Policies & Procedures

Studio Solutions is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and young people who engage with our sessions. The welfare of the young person is paramount in all decisions we make.

All staff receive safeguarding training and are briefed on signs of abuse, neglect and exploitation. Concerns are recorded in writing and reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (Chris Thomas) without delay, who will refer onward to Children's Social Care or the Police where appropriate.

Young people are never left alone with a single adult where this can be avoided. Sessions are delivered in shared studio spaces and partner staff are encouraged to remain on site.

All our staff working directly with young people hold a current Enhanced DBS certificate, which is checked and recorded before any session takes place.

Recruitment follows safer recruitment principles: written application, identity verification, two references (one from a recent employer), exploration of any gaps in employment, and a face-to-face interview that includes questions on safeguarding and working with young people.

Staff and freelancers will treat every young person with respect, dignity and fairness, regardless of background, ability or identity. Language used in sessions is constructive and age-appropriate.

Personal contact details, private social media accounts and personal transport must not be shared with young people. Communication outside sessions takes place only through the partner organisation or a parent/carer.

Drugs, alcohol and any form of discriminatory or sexualised behaviour are strictly prohibited on site.

Studio Solutions complies with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. We collect only the personal data we need to deliver sessions safely — typically a referral form, emergency contact and any relevant support needs.

Data is stored securely, accessed only by authorised staff, and retained for no longer than necessary. Young people, parents and carers have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of their data by contacting chris@mystudiosolutions.co.uk.

Recordings and creative output are owned by the young person. Anything shared publicly (social media, showcases) requires written consent from the young person and, where under 18, their parent or carer.

A risk assessment is completed for the studio environment and reviewed annually, and for each off-site activity before it takes place. Equipment is PAT tested and maintained to professional standards.

A trained first aider is on site during all sessions and a stocked first aid kit is kept in the studio. Accidents, incidents and near-misses are recorded and reviewed.

Fire exits, evacuation routes and assembly points are clearly signed and explained at the start of each session.

Studio Solutions is open to all young people aged 12–24 regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, neurodivergence or socio-economic background.

We work with referral partners to make reasonable adjustments so that sessions are accessible. This may include adapting session length, sensory environment, communication style or the support workers present.

Discrimination, harassment or bullying of any kind will be challenged and addressed in line with our Code of Conduct.

Every young person has the right to feel safe and respected in our sessions. Bullying — verbal, physical, online or exclusionary — is not tolerated.

Incidents are taken seriously, recorded, and addressed with all parties involved. We work alongside the referring partner and, where appropriate, parents or carers to resolve issues and prevent recurrence.

We welcome feedback and aim to resolve concerns quickly and openly. Complaints can be made informally to the session lead or formally in writing to Chris Thomas at chris@mystudiosolutions.co.uk.

Formal complaints will be acknowledged within 5 working days and a full response provided within 20 working days. Where a complaint relates to a safeguarding matter, it will be handled under the Safeguarding Policy as a priority.