Annual Safeguarding

Safeguarding and Quality Assurance

Important Information for Schools

Associate Status and School Responsibilities

Wiltshire Council and Swindon Music Service want to ensure clarity regarding our Associate tutors and music leaders:

  • Key Point: Associates are freelance individuals or independent organisations.
  • School Responsibility: It is your school’s duty to verify that all Associates meet your specific safeguarding requirements and quality standards.

Verification and Contact Procedures

Confirming Associate Status

If you need official confirmation that specific tutors are Associates, please:

Note: Even with confirmation, it remains your responsibility to conduct individual checks.

Verifying Associate Listings

If an individual claims to be an Associate but is not found in our directory:

Our Quality Assurance Process

Swindon Music Service maintains rigorous standards for Associates:

  • Documentation: Annual verification of personal information
  • Background Checks:
    • Runs annual DBS Update Service status checks
    • Requires signed self-declaration statements
  • Associate Status Management:
    • Failure to provide evidence or maintain contact results in termination of Associate status
    • Removal from the directory if requirements are not met

Safeguarding Reporting

Important Safeguarding Protocol:

  • If you have referred an Associate to your Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), please notify Swindon Music Service
  • This may impact the Associate’s approved status

Designated Safeguarding Contacts

Swindon Music Service DSL is Peter Clark

Designated Safeguarding Team