Safeguarding Policy of Musikschule
Behm • Bertheau & Morgenstern GbR
Date: July 1, 2026
Responsible party: Musikschule Behm • Bertheau & Morgenstern GbR
1. Purpose and Scope
Musikschule Behm • Bertheau & Morgenstern GbR offers regular, ongoing instrumental and vocal instruction for children and adolescents. Lessons are conducted in both individual and group settings. During individual lessons, a teacher may be alone in a teaching room with a minor student.
The music school therefore assumes responsibility for protecting the children and adolescents entrusted to its care from violence—specifically physical, psychological, and sexualized violence—as well as from neglect and other risks to child welfare.
This safeguarding policy applies to the management, all teaching staff (whether employed or working on a freelance basis), and any other individuals who have regular contact with minor students as part of the music school’s operations.
The safeguarding policy is reviewed regularly and adjusted as necessary, particularly following relevant incidents or changes in organizational circumstances.
2. Principles
The music school commits to the following principles:
- → Children and adolescents are treated with respect and appreciation.
- → Their dignity, personal boundaries, and rights are respected.
- → Physical, psychological, and sexualized violence, as well as discriminatory or degrading behavior, are not tolerated.
- → Power dynamics and relationships of dependency are managed responsibly and professionally.
- → Children and adolescents are involved in a manner appropriate to their age and stage of development, and are supported in expressing any concerns or complaints.
- → Reports of boundary violations or potential risks are taken seriously and investigated.
3. Staff Selection and Enhanced Criminal Record Check
All teachers must submit an enhanced criminal record check prior to commencing their duties.
The extended criminal record certificate is required and verified at least every five years. Employment or continued service involving regular contact with minor students will not be undertaken or continued if the certificate reveals facts that preclude such activity.
The submission and verification of criminal record certificates are carried out in compliance with data protection regulations. Only information necessary for the suitability assessment is documented.
4. Rules of conduct for instruction
All teaching staff must observe the following rules in particular:
- → Respect and boundaries
The personal, physical, and emotional boundaries of students must be respected. Physical contact occurs only when pedagogically or instructionally necessary and appropriate, and provided the student’s boundaries are respected. - → Individual instruction
Individual instruction is generally permitted and does not, in itself, constitute grounds for suspicion. However, the instructional setting must be professional and transparent. Doors or lines of sight should—insofar as the physical layout permits—ensure appropriate transparency. Situations involving unnecessary, complete isolation must be avoided. - → Communication
Communication with minor students is generally restricted to matters relevant to the subject matter and instruction. Private meetings outside of lessons with students under the age of 14 do not take place. Private meetings with students aged 14 or older take place only when objectively necessary and transparent (e.g., advice on purchasing an instrument).
Communication via appropriate official or organizational channels is to be preferred. - → Gifts and private relationships
Private gifts, special personal favoritism, and private relationships that could reinforce a dependency dynamic must be avoided or handled transparently. - → Photos, videos, and recordings
Images, audio recordings, and video footage of students may only be created and used with the necessary consent and for a clearly defined purpose. - → Boundary violations
Even seemingly minor, repeated, or emerging boundary violations are taken seriously and, where necessary, discussed with the management.
5. Prevention and training
The music school informs its teaching staff about the principles of this protection policy and the applicable rules of conduct.
Teachers are encouraged to regularly participate in appropriate professional development regarding the protection of children and young people. The annual training course offered by the DTKV Berlin/Brandenburg state association on the subject of “The Need for Protection of Minors in Instrumental and Vocal Instruction” is specifically utilized as suitable subject-related training.
The music school aims to ensure that teaching staff are regularly sensitized to this topic, particularly when the protection policy is updated or following relevant incidents.
6. Participation and Complaints
Children and young people have the right to approach a teacher or the management directly with questions, concerns, or complaints.
Complaints may be submitted verbally or in writing. They are taken seriously, treated confidentially, and reviewed promptly.
Students and their parents or legal guardians are informed of appropriate points of contact.
Contact person within the music school:
Musikschule Behm • Bertheau & Morgenstern GbR
Martin Behm
+49 (0)179 – 677 57 35
behm@musikschule-potsdam.de
7. Procedure in Cases of Suspicion or Concrete Indications
In the event of suspicion or concrete indications regarding violence, sexualized violence, a serious boundary violation, or any other threat to a child’s well-being, the following applies:
- → Remain calm and take the affected person seriously.
- → Do not ask leading questions or conduct your own “investigation.
- → Document statements and observations objectively and as soon as possible.
- → Immediately inform the management or the designated contact person.
- → If necessary, seek expert advice from a suitable specialist counseling center or the responsible youth welfare office.
- → In the event of an acute threat to life or physical safety, immediately call emergency services or the police.
- → Take measures to protect the affected person. This may include, in particular, the provisional suspension of a teacher from working with the affected minor pending clarification of the matter.
Confidentiality of information is maintained. Information is shared only with individuals who require it to fulfill their protective or decision-making responsibilities.
Important: In the event of a suspicion involving a teacher, the teacher in question is not to be confronted directly by the child or adolescent, nor is the individual to be questioned in an uncoordinated manner.
8. Documentation and Data Protection
Relevant observations, complaints, and incidents are documented objectively, promptly, and in a traceable manner.
Personal data are processed only to the extent necessary and in compliance with applicable data protection regulations. The documentation is protected against unauthorized access.
9. Responsibility and Review
The music school’s management is responsible for implementing this protection policy.
The protection policy is reviewed regularly—at least every two years—as well as on an ad-hoc basis, and is adjusted as necessary.
Ad-hoc reviews are conducted, in particular, following:
- serious incidents or suspected cases,
- changes to the organizational structure,
- changes to the teaching or facility concept,
- relevant legal or professional changes.
The protection policy is made transparent and accessible to the relevant individuals.
