SPOC
Report A Concern
Updated: 11 March 2026
What the SPOC Does
You are responsible for:
Promoting safeguarding
- Encouraging safe, respectful behaviour across the production.
- Making sure cast, crew and contributors know who you are and how to contact you.
- Highlighting risks early so the production can address them.
Receiving concerns
- Being the first person cast, crew, parents or contributors can speak to.
- Listening without judgement and recording concerns clearly.
- Taking all concerns seriously, no matter how small.
Managing immediate actions
- Checking whether anyone is in immediate danger.
- Contacting emergency services if required.
- Making sure the child is safe and supervised.
Escalating concerns
- Contacting the BBC Safeguarding Team for all safeguarding issues.
- Keeping production management informed where appropriate.
- Reporting serious online harm through CEOP if needed.
Maintaining records
- Keeping accurate, secure notes for every concern.
- Logging actions taken and advice received.
- Sharing records with the Safeguarding Team when requested.
You support, you do not investigate.
Who can be a SPOC?
You certainly do not need to be a safeguarding expert to take on the SPOC role, but you do need to:
- Be aware of your organisation’s safeguarding policy and procedures, if different to the BBC
- Be available to locally manage any safeguarding issues on production
- Be contactable via email/phone and present in studio/location during identified hours
- Hold a suitable, in-date Criminal Record Check (such as an Enhanced DBS or PVG membership)
- Have undertaken safeguarding training, such as Safeguarding Advanced (BBC staff/freelancers) or an equivalent such as that offered by the NSPCC or advanced Screenskills training.
Availability and Handover
Productions must ensure:
- A SPOC is present or contactable during all filming hours where children or adults at risk are involved.
- A deputy SPOC is identified for days when you are unavailable
- Clear handovers are written and shared so no concerns are lost.
- SPOCs must be visible and easy to contact.
Support Available to SPOCs
Help is available at any time.
- BBC Safeguarding Team (advice, escalation and case management).
- Working With Children Advisors (for BBC and BBC Studios staff).
- NNCEE guidance on licensing, chaperones and working conditions.
- NSPCC website with information about risks and support.
You are not expected to manage safeguarding alone.
Useful Downloads
Helpful Links
- NSPCC Guidance: Manging AllegationsIf allegations that a staff member, volunteer, child or young person may have caused harm to a child, or you have concerns they may cause risk of harm to a child,it's essential that you respond appropriately. All allegations and concerns must be taken seriously and dealt with promptly, no matter where the reported incident took place.
- NSPCC Guidance: Types of Harm and AbuseAny child can experience abuse or neglect. They may experience harm in a family environment, or in an institution or community setting such as a school or sports club. They may know the person who is abusing them or, more rarely, experience abuse from a stranger. Abuse can happen in person or online, or through a combination of the two.
- NSPCC Guidance: Safer RecruitmentSafer recruitment is a set of practices to help make sure your staff and volunteers are suitable to work with children and young people. It's a vital part of creating a safe and positive environment and making a commitment to keep children safe from harm.
- NSPCC TrainingThe NSPCC have a range of online and face-to-face safeguarding training courses for anyone working or volunteering with children and young people.
