Chaperone service

When a child is to take part in theatre, film, television, modelling or advertising work, this must be authorised by the Tower Hamlets children’s services directorate. One condition of authorisation is that a licensed chaperone should always be on hand when the child is working.

Chaperones are recruited and employed by agents and production companies in the entertainment industry, not by the council. The attendance and welfare service carries out the authorising of chaperones on behalf of the local authority.

To become a chaperone, an individual must demonstrate that he or she would look after the child/children in his or her care in the way a good parent would be expected to. This means:

• making sure the child is only working the hours allowed
• ensuring that a child is getting proper meals, rest and recreation when not performing
• calling a doctor if a child is unwell or injured and informing the parents and the local authority

To find out if an applicant can carry out these duties satisfactorily, the attendance and welfare service will ask him or her to:

• complete an application form
• complete another form, which enables us to undertake checks to establish if he/she has a police record and is suitable to work with children and young people
• attend an interview with two officers from the council, one of whom will be a qualified social worker

How to apply to be a chaperone

If you are a resident of this borough and would like to be a chaperone, please download the application form and guidance notes. 

Please send the completed form together with the required documents via email to child.employment@towerhamlets.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can request a paper application form from children's services.