Safeguarding + Child Protection policy

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Business name: Christopher Phillips t/a Kit Talent
Trading name: Kit Talent
Address: Unit 40, Clarendon Court, Warrington, WA2 8QP
Email: hello@kit-talent.com
Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Christopher Phillips
Policy version: 1.2
Effective date: March 2026
Review date: March 2027

Kit Talent is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people we work with. Their safety, wellbeing and best interests are central to everything we do.

Kit Talent works with children and young people in connection with talent representation, private tuition, audition preparation, self-tape coaching, workshops, group sessions, online sessions, in-person sessions, showcases, events, and casting support. We work with young performers aged 3 to 18, and in some cases with young adults up to the age of 24.

We recognise that all children and young people, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, or background, have an equal right to protection from harm.

We are committed to creating an environment in which children and young people feel safe, respected, listened to, and supported.

The purpose of this policy is to:

• set out Kit Talent’s commitment to safeguarding children and young people; 
• explain the responsibilities of the Designated Safeguarding Lead; 
• outline how concerns about a child’s welfare will be recognised, recorded, and responded to; 
• set clear expectations around professional boundaries, communication, online safety, and 1:1 working; 
• explain what to do if a safeguarding concern or allegation relates to the DSL.

This policy applies to all safeguarding matters arising in connection with Kit Talent’s work, including:

• talent representation; 
• application and audition processes; 
• contact with represented and unrepresented talent; 
• private 1:1 tuition; 
• self-tape coaching; 
• audition preparation; 
• workshops and group sessions; 
• online sessions; 
• in-person sessions; 
• showcases and events; 
• communications with parents or guardians; 
• use of photographs, videos, self-tapes and social media content.

Kit Talent will:

• place the welfare of children and young people first; 
• work in a way that protects children from abuse, neglect, exploitation and harm; 
• listen to and take seriously any concerns raised by a child, parent, guardian or other adult; 
• maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times; 
• communicate appropriately and transparently with parents and guardians; 
• respond promptly and appropriately to safeguarding concerns; 
• keep clear and confidential records of concerns, disclosures and actions taken; 
• share information where necessary to protect a child or young person; 
• review safeguarding practice regularly.

The Designated Safeguarding Lead for Kit Talent is:

Christopher Phillips
Email: hello@kit-talent.com

The DSL is responsible for:

• receiving and responding to safeguarding concerns; 
• recording concerns and decisions; 
• deciding whether concerns should be monitored internally or referred externally; 
• seeking advice from relevant safeguarding agencies where needed; 
• making referrals to children’s social care, police, or other agencies where appropriate; 
• ensuring safeguarding remains central to Kit Talent’s practice. 

As Kit Talent is operated by a sole trader, the DSL role sits with Christopher Phillips.

If any concern, allegation, or low-level concern relates to Christopher Phillips, it should not be reported to him directly.

Instead, it should be reported to the appropriate external safeguarding authority. In Warrington, allegations or concerns about an adult working with children should be referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO). Warrington Council states that the LADO provides advice and oversight in such cases. 

Where there is an immediate risk of harm, the concern should be reported straight away to:

• Police by calling 999 in an emergency; 
• Children’s Social Care / Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) where a child may be at risk of harm. 

Warrington’s published safeguarding contact information includes the child referral route via childreferral@warrington.gov.uk and telephone 01925 443322 for children’s referrals.

A safeguarding concern may arise where:

• a child discloses abuse or neglect; 
• there are signs of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect, exploitation, grooming, coercion or bullying; 
• a child appears frightened, withdrawn, distressed, unsafe or unusually anxious; 
• an adult’s behaviour towards a child causes concern; 
• online contact, digital communications, photos, videos or self-tapes raise concerns; 
• a child’s safety or wellbeing may be at risk in a home, educational, social, creative or working environment. 

Safeguarding concerns should always be taken seriously, even where the full facts are not yet known.

If a safeguarding concern is identified, Kit Talent will:

1. listen carefully and remain calm; 
2. take the concern seriously; 
3. avoid making promises of confidentiality that cannot be kept; 
4. make a clear written record as soon as possible; 
5. consider whether the child is in immediate danger; 
6. take advice and/or make a referral where appropriate; 
7. share information on a need-to-know basis only. 

Kit Talent will not investigate child protection concerns in place of statutory agencies. Where a child may be at risk of significant harm, the concern will be referred to the appropriate local authority children’s social care team and/or the police.

