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• The use of photography or reproduction of photographic images or the use of videos  must always have a clear and child-centred purpose.
• Prior to the taking of any photo or video the purpose of this should be explained to the child or young person according to their age, development and understanding and to the parent/carer unless there are specific reasons not to do so in which case the child’s/young persons social worker must give permission. A child or young person should not be photographed if they do not wish to be or if their parent/carer/worker does not wish them to be.
• In relation to one-to-one work by staff with children, written consent must be gained from the child’s social worker or parent/carer and placed on the child’s file unless the young person is clearly of an age and understanding to give informed consent on their own behalf. Key workers must then check that consent is on the child’s file before taking images. For the purpose of group activities when photography is frequently used, carers/social workers should be notified and written consent gained.
• Children/young people must be clothed and their torsos covered when being photographed or videoed. When catalogue photographs are used which carry prior permission this guideline should still be adhered to.
• When developing photos, staff must either take them to retail outlets or use council equipment in the office. Staff must not develop photographic images of children/young people in their own home or take videos of children/young people home with them.
• Staff must not use mobile phones to take pictures of children and young people unless there are specific and recorded concerns that relate to the likelihood of a child going missing, for example during an outreach or PST session. Once the activity is completed the picture must be deleted.
• Staff must not take any photographic images of children/young people to their own home or keep them in their private possession.
• Photographic images of children/young people except those taken for publicity purposes should not be displayed in places that members of the public have access to. It is acknowledged that often children and young people enjoy having their photos displayed but display of images should be confined to areas solely used by staff.
• If photos or videos are to be used for public display e.g. for publicity purposes, specific permission must be sought from parents/carers/social workers and from the child/young person if appropriate. A separate consent form will be used for this particular purpose and children must always be dressed in the images (see above). The name of the child/young person in the image must not be used, unless the agreed purpose of using the picture includes naming the child/young person e.g. for a celebration of an achievement.
• Photographic images of children/young people must never be sent via the Internet unless there is parental consent to do so. If this is agreed, for example in the context of a potential adoptive placement, software to do so must be accessed on work computers.
• Any images of children whether stored as negative, hard copies or on disk must be stored securely and not re-used without fresh consent.
• Photographs taken for publicity purposes may only be used once and only for the purpose(s) stated on the consent form. Fresh consent for subsequent use must be gained.

End