Cheadle Running Club

Welfare and Safeguarding Policy

 

Introduction

Cheadle Running Club 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.

Cheadle Running Club adhere to the following England Athletics safeguarding policies:

  • Safeguarding and protecting children in athletics. Policy and procedures document
  • Safeguarding adults in athletics. Policy and procedures

Contents

  1. Roles and Responsibilities
  2. Child Safeguarding
  3. Adult Safeguarding
  4. Equality
  1. Roles and Responsibilities

All Committee Members, Coaches, Run Leaders and members of the club have a responsibility to uphold the Welfare and Safeguarding policy and procedures, to adhere to good practice and to respond to any suspected breaches.

The Welfare and Safeguarding policy will be actively promoted to club members and is published on the club’s website.

 

  1. Child Safeguarding

We follow the guidance set out by England Athletics in relation to child safeguarding.

We utilise the policy and guidance of Staffordshire County Council with regard to what we do if we suspect that abuse may have occurred.

What to do if concerned

If anyone at the club has a serious concern about the safety of a child or young person up to the age of 18, thinks a child or young person is being harmed or is at risk of being harmed, or is worried that a child is living in circumstances where they are treated badly and not cared for properly then please ring First Response. Please also inform a member of the committee of your concerns especially if the concerns relate to an incident during a club night.

First Response are a county-wide telephone and web enquiry service for all children who:

  • Live in Staffordshire.
  • Are aged from pre-birth to 18 years old.
  • Do not currently have an allocated worker.

If you believe the child to be at risk of immediate harm, this must be reported to the police on 999 or 101. Once you have reported to the police, please contact the First Response or Emergency Duty Team.

First Response Opening Times:

Monday to Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In hours phone number: 0800 1313 126

Out of Hours:

Outside of the hours above or on weekends and bank holidays, please contact the Emergency Duty Team by phoning 0345 604 2886.

The advice from England Athletics is that we do the following:

Introduction

While it is not the responsibility of England Athletics, the Home Countries governing bodies, volunteers or club members to decide whether a concern constitutes abuse, it is their responsibility to report any concerns about the welfare of a child.

These concerns may arise due to:

  1. An individual disclosing that they are being abused
  2. The behaviour of an adult towards a child
  3. A number of indicators observed in a child over a period of time

How to respond to a disclosure

Don’t

  1. Probe for more information than is offered
  2. Speculate or make assumptions
  3. Show shock or distaste
  4. Make comments about the person against whom the allegations have been made
  5. Make promises or agree to keep secrets
  6. Give a guarantee of confidentiality

All suspicions and disclosures must be reported appropriately. It is acknowledged that strong emotions can be aroused particularly in cases of possible sexual abuse or where there is a misplaced loyalty to a colleague.

In summary if we have concerns raised to us about a child or a child makes a disclosure it should be reported to the local child safeguarding team at Staffordshire County Council (via First Response).

If a concern is raised about an adult’s behaviour towards a child during a run then we will act. We as a club cannot allow anyone to act inappropriately towards a child, this includes shouting, bullying encouraging children to run separately and only ever with them etc.

  1. Adult Safeguarding

We utilise England Athletics guidance on adult safeguarding.

When it comes to safeguarding vulnerable adults there are a number of significant differences to safeguarding children but the principles remain the same. The main differences include the fact that the Mental Capacity Act comes into play and what defines a vulnerable adult.

The reporting of concerns procedures at Staffordshire County Council are here.

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Care-for-adults/reportabuse.aspx

A Vulnerable adult or Adult at Risk (AR) as it is now named, can broadly be defined as follows:

“a person over the age of 18 who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation”.

It is not our job at the club to decide whether the person is vulnerable or whether they should be receiving services and even if the person we were worried about does for example have a learning disability or mental health problem, it doesn’t necessarily mean they are vulnerable in that instance as the persons capacity around that issue comes into play.

Information from Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Partnership Adult Safeguarding Board

Abuse is behaviour that can lead to harm or distress; for example hitting, pushing, bullying, stealing, neglect, or sexual activity without consent. It can happen to both men and women, in many different places.

It is carried out by different people, but it’s often someone known and trusted.

If you think someone is being abused or you think their safety is at risk, then it is important to report your concerns to a county council social work team.

You must never assume that somebody else will recognise and report what you have seen or heard.

Where a crime has been committed or if you’re worried about someone’s immediate safety, contact the police by dialling 999.

To report concerns about an adult please:

Phone: 0345 604 2719
Monday – Thursday* 8:30am – 5pm
Friday: 8:30am – 4:30pm
*Excludes Bank Holidays

Out of hours: 0345 604 2886 (for emergencies only)

A trained member of staff will be available between 8:30am – 5:00pm, Monday-Thursday and 08:30am – 4:30pm on Fridays (excluding Bank Holidays).

For further guidance on reporting abuse of an adult please go to the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Partnership Adult Safeguarding Board website.

The Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent Adult Safeguarding Enquiry procedures provide guidance on how the abuse of adults with care and support needs will be responded to.

The Care Act 2014 establishes a duty on local authorities to make enquiry to decide whether action should be taken whenever it appears that an adult with care and support needs is experiencing abuse or is at risk of abuse.

These procedures relate to matters concerning the abuse and exploitation and are not invoked simply in response to a perception of general vulnerability.

  1. Equality

Cheadle Running Club is committed to eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability and to encourage equal opportunities.

Cheadle Running Club is also committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking steps to address them and by providing access and opportunities for all members of the community.

The aim of this policy is to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and with respect and that Cheadle Running Club is equally accessible to all.

Cheadle Running Club will not tolerate harassment, bullying, abuse or victimisation of an individual. This includes sexual or racially based harassment or other discriminatory behaviour, whether physical or verbal.  We will work to ensure that such behaviour is met with appropriate action in whatever context it occurs. We are committed to the development of a programme of ongoing training and awareness raising events and activities in order to promote the eradication of discrimination within the club and within running.

Cheadle Running Club is committed to a policy of equal treatment of all members and requires all members to abide to these policies and the requirements of the relevant equalities legislation.