Purpose
The Skill Studio is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who participate in our programs. This policy outlines the procedures and guidelines for safeguarding children in line with the American School Counselor Association ASCA standards and international best practices.
Scope
This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, and third party service providers involved in activities at The Skill Studio. It ensures that children aged 10-16 are protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm while attending our programs.
Principles
Child-Centered Approach: The welfare of the child is paramount in all decisions and actions.
Zero Tolerance for Abuse: The Skill Studio has zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, exploitation, or neglect.
Confidentiality and Respect: Children’s privacy is respected. Information about a child will only be shared when it is in the best interest of the child.
Compliance with Laws: This policy adheres to all local child protection laws and international conventions, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.applies to all staff, volunteers, and third party service providers involved in activities at The Skill Studio. It ensures that children aged 10-16 are protected from abuse, neglect, exploitation, and harm while attending our programs.
Definitions
Child Abuse: Includes physical, emotional, sexual abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
Neglect: The failure to provide necessary care, resulting in harm to the child.
Emotional Abuse: Actions that harm a child’s emotional development or self-worth.
Staff Responsibilities
All staff members at The Skill Studio are responsible for:
Safe Practices: Creating a positive, safe learning environment, ensuring that children are never in isolated situations with adults, and following appropriate supervision ratios.
Training: Undergoing regular child protection training.
Duty of Care: Understanding their role in protecting children from harm and reporting concerns.
Reporting Procedures
If any staff member or volunteer has concerns about a child’s safety or wellbeing, they must follow these steps:
Record Keeping: A confidential written record of any concern or incident must be kept. This includes dates, times, and details of the concern.
Immediate Action: If a child is in immediate danger, the staff member must take immediate protective action and report the concern to the designated child protection officer.
Reporting to the Designated Officer: All concerns, suspicions, or allegations of abuse must be reported to the Child Protection Officer within 24 hours.
Child Protection Officer CPO
The CPO is responsible for:
Maintaining a safe and confidential record of all reports.
Receiving and responding to child protection concerns.
Liaising with relevant authorities, including social services and law enforcement, when necessary.
Ensuring that all staff are trained and aware of their responsibilities regarding child protection.
Safe Recruitment Practices
The Skill Studio follows strict recruitment protocols to ensure that all staff and volunteers:
Are committed to the values of child protection and safety.
Are vetted through background checks and reference verification.
Have no history of child abuse or neglect.
Code of Conduct
All staff and volunteers must adhere to the following guidelines:
Transparency: Avoid one-on-one interactions in private spaces. Always work in visible, supervised areas.
Respectful Communication: Speak to children in a positive, respectful manner at all times.
Boundaries: Maintain professional boundaries, avoiding inappropriate physical contact.
Child Participation
The Skill Studio promotes an environment where children feel safe to express their views, concerns, and emotions. Children are encouraged to:
Participate in activities that educate them about their rights and safety.
Share their concerns with trusted adults.
Monitoring and Review
This policy will be reviewed annually or as needed to ensure it remains aligned with ASCA standards, local regulations, and international best practices. Any amendments will be communicated to all staff and stakeholders.
Contact Information
For any concerns or inquiries regarding child protection, contact the designated Child Protection Officer at The Skill Studio at info@theskillstudiobeirut.com