Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults policy

LMA will ensure that:

• this policy is communicated to all LMA personnel (LMA staff, service partners, contractors, event organisers, and freelance staff)
• all LMA personnel are made aware of their responsibility to adhere to this policy; and
• all LMA personnel who work or may work with children or vulnerable adults are suitably and appropriately qualified and appropriate Disclosure and Barring Service checks have been carried out
• We will act upon any allegations of abuse against a child or a vulnerable adult. LMA personnel have a duty to report any suspicions or allegations of abuse to the LMA’s Safeguarding Champions who will ensure that the allegations are recorded and reported to the City of London’s Safeguarding Officer at the earliest opportunity
• If a complaint is made against a member of LMA personnel, we will investigate the complaint and take appropriate action, which could include suspension and disciplinary proceedings. It may also be appropriate to inform the police and the City of London’s Safeguarding Officer. We will inform the person who made the complaint of the action we have taken

All LMA personnel whose roles require them to interact closely with children or vulnerable adults are briefed regarding the contents of this policy and accompanying appendices and their obligations under it.

The Engagement and Learning staff who are expected to have the most contact with children, receive annual training in relation to safeguarding issues and putting this policy into action. They will be further briefed about appropriate behaviour on a case-by-case basis at the outset of any project.

A visit to LMA is a rewarding learning experience and schools are actively encouraged to make full use of these important resources. LMA will ensure that:

• Any event involving young people will be run by a suitably qualified, experienced and trained person who has been briefed in accordance with this policy and our other relevant policies
• During family learning activities children must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times and no unaccompanied children will be permitted to attend family learning events

In the case of supervised visits teachers, group leaders, service providers and other interested parties will be given information on the site or sites they will be visiting, including Health and Safety documentation.

The following rules for group visits are clearly stated in the support material:

• Teachers, group leaders, service providers and accompanying adults are in ‘loco parentis’ and are responsible for the children in their care whilst on site. The ratio of adults to children will be a minimum of 1 to 10 and no children are to be left unsupervised by school / group staff at any time or in any location
• Fully detailed valid risk assessments for all site areas are available if the school wishes to see them. LMA will provide a Risk Assessment Sheet, but it is anticipated that schools will want to carry out their own assessment

A visit to LMA is a rewarding learning experience and community groups are actively encouraged to visit LMA to make use of important resources and benefit from the expertise of our staff.

An event involving vulnerable adults will be run by a suitably qualified, experienced and trained person who has been briefed in accordance with this policy and our other relevant policies. The risk assessment process for any long term or larger-scale public event will be overseen by the staff member managing the event. Risk assessments will identify risks and the associated control measures to be put in place to prevent injury during an event/workshop.

Entry to the majority of public events is by ticket only, which allows written warnings to be given on the ticket if the event content is unsuitable for children or vulnerable adults. If the content of an event is expected to contain violence, sexual references or swearing, LMA may impose restrictions on bookings. The nature of these restrictions would include a warning to parents/guardians when bookings are made or, very occasionally, an age restriction placed on an event. If an event is open to visitors without tickets, any unsuitable content will be clearly signalled/stated to visitors before they enter the event location.

Events specifically aimed at family groups, or at general audiences where children would be a key part of the audience, will be run by a suitably qualified, experienced and trained person who has been briefed in accordance with this policy and our other relevant policies.

The risk assessment process for any larger-scale public event will be overseen by the staff member managing the event. Risk assessments will identify risks to all visitors, including children and vulnerable adults, and the associated control measures to be put in place to prevent injury during an event.

Occasionally we photograph events taking place in the building for the purpose of our own records or for publicity. We will only use a photograph where a child aged below 16 or a vulnerable adult feature prominently if we gain consent from a parent/guardian or accompanying adult.