If a child or young person is believed to be at immediate risk of harm, emergency action will be taken without delay. This may include contacting:

• 999 for emergency police assistance; 
• local children’s social care; 
• the relevant safeguarding duty team. 

Protecting the child comes before waiting for parental contact where urgent safeguarding intervention is needed.

Because Kit Talent works with under-18s, all routine communication for children under 18 will go through the parent or guardian.

Kit Talent does not communicate directly with children under 18 by email, WhatsApp, social media, or other private messaging channels for routine agency or tuition matters.

Communication may take place through:

• email with parents or guardians; 
• WhatsApp with parents or guardians; 
• other agreed channels with parents or guardians. 

This boundary is in place to support transparency and safeguarding.

Kit Talent provides 1:1 tuition and coaching online, at premises, and in clients’ homes. Because this can involve lone working, additional safeguards apply.

Kit Talent will:

• ensure a parent or guardian is aware of all sessions involving under-18s; 
• ensure booking and communication arrangements are made through the parent or guardian; 
• encourage parents or guardians to remain present, nearby, or appropriately contactable depending on the setting and age of the child; 
• conduct sessions in a professional and appropriate environment; 
• avoid any unnecessary secrecy or isolation; 
• maintain clear professional boundaries at all times. 

For online sessions:

• parents or guardians must know the session is taking place; 
• sessions should be conducted using appropriate platforms; 
• the environment should be suitable and professional; 
• recordings should only be made where appropriate consent has been obtained. 

NSPCC guidance notes that adults working alone with children, including self-employed tutors, need clear safeguards in place. 

Physical contact with a child or young person will be avoided unless it is:

• genuinely necessary for the purposes of acting technique, coaching or instruction; 
• appropriate to the situation; 
• explained clearly to the child; 
• carried out with the child’s permission; 
• appropriate to the child’s age, understanding and comfort. 

Physical contact must never be secretive, unnecessary, or for the adult’s own benefit.

Kit Talent is committed to maintaining clear professional boundaries. The following are not acceptable:

• private or secretive communication with under-18s; 
• favouritism; 
• giving gifts in a way that creates dependence or blurred boundaries; 
• developing private social relationships with young clients; 
• inappropriate physical contact; 
• sharing inappropriate content; 
• contact that is not related to legitimate agency or tuition activity. 

All interactions must remain professional, transparent and appropriate.

Kit Talent may handle photographs, videos, self-tapes, audition recordings, and promotional or booking-related content as part of its services.

We will:

• use such material only for legitimate professional purposes; 
• seek appropriate consent where required; 
• ensure parents or guardians are involved in decisions relating to under-18s; 
• avoid publishing or sharing content in a way that places a child at risk; 
• take care when posting success stories, updates, or images online. 

Any use of personal information, photos or videos must also comply with Kit Talent’s Privacy Policy and data protection responsibilities.

Safeguarding responsibilities apply not only to represented clients but also to children and young people who engage with Kit Talent through:

• enquiries; 
• applications; 
• auditions; 
• trial sessions; 
• introductory meetings; 
• workshops or coaching before representation begins. 

All children and young people engaging with Kit Talent are entitled to be treated safely and appropriately.

Safeguarding concerns, disclosures, allegations and actions taken will be recorded clearly and stored securely.

Records should include:

• the date and time; 
• who raised the concern; 
• what was said or observed; 
• what action was taken; 
• any referral made; 
• the outcome or next steps. 

Information will be shared only where necessary and appropriate, with the child’s safety and wellbeing as the priority.

Any concern about the conduct of an adult working with children in connection with Kit Talent must be taken seriously.

If the concern relates to a person working with children, advice should be sought from the relevant safeguarding authority. In Warrington, concerns about adults working with children should be referred to the LADO. 

Where relevant, concerns may also need to be reported to the police or children’s social care.

Kit Talent will not attempt to deal with serious allegations informally where external safeguarding procedures should be followed.

This policy should be read alongside other Kit Talent policies and procedures, including:

• Privacy Policy; 
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy; 
• Online Safety / Communications Policy; 
• Complaints Policy; 
• One-to-One / Lone Working Policy; 
• Data Protection and Retention Policy.

This policy will be reviewed regularly and updated whenever there is a significant change in services, staffing structure, legal requirements, or safeguarding practice.