policies

Mirror Mirror Theatre Company is a not-for-profit theatre organisation using playback theatre and other participative theatre and arts forms to promote social justice and sustainable communities.

The objectives of Mirror Mirror Theatre Company are:

1. The creation of high quality theatre in the South West of England in different community spaces arising out of work with different groups in the community.
2. Offering different groups in the community the chance to work alongside experienced theatre professionals.
3. The provision of theatre workshops for different community groups, offering a safe, secure and supportive environment to help participants to develop their skills.

The work of Mirror Mirror Theatre Company is driven by the desire that all children, young people and vulnerable adults should have the opportunity to participate in and to access creative arts activities. Mirror Mirror Theatre Company has a duty of care to safeguard from harm all children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in Mirror Mirror Theatre Company activities, workshops and performances. Mirror Mirror Theatre Company will ensure the safety and protection of all children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in Mirror Mirror Theatre Company activities through adherence to the Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Guidelines adopted by Mirror Mirror Theatre Company.

We believe that:

• The welfare of the child, young person or vulnerable adult is paramount.
• All children, young people and vulnerable adults, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse.
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse should be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
• Staff and volunteers should be clear on how to respond appropriately.

The aim of Mirror Mirror Theatre Company's Child & Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy is to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults from harm by promoting good practice and to enabling all staff and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific protection issues.

Where the policy refers to 'staff' this includes anyone employed by Mirror Mirror Theatre Company in an employed, freelance or voluntary capacity.

We will endeavour to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults by:

• Adopting child protection procedures
• Sharing information about child protection and good practice with staff
• Sharing information about concerns with agencies who need to know
• Following carefully the procedures for recruitment and selection of staff
• Providing effective management for staff through supervision, support and training.

The government guidance, Working Together to Safeguard Children, categorises abuse as physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse and neglect.

Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, the school and the arts environment. In all forms of abuse there are elements of emotional abuse and it is possible to be subjected to more than one form of abuse at a time. Vulnerable adults may also be subjected to other types of abuse as well as to the four types of abuse listed above. They may be manipulated financially or discriminated against because of a disability of other factor that makes them vulnerable.

Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order to harm them.

Staff working with Mirror Mirror Theatre Company may have regular contact with children, young people or vulnerable adults and should seek to adhere to the highest standards of conduct in line with the guidelines outlined in the company policy and procedures for child, young person and vulnerable adult protection at all times. They should be an important link in identifying cases where they need protection. All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines in this document.

For the purpose of this document,

• Child, where used on its own will include all children and young people under the age of 18.
• Young person where used refers to the upper age ranges of he official definition of a child. The term acknowledges that individuals, for instance, those who are 16 or 17 years old, may not think of themselves as 'children'.
• Vulnerable adult is a person who is, or may be, in need of community care services because of mental disability or other disability, age or illness, and who is, or who may be, unable to take care of themselves or unable to protect themselves against significant harm or exploitation.
• Staff member will include all artists, volunteers, paid employees who work on behalf of Mirror Mirror Theatre Company.

This policy will be reviewed annually by the management committee and amended when necessary.

Policy reviewed and adopted: 7 April 2011
Date of next review: April 2012