information on references, asking questions about safeguarding at interview, including safeguarding in the job description, including safeguarding policy in recruitment pack and on website.
• Clear policies on bullying and harassment, and whistleblowing.
• Clear policies on photography and filming.
• Appropriate supervision and support for staff with space to review their own practice.
• A policy for online safety as appropriate.
• A code of conduct for staff and volunteers.

If you are a charity, you must:

• Have a board level lead with safeguarding responsibilities and build safeguarding into your governance.
• Review your safeguarding policy and practices at least once a year. 

Resources

The resources below can support you to understand what needs to be in your policy, get started with writing and structuring it, or identify ways to improve what you already have in place.

NSPCC guidance on writing child safeguarding policies and procedures

• Audience: Organisations working with children.

Ann Craft Trust guidance on writing adult safeguarding policies and procedures

• Audience: Organisations working with adults.