Core Expectations
Cathedrals must ensure that Music Departments are operating effectively with other departments. They must be fully embedded in the governance and accountability structures within the cathedral. They must be engaged with the departments and staff responsible for safeguarding, health and safety and security in the cathedral; and where relevant, the school(s) attended by choristers.
Cathedrals must ensure that the Music Department has adequate resourcing to embed and maintain safe processes and practices in respect of choristers. This includes access to appropriate training for key staff and adequate funding to employ authorised chaperones to supervise choristers – see 1.2.
Good practice
Key staff in Music Departments should schedule regular meetings with the cathedral safeguarding professional to discuss all aspects of safeguarding choristers, including any challenges and risk. Advice from Safeguarding Professionals and their sign off should be sought for risk assessments relating to choristers. This may be done by the cathedral itself, or in association with the school(s) attended by chorister where the activity and risks are shared, or when the school is supporting.
Additional key relationships and lines of accountability for the Music Department’s care of choristers include:
- The choristers themselves
- Parents and carers
- The school(s) attended by choristers
- Chapter (in their role as trustees)
- Key staff and volunteers.
The department should ensure that appropriate communication, information-sharing, and reporting mechanisms are in place to enable clear safeguarding oversight and accountability.
The Music department, with a particular focus on choristers, should be formally represented, and actively participate, where asked to do so, in any safeguarding management groups or committees established by Chapter to oversee safeguarding in the cathedral.