Chaperone - children in entertainment

All children taking part in a performance must be supervised by a registered chaperone or their parent/or legal guardian. A chaperone is the person that the child goes to for guidance, protection, advice and support.

Prospective applicants are required to complete the chaperone approval process if they wish to look after a young person taking part in a performance, and they are not the parent or guardian. If the prospective applicant is over 18 and lives within the Sunderland City Council Boundary they can apply to complete the chaperone approval process.

If you do not live in Sunderland, then you must apply to the Local Authority in which you live.

Chaperones can be approved as either a volunteer or professional and acts in "loco parentis" and must exercise the care which a good parent might be reasonably expected to give the child.

Our registration process requires:

a completed application form
a passport sized photograph
two verifiable references
child protection training
an interview to ensure the applicant understands the requirements of the role and can exercise proper care and control.
Children Social Care records check to assess your suitability for the role
an enhanced Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) certificate, for which there may be a charge

All potential applicants should in the first instance email childemployment@sunderland.gov.uk stating their full name (including title) and address. On receipt of the email an application form will be sent.

When the completed application form and passport photograph is returned the appropriate chaperone pack will be dispatched. This pack will contain all the information required to complete the approval process.

It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that they read and fully understand the statutory requirements for the Approval for which they are applying. It can take up to 16 weeks for an application to be processed and approved as this is a statutory procedure; therefore, it is advisable to ensure that an application is submitted in good time and ensure your safeguarding certificates and references are returned within the six-week timescale.

There is no helpdesk available to support this process. The information required to complete the approval process is contained in the approval pack. The prospective applicants should read and follow it fully and carefully to ensure they completely understand the statutory requirements for the approval.

We can refuse a chaperone approval if we are not satisfied that the applicant is suitable.

Renewal of chaperone approval

If you are already registered a chaperone and your approval is due to expire please email childemployment@sunderland.gov.uk and request a renewal pack.

Approved chaperone who fail to comply with the statutory regulations may have their approval revoked and could be prosecuted.

Chaperone - children in entertainment

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