Safeguarding for Music Groups

This course introduces the principles of safeguarding children and adults at risk in music group settings. You will learn how to recognise possible abuse or neglect, respond appropriately to concerns, and report and record information using a person-centred approach. It also explains how to help create safer environments for members, leaders, helpers and volunteers.

Your starting point. This module sets out the course's learning outcomes, explains how to navigate, pause and return to the course, and covers accessibility features such as read aloud, browser zoom and language translation. It also includes a content note, as later modules cover sensitive topics around abuse, neglect and exploitation.

What child and adult safeguarding means, who is responsible for it, and the key legislation and guidance that underpins it across the UK. Covers key definitions, including 'adult at risk', and the roles of the safeguarding boards and agencies who support children and adults at risk.

Using Finkelhor's Four Factor Model, this module looks at how abuse happens and the barriers you can help build against it. Covers appropriate and inappropriate behaviour, safeguarding policies and risk assessments, maintaining a person-centred approach, and keeping yourself safe, including guidance on adjusting an instrument or posture safely.

How to judge whether something is abusive, and who may be at risk and where, including in a community setting such as a music group. Covers the categories of abuse and neglect for both children and adults at risk, specific forms such as FGM and financial abuse, and the signs and indicators to look out for.

Learn the different ways a child or adult may disclose abuse and the barriers that can prevent them from speaking out. This module explains how to listen and respond calmly and appropriately, including why you should never promise to keep a disclosure secret.

Your duty to report and record concerns, and how to carry it out properly. Covers confidentiality and information sharing, how to record a disclosure accurately using a body map, allegations against staff or volunteers, and what to do if an adult discloses non-recent abuse.

Best practice for using mobile devices safely and effectively when running a music group. Covers setting clear device rules with members and their families, managing data responsibly, including recordings of performances, and using secure, well-established platforms for sharing and storing data.

Apply the principles of recognise, respond, report and record to realistic safeguarding scenarios. The case studies include a music group member showing signs of self-neglect after bereavement and a young person’s changing behaviour and friendships, helping you identify poor practice and possible abuse.

Test your knowledge with a random selection of questions drawn from the course question bank. You need 80% to pass and can retake the assessment as many times as you need. Your certificate is emailed to you automatically as soon as you pass.

Access practical resources to support you after completing the course, including a body map template. You will also receive links to further reading if you want to explore any of the topics in more detail.

Complete a short post-course questionnaire about your learning experience. Your feedback helps us review and improve the training for future learners.