Vulnerable Children and Adults Policy

 

Neath Athletic Rugby Football Club

 

Vulnerable Children and Adults Policy

 

 

Introduction

 

Neath Athletic RFC accepts that as a club that encourages and promotes rugby for all ages that it has a duty of care to safeguard children and adults at risk from abuse or neglect and educating those around them to recognise the signs and dangers.

We have a produced a safeguarding policy, which is statement of expectations and gives detail on the arrangements in respect of future safeguarding actions to be taken.

This policy which applies to, and must be followed by:

• committee members

• members and patrons

• volunteers and parents

• all visitors to the club

Neath Athletic RFC has a Safeguarding Policy written to protect the most vulnerable people within our rugby club, so it is vitally important that members, volunteers and visitors are aware of how the rugby club contributes to safeguarding people.

All children at risk and adults at risk have a right to be protected from abuse, neglect and other forms of harm regardless of their age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity.

 

Why this priority is a well-being objective:

¬ Safeguarding vulnerable people needs to be seen as everybody’s business within every aspect of Neath Athletic RFC

¬ We want children to be safe from harm and to feel safe within the structure of Neath rugby club.

¬ We want the families to feel confident of the safe environment we have established for the children and adults that participate within our team structures.

 

Safe Governance

Policy context:

Neath Athletic RFC has a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare

of children and adults at risk.

Our aims are to ensure that everyone working with children and/or adults is competent, confident and safe to do so, by working within the legal and statutory frameworks set out by the WRU:

 

 “Safeguarding” is everyone’s business in every aspect of the rugby club. “Safeguarding” is a much wider concept than the protection of children and adults. It involves the promotion of rights, supporting individuals to play safely and minimising risk, where possible, and the protection within the following areas:

• Protection from harm and neglect;

• Safety

• Physical health, emotional well-being, and mental health;

• Contribution to team sport

• Every child and adult (whatever their background, culture, age, disability, gender, ethnicity, religious belief) has a right to participate in a safe environment without any violence, fear, abuse, bullying or discrimination;

• Every child and adult has the right to be protected from harm, exploitation and abuse;

• We will put the wellbeing of children and adults at the centre of all our policies and procedures;

• We will work closely in partnership with children, their parents and adults to safeguard and promote the game of rugby.

 

Safe Volunteers

This section outlines the safe policy arrangement in place to safeguard vulnerable children and adults.

 

What we at Neath Athletic RFC are currently doing:

Recruitment and selection- policies and procedures to prevent, wherever possible, unsuitable people from working in/volunteering for certain roles, particularly roles that involve children and adults who may be at risk. This includes:

A Disclosure and Barring Policy which follows UK Law and requires every role/volunteer position to have a risk assessment which will decide whether a disclosure and barring check is required,

Where a person’s role requires a DBS check it must be rechecked every 3 years,

Ensuring a person’s identify and references are confirmed before they start their role,

All volunteers are expected make a commitment to safeguarding when they join Neath Athletic RFC or work on its behalf

 

Awareness and understanding of safeguarding role: All volunteers understand their roles and responsibilities for safeguarding and are aware that this includes reporting concerns or worries about children and adults they come into contact with.

Carry out the required Child Safety Officer (CSO) training approved by the WRU.

 

Neath Athletic RFC has a policy to cover the following roles within the club structure:

Team Managers

Team Coaches

Team Physio

First Aiders

Committee members

Safeguarding Lead

Club Members and Patrons

Volunteers and Parents

 

Neath Athletic ensures that all persons that have contact with children and vulnerable adults within the club receive relevant training on Safeguarding, appropriate to their role within the club structure. The Child Safety Officer training must be completed every three years.

This arrangement will include:

Designated Safeguarding Lead’s (CSO)to have role-specific safeguarding training

Safeguarding Awareness training for volunteers

Annual training needs analysis is undertaken to audit compliance to mandatory training in all areas every year.

Behaving in a way that is safe and appropriate for their role and following policies, procedures and guidance from the WRU or other organisations or bodies that apply to them

Helping promote safeguarding within their team

Undertaking any roles and responsibilities related to safeguarding and protection that are specific to their role.

 

Identifying signs of potential abuse:

As mentioned, there are many types of abuse, and there are many possible signs of abuse, none of which are conclusive on their own.

Some examples may include:

Unexplained injury / weight loss / cuts and bruises / dirtiness

Sudden or unexplained changes in behaviour

Depression / low self-esteem / anxiety

Lack of self-care / dehydration / abnormal eating pattern

Harm to self

Obsessive behaviour

Changes in financial circumstances- bills not being paid or sudden poverty

Decline in living standards, or neglect of property

 

Reporting any potential concern

Where a possible safeguarding concern is recognised, we are responsible for raising the matter with our Designated Safeguarding Lead Officer. It may be appropriate or necessary to contact Social Services directly.