Child Protection

1. Introduction

Hello Halo Kids is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and young people in production and programme making. This policy sets out principles and responsibilities that should be adhered to when working with children and young persons.

1.1  Who does this policy apply to?

This policy applies to all staff regardless of role and/or seniority, working for Hello Halo Productions and Hello Halo Kids, as a permanent member of staff, a contractor or a freelancer, either in UK or abroad (‘staff’). This policy shall be made available to all of the aforementioned and also to anyone who is a contributor on a production or programme for Hello Halo Kids.

In this policy, children and young persons refers to anyone under 18 years of age

1.2  What does this policy contain?

This policy seeks to reflect the principles of UK legislation.

The relevant legislation that applies to the safeguarding of children is as follows:

  • Children and Young Persons Act 1933: Applies to England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • Children and Young Persons Act 1963: Applies to England, Scotland and Wales.
  • Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995: Applies to Northern Ireland.
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006: Applies to England and Wales.
  • Children and Families Act 2014: Applies to England and Wales.
  • Children and Young People 2014: Applies to Scotland.
  • The Children (Performance and Activities) (England), Regulations 2014 (‘the English Regs’)
  • The Children (Performance and Activities) (Scotland) 2014 (‘’the Scottish Regs’)
  • The Children (Performance and Activities) (Wales) regulations 2014 (‘the Welsh Regs’)
  • Children (Public Performances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (‘the N.I. Regs’).

The key principles arising from the legislation are:

  • The welfare of the child is paramount.
  • No child or group of children must be treated any less favourably than others in being able to access services which meet their particular needs.
  • All children without exception have the right to protection from abuse regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or beliefs.

1.3  What is the objective of this policy?

  • To ensure that production companies are aware of their obligations when it comes to working with children.
  • To inform all permanent staff, freelancer, contractors and contributors of the principles.
  • To ensure staff know how to report concerns and non-compliance with this policy, as well as whom to speak to for advice and support in all matters relating to the safeguarding of children and young persons.

1.4  Responsibilities under this policy

Staff that read this policy and work on productions with children have a responsibility for children and young persons that work or are involved in productions produced by Hello Halo Kids. If there are any concerns, whether about a child’s welfare, an adult’s behaviour towards a child or young person, or in any way a non-compliance of this policy and the principles set forth within, you have a responsibility to let a senior staff member know. The responsibility applies regardless of how and when the information, suspicion or concern came to your knowledge.

If nominated, Section 4 of this policy may set out who the Child Protection Offer is.

1.5  What is Abuse

Child abuse is any action by another person – adult or child – that causes significant harm to a child. It can be physical, sexual or emotional, but can also be about a lack of love, care and attention. We know that neglect, whatever form it takes, can be as damaging to a child as physical abuse.

An abused child can experience more than one type of abuse, as well as other difficulties in their lives. It can often happen over a period of time, rather than being a one-off event, and increasingly it can happen online.

We know that children are more vulnerable to abuse because they have a disability, or because they are experiencing parental and child mental health issues, bullying, parental or child substance misuse, such as drugs or alcohol, and behavioural issues including exclusion from education, social isolation etc.

1.6  Types of Abuse

Physical Abuse is deliberately hurting a child causing injuries such as bruises, broken bones, burns or cuts.

Emotional Abuse is the emotional maltreatment or neglect of a child. It is sometimes called psychological abuse and can cause children serious harm. It may lead to a child thinking that they are worthless, unloved and inadequate. It may include expecting a child to be able to do more than their stage of development would allow, such as expecting a baby to feed themselves, be toilet trained or not to cry, as well as being over protective and stopping children from having opportunities to explore or participate in normal social interaction. It can also include seeing or hearing domestic abuse, being subject to or witnessing bullying (including cyber bullying) which can cause a child to frequently feel frightened or in danger. Emotional abuse is a factor in all forms of abuse although it may exist alone.

Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet a child’s basic needs. It is dangerous and children can suffer serious and long-term harm. Neglect may occur during pregnancy because of maternal alcohol or drug misuse, but once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, clothing and shelter, lack of supervision, access to medical care or keeping the child safe from danger. It may also include unresponsiveness to a child’s basic emotional needs.

Sexual Abuse is when a child is forced or persuaded to take part in sexual activities. This does not have to be physical contact, but could involve children looking at, or being the subject of, sexual images, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult men; women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

What is grooming?

Grooming is defined as developing the trust of an individual or his or her family for the purposes of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or trafficking. Grooming can happen both online and in person.

