Working Safely
with Children
& Young People

Steve Gregson Photography is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people encountered through professional photographic work.

The welfare and safety of the child or young person is the primary consideration at all times.

This policy applies whenever Steve Gregson Photography works with or around children and young people, including within theatres, schools, rehearsal rooms, performance spaces, production environments and other locations.

It should be read alongside any safeguarding procedures operated by the commissioning organisation, venue, school, production company or other responsible body.

When working with children and young people, Steve Gregson Photography will:

• treat children and young people with dignity and respect;
• maintain appropriate professional boundaries;
• avoid favouritism or inappropriate relationships;
• listen to concerns and take them seriously;
• work openly and transparently;
• follow the safeguarding requirements of the responsible organisation; and
• report safeguarding concerns through the appropriate channels.

Steve Gregson Photography does not seek to undertake unsupervised work with children.

Where children or young people are being photographed, an appropriate responsible adult, chaperone, teacher, parent, guardian or representative of the commissioning organisation should be present as required.

If a situation arises in which Steve Gregson unexpectedly becomes alone with a child or young person, an appropriate responsible adult or chaperone should be located as soon as reasonably possible.

Physical contact should be avoided unless it is necessary, appropriate and properly supervised within the professional activity taking place.

Photography involving children and young people will only be undertaken as part of the agreed professional commission and in accordance with the instructions and safeguarding arrangements of the commissioning organisation.

Reasonable care will be taken to ensure that photography is appropriate to the context in which it is being made.

Responsibility for obtaining any permissions or consents required for the commissioned photography rests with the commissioning organisation unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Any concern about the welfare or safety of a child or young person will be taken seriously.

If a child or young person makes a disclosure, they should be listened to calmly and taken seriously. Confidentiality should not be promised where information may need to be shared in order to safeguard them.

The concern should be reported promptly through the safeguarding procedure of the responsible organisation.

Where a safeguarding concern arises during a commission, it should normally be reported to the designated safeguarding lead, chaperone, teacher, producer, company manager or other appropriate responsible person for the organisation concerned.

Concerns about inappropriate behaviour by anyone working on behalf of Steve Gregson Photography should be raised directly with Steve Gregson.

Where there is an immediate risk of harm, appropriate emergency or statutory safeguarding procedures should be followed.

Safeguarding information will be handled sensitively and shared only where there is a legitimate reason to do so.

Information relating to a safeguarding concern may be shared with the responsible organisation or relevant authorities where this is necessary to protect a child or young person or to meet a legal obligation.

This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated where necessary to reflect changes in professional practice, safeguarding guidance or applicable requirements.

Questions about this policy can be sent to info@stevegregson.com.