Adventure Camps fosters a ‘culture of safety’ in which the children and staff are protected from abuse, harm, and distress. We therefore have a clear policy on the acceptable use of mobile phones that is understood and adhered to by everyone: staff, children and parents. Abiding by the terms of the Camp’s mobile phone policy ensures that we all:
- Protect children from harm and abuse
- Prevent staff from being subject to false allegations
- Help staff remain focused on the care of children
- Work in an open and transparent environment.
Staff use of mobile phones
Personal mobile phones belonging to members of staff are kept in the designated staff area during working hours.
If a member of staff needs to make an urgent personal call they can use the Camp phone or make a personal call from their mobile in the designated staff area.
If a member of staff has a family emergency or similar and needs to keep their mobile phone to hand, prior permission must be sought from the Manager or Deputy.
Under no circumstances may staff use their personal mobile phones to take photographs at the Camp during working hours.
Mobile Phones Off Site
Staff currently use their personal phones to stay in touch with each other during sessions off-site and this helps with managing safety of children and young people where the site is large and multiple activities are taking place.
Under no circumstances are staff to use personal phones to photograph or video children. Phones should be out of sight unless being used for a legitimate reason.
No personal staff phone number should ever be given to a child. When children are taken off site, they should be provided with a Company duty mobile phone number, the site office and the head office phone numbers to contact in case of an emergency.
Social media
Under no circumstances should there be any contact between staff and students over social media. Any attempt by a child to link up with/connect with a staff member over social media, including private messaging, should be rejected, and the reasons why explained to the child.
Staff should not show students their personal social media profile pages, nor allow any student to use their personal computers or show them any materials, including photos and videos that are stored on their personal computers.
Visitors’ use of mobile phones
Parents and all other visitors must not use their mobile phone – or any other device – to take photographs within the Camp. This includes taking photographs of their own children. If they want to have a photograph of their child involved in an activity or at play, parents can ask a member of staff to take one using the Camp camera.
Related policies
See also: Safeguarding Children policy.
Staff should adhere to this policy both during and after the end of their contract with Adventure Camps
