Mobile Phone Policy

Use of mobile phones and cameras

The welfare, protection, and safety of every child in our care is of paramount importance, we take our responsibility to safeguard children seriously. We have procedures in place to help promote the safety of the children in our care.

TARKA staff are allowed to have their mobile phones on them at all times. This is to control the music, but also to be able to make a phone call in an emergency, a medical matter or to communicate with the office team.

Mobile phones and smart watches

 We believe our staff should be completely attentive during their working hours to ensure all children that are attending the sessions receive our full attention. Staff are permitted to keep their phones switched on in case of urgent calls for the reasons above.

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

The use of apple watches/smart watches etc, are permitted. Staff wearing smart watches are asked to not use them during a session for personal use. It is the responsibility of all members of staff to be vigilant and to report any concerns of inappropriate usage to the management team. The management team reserves the right to check the image contents of a member of staff’s mobile phone should there be any cause for concern over inappropriate use of it. Should inappropriate material be found then our Local Authority Designated Office (LADO) will be contacted immediately, as well as the police. Guidance will be followed with regards to the dismissal of the staff member.

Parents & Visitors

Parents or visitors who attend the group can use their mobile phone to take photographs of their children participating in the sessions, however we do request that you ensure that no other children are in the photograph.

Cameras

Staff at TARKA may take photographs for social media purposes. Parents’ permission will be sought before any imagery is posted. Any child whose parent has not signed the permission form for photographs to be used will not have their photograph uploaded.