Safeguarding Trust
All programme makers delivering programmes to the BBC must complete the Safeguarding Trust online training course.
The BBC's new Editorial Guidelines are effective from 25 July 2005. These guidelines, previously known as the Producer Guidelines, have been updated to incorporate the areas of the new Ofcom Broadcasting Code to which the BBC must comply. The Code is also effective from 25 July 2005.The BBC achieves compliance to the Ofcom Code by working according to the Editorial Guidelines. Anyone making content for the BBC must comply with these Editorial Guidelines.
Compliance Forms
The television compliance forms have been updated to reflect the new guidelines. There are additional questions, all of which must be completed before the form can be submitted.
Referrals
Key changes include the requirement to note any necessary mandatory referrals to Controller Editorial Policy. A list of these referrals can be accessed via the compliance form itself and can be found in more detail on the Editorial Guidelines - Mandatory Referrals site.
Signing off
The process for signing off programmes has also changed. It is now mandatory that the person confirming the compliance status of the programme has viewed the programme. Their responsibility for dealing with its compliance should have been agreed in advance by the senior editorial figure responsible for the programme.
Independents
All Independent Production Companies must view and confirm the compliance status of the programme. Programmes should also be viewed and the compliance status confirmed by the BBC Commissioning Executive. Compliance forms for Independent Production Companies can be found here.
However, in a very few cases where there is a very low compliance risk, the Commissioning Executive may agree in advance that this final responsibility is delegated to a named individual in the Production Company. That named individual must be the person who signs off on behalf of the production company. The Commissioning Executive will then be required to affirm in the right hand box that they have agreed that the named individual is responsible for compliance.
