Revised guidance on working with children at the 主播大秀
Paul Smith
Head of Editorial Standards
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My name is Paul Smith and over the past six months I鈥檝e been leading a project to revise the 主播大秀鈥檚 child protection policy and guidance. Today marks a significant milestone in the progress of that work. I wanted to outline here what we鈥檝e been working on.
As a public service broadcaster, the 主播大秀 has a remit to make content for young audiences. Around six million children and young people enjoy our services in the UK every year. In order to make this output we work with children every day. That鈥檚 something which is central to the way the 主播大秀 functions and something we鈥檝e been doing for many years.
The 主播大秀 has had a child protection policy in place since 2002. It was drawn up in partnership with the NSPCC. That policy has been updated regularly since 2002 so that both reflected changes in legislation or governmental guidance accordingly.
Last year, at the request of Lord Patten at the , the 主播大秀 committed to undertaking an internal review which looked specifically at child protection processes within the organisation.
The findings of the review published in June of this year concluded that , and was in line with international best practice, but that there were opportunities to bring together all of its guidance on working with children into one central online location, easily accessible by programme makers inside and outside the 主播大秀.
In addressing the recommendations in the review, we鈥檝e also taken this opportunity to work with a number of different people and organisations.
We鈥檝e drawn on our in-house expertise and invited staff from radio, television, news and online to contribute to the policy and guidance. We鈥檝e also consulted with the , , other broadcasters and production companies and . The revised child protection information published today represents the culmination of that collaborative and consultative approach.听
We鈥檝e also strengthened our network of 鈥榥ominated managers鈥� 鈥� a group of trained and experienced senior members of staff in each 主播大秀 division 鈥� who are available to give advice on child protection issues and act as the point of contact in the event of formal concerns which need raising.
The policy and guidance applies to everyone who has a contractual relationship with the 主播大秀, not just staff. This is why we鈥檝e not only consolidated the information into one location on the , but also made it externally available to talent, freelancers and independent production companies via the .听All 主播大秀 staff have also received an email today about the revised child protection information and where to find it online.
We take our obligation to ensure children have a safe and positive experience when working with the 主播大秀 very seriously. The improvements we have introduced today will make it easier for staff and those working on behalf of the 主播大秀 to access guidance and best practice. I believe that what we have now is a robust working document that informs anyone with a contractual relationship with the 主播大秀 what we expect of them and how to do it.听
Paul Smith is Head of Editorial Standards at the 主播大秀.
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- The 主播大秀's guidance and policy on is available via the Inside the 主播大秀 website.
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