 

2. Principles of Good Practice

Hello Halo Kids shall seek to:

  • Treat children and young people with care, respect and dignity;
  • Recognise that those working for Hello Halo Kids will be perceived by children and young people as trusted persons and therefore all staff must comply will this policy;
  • Use its reasonable endeavours to be so transparent in its communication, so that the children and their parent/ legal guardian are given sufficient information to make an informed decision about being involved in the production;
  • Assess the risks posed to children when undertaking activities;
  • Ensure staff avoid physical contact with children and young people except for reasons of health and safety, or under supervision;
  • Respond to any allegations appropriately and implement a disciplinary process as appropriate;
  • Review this policy on a regular basis.

 

3. Risk assessments and Background checks for staff and freelancers

Risk Assessments are generally carried out when a programme is commissioned to ensure that Hello Halo Kids has considered the physical and emotional welfare of people under 18 who will be taking part in the filming. Producers are required to consider the risks and potential harms that may arise from the child’s participation and to take steps to mitigate those.

Hello Halo Kids require a background check to be performed in order for staff to work with children on our programmes/ productions.

A background check will enable Hello Halo Kids to reveal a person’s criminal history (‘DBS Check’). The DBS Check applies to England and Wales, the Channel Island and the Isle of Man. The DBS equivalent in Scotland is Disclosure Scotland, whereas the equivalent in Northern Ireland is Access Northern Ireland.

The need for enhanced disclosure checks shall be a commercial matter for the Hello Halo Kids to decide on a case by case basis.

 

4. Management responsibility – Child Protection Officer

Hello Halo Kids has an appointed Child Protection Officer in the company.  The Child Protection Officer shall be the focal point for all child protection issues.  The person nominated at Hello Halo is Terri Langan, Head of Children’s TV.

The Child Protection Officer or alternative senior member of staff should be contacted if staff believe that a child involved in a production or programme produced by Hello Halo Kids may be at risk of harm, and/ or if anyone are told by a child or young person of a child welfare issue or if there are any concerns about an adult’s contact with children.

When the Child Protection Officer is notified that a child is at risk she will always act on the information and speak to the appropriate channels e.g. Headteacher of the child’s school and then the nominated Child Safeguarding Executive at the channel (e.g. BBC) and beyond as required.

 

5. Safeguarding children during filming/ production: Legal Requirements

Hello Halo Kids will be required to obtain a license for working with children and young persons. In circumstances where Hello Halo Kids is exempt from obtaining a license or it has chosen not to apply for a license, this decision should be documented.

For more information on legal requirements when working with children, please be referred to Pact’s Guidance on Filming with Children

The producer should liaise closely with those editorially responsible for the programme and with the broadcaster’s compliance and legal officers, as appropriate.

 

6. Safeguarding children online

Abuse and exploitation of children can happen online, through social networks, sharing of information, playing games online and so forth. We recognise that it is our responsibility to a reasonable extent to safeguard children and young persons in services we host online and on social platforms, such as photos, film, and through information in conjunction with our programmes/ productions.

 For more information on how to keep children safe online, please visit this link: https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/

 

7. Data protection

We acknowledge that children’s data constitutes special category data under the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 and the Data Protection Act 2018. We take extra care when collecting and processing children’s and young persons data as they may be less aware of the risks involved in providing such data. We inform the children and young persons we work with, as well as their parent/ legal guardian, about their rights under the data protection legislation.

Hello Halo Kids always designates specific individuals on production who have access to the data we collect for filming purposes. We store all information relating to children in an encrypted and password protected file and do not save this information onto any portable devices.  It is only securely stored on the company cloud which itself is only accessible to those within the company. Casting tapes are only available to view, cannot be downloaded and are password protected.  They are not available to anyone who isn’t involved in casting on that production.  All paperwork is kept in a locked cabinet and only accessible to those designated individuals who require it for licencing etc. All material is not kept longer than the required processing time and no longer than three months after the production transmits.

More about how we collect and process data, can be found in our privacy policy attached.

 

8. Documentation and record-keeping

Hello Halo Kids will document all decisions taken in regard to safeguarding when filming with children and young persons. Hello Halo Kids has the overall responsibility for this documentation.

As part of our filming with children we always work with licenced chaperones who accompany the children at all times. No other member of the production team will be with the children by themselves at any point. The chaperone will ensure that the performance hours for the age of the child is adhered to, that the regulation hours for the area where we are filming are adhered to and that records are kept each day.

 

9. Concerns and allegations

Here are some numbers and/ or websites that might be able to help you if you have concerns about safeguarding and/ or a child or young person’s welfare.

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC)

Childline – Helpline for children and young persons (run by the NSPCC)

  • Helpline: 0800 1111

 

10. Other useful links

Broadcaster’s policies:

 

If you have any questions relating to this policy, please contact Terri Langan, Head of Children’s – email: terri.langan@hello-halo.tv