Informing, educating and entertaining young or vulnerable audiences is right at the heart of the BBC's remit as a public service broadcaster. To achieve this we work directly with children and vulnerable adults as contributors to content, actors or performers, spectators at shows and events, and visitors to our buildings through organised tours.
Everybody working for the BBC, either as a permanent member of staff, freelancer, talent, supporting artist or third party working on a BBC commissioned production or event, and regardless of seniority or role, has a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Therefore, everyone who directly interacts with children or vulnerable adults on behalf of the BBC must comply with our Safeguarding Policy and Code of Conduct.
Although the BBC is not a statutory body, it has a duty of care for any child or vulnerable adult with whom it interacts, as well as a responsibility to act in the person’s best interests if it becomes aware of a risk of harm to that individual or another (even if the risk lies externally to the BBC).
These documents support our staff, freelancers and third parties in putting into practice the BBC’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.
BBC Safeguarding Policy
The BBC Safeguarding Policy is intended to outline the measures we all need to take to safeguard all of the children and vulnerable adults who engage with the BBC, in whatever capacity, and allows the BBC to discharge its legal and moral obligations to protect children under the age of 18 years. This also includes the children of adults who engage with the BBC. In addition, we also have an International Safeguarding Policy for those engaging with children outside of the UK.
Code of Conduct
The BBC has a strict Code of Conduct to which all staff working with children and vulnerable adults, in whatever capacity, must adhere. The importance of this code is that it makes explicit the behaviour that is expected when working within any environment that includes vulnerable people and therefore makes any deviation from the Code of Conduct easily identifiable. It is not meant to inhibit normal interactions with these groups, but rather to support respectful relationships between BBC staff and children and vulnerable adults.
Other Requirements
The BBC has clear requirements for those working on productions and events with children, in whatever capacity. Our 'Safeguarding Requirements for Production' guide can be accessed by contacting the BBC Safeguarding Team or by visiting the 'Indies' page of the BBC Safeguarding website. In addition, we have high standards and expectations for anyone engaged as a chaperone on BBC output. Our 'Chaperone Guide' details our requirements for acting in loco parentis with children who are engaged in BBC output and is available by clicking the link above or on the BBC Safeguarding website.
Find out more at the BBC Safeguarding website