Safeguarding Policy
Waverley Harriers is committed to ensuring that all members can participate in club activities in an enjoyable and safe environment. All children and adults at risk are entitled to a duty of care and to be protected from abuse.
This document outlines the club’s approach, responsibilities and policy & procedures to safeguarding of children and adults at risk and aims to support all club members, parents and carers, coaches, leaders, guide runners, volunteers and committee members, in applying these policies locally.
Waverley Harriers commits to the England Athletics safeguarding policies in their entirety:
• Safeguarding children policy
• Safeguarding vulnerable adults (document under revision)
Welfare Officers contact details:
Seniors: Arianna Pisetti. Email welfare@waverleyharriers.co.uk
Juniors: Shona Taylor. Email juniorswelfare@waverleyharriers.co.uk
Definitions
- The club: Waverley Harriers
- Parent helper: Any responsible parent, person with parental responsibility, or other supporter working or volunteering for the Juniors section of the club
- Coach and junior coach: Club members, or others who have an EA Coaching qualification
- Leader: Club member, or others who have completed the Leadership in Running Fitness course
- Guide runner: an individual who supports a visually impaired person by guiding them whilst running
A child is defined as anyone under the age of 18, in line with the UK and UN legal definition of a child.
1. Roles and responsibilities
All committee members, coaches, parent helpers, leaders and members of the club have responsibility to uphold the welfare policies and procedures, to adhere to good practice and to respond to any suspected breaches.
The safeguarding policy will be actively promoted to club members and parents, and is published on the club’s website.
2. Statement of good practice
The club will adhere to the accepted ethical framework for best practice outlined in Safeguarding and protecting children in athletics and Safeguarding adults in athletics.
Coaches and parent helpers will abide by the relevant codes of conduct outlined in the appendix.
Any club member, parent, carer or member of the public that is concerned these standards are not maintained, or about poor practice or possible abuse should report this immediately as outlined in section 4 of this document.
3. Recruitment, selection and training
Recruitment and selection
In line with EA guidance, the following club roles will all have DBS clearance:
- Coaches and Leaders
- Welfare Officers
- Parent Helpers
- Guide Runners
- Officials, team managers and support staff (physios etc) – should these roles be created within Waverley Harriers in future
Coaches/leaders who are under the age of 16 cannot legally have a DBS check until their 16th birthday. Once they have attended a coaching/officiating course, they must complete a self-declaration form which will be forwarded to EA welfare before a licence card is issued, The licence will be valid until their 16th birthday. Once they have reached 16, they will need to apply for a DBS. Once cleared, they will receive a licence card valid for three years.
The club’s welfare officers will maintain a register of all club roles with DBS clearance, volunteers and parent helpers who have self-certified, and a copy of the self-certification forms. This will be stored in the welfare section of the club’s shared drive, so that it is available for all committee members to access at any time. All roles identified above will not commence duties with children or adults at risk until their DBS has cleared, licence has been received and/or self-certification has occurred and has been registered by a club welfare officer.
Welfare officers are responsible for ensuring the DBS/self-certification register is kept up to date, including removing those who are no longer in their role or whose certification/registration has expired.
Induction
All Coaches, leaders, committee members, parent helpers, volunteers & guide runners will be provided with this safeguarding policy and if relevant the appropriate code of conduct as part of their induction, to ensure they are aware of their roles and responsibilities with respect to safeguarding.
Training
All Coaches and welfare officers will have online safeguarding awareness training provided by England Athletics (updated to remove reference to Active Surrey – should this remain though?).
Committee Members, leaders, parent helpers and guide runners within the junior section of the club will complete annual safeguarding and protecting children training, run by the club’s welfare officers, or complete online safeguarding awareness training. The club will provide annual safeguarding training for those in these roles for the senior section (is this still correct? Has it been done?).
The club’s welfare officers will maintain a register of all club roles safeguarding and protecting children training. This will be stored in the welfare section of the club’s shared drive, so that it is available for all committee members to access at any time. All roles will be expected to complete relevant training within 3 months of taking up their role, and undertake refresher training as stated above (is this still correct given the EA training requirement?).
4. Responding to Disclosure, Suspicions and Allegation
Information about the signs of abuse and neglect and the action to take if you think a child is being abused or neglected is available in What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused
All club members, parents, coaches, leaders, guide runners, parent helpers, volunteers, committee members and members of the public have a responsibility to report any concerns about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, using the flowchart on page 15 of EA Safeguarding children welfare policy
Any concerns should be reported immediately to the club’s designated Welfare Officer.
If you have any immediate concerns about children or adults, or if the club’s welfare officers are not available, please contact Surrey’s Multi-agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH). During office hours (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm):
• 0300 470 9100 mash@surreycc.gov.uk
• 01483 517898 (out of hours)
These concerns should also be reported to one of the club’s welfare officers as soon as possible, and at least within 24 hours.
The Club’s welfare officers are available to talk through any safeguarding concerns or questions you have,
Breaches of this Policy
If any member or individual associated with Waverley Harriers in any capacity feels there have been breaches in the codes of conduct or this safeguarding policy, they should discuss with one of the club’s welfare officers. If the matter is not resolved, any individual involved at any level of the sport of athletics can raise concerns with UK Athletics for investigation as outlined in the EA Whistleblowing policy.
5. Waverley Harriers Welfare Officers
The Waverley Harriers Welfare Officer’s role is to advise and support the club officers and committee to implement welfare policies and procedures; to respond to any concerns regarding child protection and to ensure that all coaches/officials/volunteers have completed DBS and Independent Safeguarding Authority checks as required, in accordance with the EA Welfare Officer’s roles and responsibilities.