Safeguarding Policy

Winchester’s Military Museums

Safeguarding Policy: Educational Visits – Revised March 2021

Winchester’s Military Museums
Peninsula Barracks, Romsey Road,
Winchester, Hampshire.
SO23 8TS
Tel 01962 877826
E-mail curator@agcmuseum.co.uk
www.winchestersmilitaryquarter.org

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS AT RISK POLICY FOR EDUCATIONAL VISITS
Review Date: March 2022


Introduction

Winchester’s Military Museums (hereafter WMM) seeks to ensure that all children and adults at risk are safe and protected from harm whilst on its premises. This document sets out safeguarding policy and practice for the protection of children and adults at risk visiting Winchester’s Military Museums for educational visits. This policy applies to and protects those visiting as part of a school or organised group visit and should be used alongside safeguarding policies held by individual museums. This policy also applies to and protects staff, freelancers and volunteers involved in delivering educational visits.

Definitions

A child is defined as anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday.  An adult at risk is defined as a person over the age of 18 who is or who is in need of
additional support due to age, illness, physical or learning disability, or someone who is unable to take care of or protect themselves against harm or exploitation (including those who have difficulty in communication).

Accompanying adult(s) referred to below will normally be a teacher, member of school staff, voluntary group leader or paid group leader visiting with children or adults at risk.

Policy

Winchester’s Military Museums aim to:

− Welcome children and adults at risk into safe and engaging environments.
− Protect children and adults at risk from harm in all its forms whilst visiting the museums and on site.
− Respect the rights of children and adults at risk visiting the museums.
− Support all staff, volunteers (including Trustees) and freelancers to protect children and adults at risk on our site from harm.

Practice

Children and adults at risk visiting site:

− The welfare of children and adults at risk will be the responsibility of accompanying adult(s) in the first instance.
− The lead teacher or group leader of all booked visits to the Museums will be made aware that they have full responsibility for children and adults at risk in
their party, and appropriate adult:child ratio guidelines are included on booking forms.
− Teachers, group leaders and any accompanying adults will be provided with information including a risk assessment prior to a visit to the museum. Previsits are available.
− Teachers and group leaders will be made aware of any hazards, concerns or relevant matters arising in advance of their visit, and these will be repeated
where necessary on arrival.
− Teachers and group leaders are to accompany their groups at all times, including to the toilet, around the galleries and during taught sessions.


Staff, Volunteers and Freelancers – General

− Should be made aware of their responsibilities with regards to safeguarding during training at the start of employment and during refresher and
continuation training, and should be familiar with this policy.
− Will ensure that the environment within the museums is safe prior to and during educational visits – any concerns should be reported promptly to the senior member of staff on duty in the first instance.
− All staff, volunteers and freelancers have a responsibility to maintain appropriate codes of behaviour during educational visits – outlined below.
− On finding a lost child or adult at risk in the museums, will remain in a public area and seek support from a second adult employed by the museums.
− Not engage in unnecessary or inappropriate physical contact with a child or any other visitor to the Museum.
− Not physically restrain a child, an adult at risk or any visitor, except in exceptional circumstances (for example, to prevent injury, damage to property
or the Collections or to prevent theft) but be careful to use only the minimum restraint necessary.
− Will be familiar with the policies and procedures of the Museum that their contract or volunteer contract was awarded by.

Staff, Volunteers and Freelancers – Specific to Educational Visits

− No photographs of children will be taken without valid, signed consent forms from the accompanying adult(s) obtained in advance. Any photographs taken
will be held on the Education hard drive (held by the AGC Museum) in secure folders and deleted after 1 year. They will not be used for any purpose except
those expressly stated on the consent form.
− Content of sessions should be age appropriate and taught sensitively with a firm consideration of the age of the children present. Difficult and upsetting
subjects may be included with consideration to visitor age and understanding.
− Accompanying adult(s) can be contacted in advance through the Education Officer or responsible senior member of staff to check appropriateness of
session content where a concern is raised.
− Accompanying adult(s) will consent in advance to handling of weapons.
− If dressing a child or adult at risk in replica clothing as part of a session, seek permission of the child or adult at risk and consent and/or support of the
accompanying adult(s) first. Dress the child or adult at risk in full view of the class or group without removing their own clothing, excepting removing a
jumper if appropriate.
− Our staff and volunteers will not be left alone with children or adults at risk during school or group visits. They will always be accompanied by accompanying adults from their school or organisation. School and organisation staff and accompanying adults will be reminded of this before and during the visit as necessary.
− Our staff and volunteers will inform the accompanying adult(s) of any concerns regarding negative or destructive behaviour.
− Our staff and volunteers will inform the accompanying adult(s) if a child or adult at risk needs support, personal care or is in distress. They will not
attempt to address this themselves.

Should a safeguarding concern arise

− Safeguarding concerns related to school or group visits should be reported to the Education Officer; concerns raised during visits by booked groups should
be raised with the Curator or senior member of staff responsible for the booking.
− Should a safeguarding concern be raised – the Education Officer, Curator or senior member of staff (as appropriate) will communicate any concerns to the
Lead teacher/Group Leader/Accompanying Adult (unless that person is the source of concern) and follow up after the visit.
− Concerns about the conduct of the Group Leader/Accompanying Adult will be reported directly to the group’s organisation or the police, as appropriate.
− Appropriate records of any disclosures and action taken will be maintained by the Education Officer, Curator or senior member of staff responsible, as
appropriate.
− Should a disclosure be made, the staff member, volunteer or freelancer concerned has a responsibility to make the child or adult at risk making the
disclosure aware that any disclosure cannot be kept in confidence and must be communicated appropriately as outlined above.

This policy has been circulated to, read by and approved by representatives from the following museums (sign or initial)