Camera & Mobile Phone Policy

 

 

 

Policy aimed at; Employers and Employees

 

 

Issued Feb 2006

 

Updated August 2018

 

Camera and mobile phone policy

 

 

It is our intention to provide an environment in which young people, parents and staff are safe from images being recorded and inappropriately used in turn eliminating the following concerns:

 

1. Staff being distracted from their work with children

2. The inappropriate use of mobile phone cameras around children

 

Aim

 

Our aim is to:

 

Have a clear policy on the acceptable use of mobile phones and cameras that is understood and adhered to by all parties concerned without exception.

 

In order to achieve this aim, we operate the following Acceptable Use Policy:

 

Mobile Phones

 

Bath Junior Gateway Club allows staff to bring in personal mobile telephones and devices for their own use. Under no circumstances does BJGC allow a member of staff to contact a young person or parent/carer using their personal device.

 

• Users bringing personal devices into the setting must ensure there is no inappropriate or illegal content on the device.

• All staff must ensure that their mobile telephones/devices are left inside their bag throughout contact time with Young people. Staff bags should be placed in the main office unless requested by the Leader to move them to another appropriate location.

• Mobile phone calls may only be taken at staff breaks or in staff members’ own time.

• If staff have a personal emergency they are free to use the setting’s phone or make a personal call from their mobile in the designated staff area of the setting, i.e. Kitchen.

• If any staff member has a family emergency or similar and required to keep their mobile phone to hand, prior permission must be sought from the Leader.

• Staff (will need to) ensure that the Manager has up to date contact information and that staff make their families, children’s schools etc. aware of emergency work telephone numbers. This is the responsibility of the individual staff member.

• All parent helpers/students will be requested to place their bag containing their phone in the main office or another appropriate location and asked to take or receive any calls in the kitchen area.

• During group outings nominated staff will have access to the setting’s nominated mobile phone, which is to be used for emergency purposes only.

• It is the responsibility of all members of staff to be vigilant and report any concerns to the Leader.

• Concerns will be taken seriously, logged and investigated appropriately.

• The Manager or Leader in his/her absence reserves the right to check the image contents of a member of staffs mobile phone should there be any cause for concern over the appropriate use of it.

 

• Should inappropriate material be found then our Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) will be contacted immediately. We will follow the guidance of the LADO as to the appropriate measures for the staff member’s dismissal.

 

Cameras

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Photographs taken for the purpose of recording a young person or group of young people participating in activities or celebrating their achievements is an effective form or recording their progression. However, it is essential that photographs are taken and stored appropriately to safeguard the Young people  in our care.

• Only the designated setting camera is to be used to take any photo within the setting or on outings.

• Images taken on this camera must be deemed suitable without putting the young person in any compromising positions that could cause embarrassment or distress.

• All staff are responsible for the location of the camera; this should be placed within the large bag when not in use.

• The camera must be locked away at the end of every session.

• Images taken and stored on the camera must be downloaded as soon as possible, ideally once a week.

• Images must only be down-loaded by the nominated senior member of staff,

• If the technology is available images should be downloaded on-site. Should this facilities not be available these may be downloaded off-site and erased from the personal computer as soon as the images have successfully been printed.

• Under no circumstances must cameras of any kind be taken into the bathrooms.

• Failure to adhere to the contents of this policy will lead to disciplinary procedures being followed.