Policy Statement
United Sporting Club acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young peopleand adults at risk. United Sporting Club is committed to ensuring that all children, young people and adults at risk regardless of age, ability, gender, gender expression, race, religion, belief, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background have the right to enjoy sports in an environment safe from abuse and harm of any kind. We recognise that all staff, coaches, and volunteers have a full and active part in protecting children, young people and adults at risk from harm and should be aware of all policies in place and their role in the process.
The welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk is paramount, with the welfare of these groups being the priority when considering procedures. The Children’s Acts 1989 & 2004 define children as anyone under the age of 18 years old.
United Sporting Club adopts and implements the ECB’s (England and Wales Cricket Board) “Safe Hands –Cricket’s Policy for Safeguarding Children” and any future versions of the policy. Safeguarding resources can be found in the link below: https://www.ecb.co.uk/safeguarding/safeguarding-resources
This policy and related procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved within United Sporting Club.
Aims of this policy
The aim of United Sporting Club Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy:
➢ To promote good practice and challenge poor and unsafe practices
➢ Providing children, young people and adults at risk with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of United Sporting Club
➢ Allowing all staff, coaches and volunteers guidance on procedures they should adopt if they suspect a child, young person or adult at risk may be experiencing or be at risk of harm
Key principles
➢ We believe that all children, young people and adults at risk have a right to be protected from harm and abuse.
➢ We recognise that abuse and neglect are complex issues and rarely stand-alone events. We recognise that the United Sporting Club requires a culture of vigilance, professional curiosity, respectful and effective recordingand monitoring systems. Safeguarding incidents could happen anywhere and staff should be alert to possible concerns being raised.
➢ We recognise that abuse occurs in all cultures, religions and social classes and that staff need to be sensitive to the many differing factors which need to be taken into account. However, we also recognise that the needs of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with are paramount and any concerns will be referred on appropriately, whatever the family background of the person concerned. We recognise that both mental and physical health are relevant to safeguarding and the welfare of children and young adults.
➢ We recognise that children, young people and adults at risk who are abused or witness abuse or violence may find it difficult to develop and maintain a sense of self-worth. They may feel helpless and humiliated and may feel self-blame.
➢ We know that it is important that children, young people and adults at risk feel secure, are encouraged to talk and are sensitively listened to by all staff, coaches, and volunteers at United Sporting Club.
➢ The prime concern at all times must be the welfare and safety of the children, young people and adults at risk we work with. Where there is a conflict between the needs of the child, young person or adult at risk and the parent/carer, the interests of the child, young person or adult at risk must be paramount.
➢ We recognise that all abuse, including all child on childabuse, is unacceptable
➢ All staff and volunteers should feel able to raise concerns about poor or unsafe practice
Definitions
The following definitions apply throughout the Safeguarding policy and associated procedures:
Child or Children: includes everyone under the age of 18
Adult/s at risk: a person aged 18 or over who has a condition of the following type: a) substantial learning or physical disability b) a physical or mental illness or mental disorder, chronic or otherwise, including addiction to alcohol or drugs c) a significant reduction in physical or mental capacity.
Abuse is a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child, young person or adult at risk by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm. They may be abused by an adult or adults or by another child or children. Abuse is broadly divided into four categories: Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Emotional Abuse and Neglect. The definitions are given below.
Physical Abuse: Physical abuse may take many forms e.g., hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or scalding, drowning, or suffocating. It may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes, ill health to a child or vulnerable adult. This unusual and potentially dangerous form of abuse is now described as fabricated or induced illness.
Emotional Abuse: Emotional abuse is persistent emotional ill treatment causing severe and persistent effects on the child or vulnerable adult’s emotional development and may involve:
• conveying the message that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only in so far as they meet the needs of another person
• imposing developmentally inappropriate expectations
• causing the child or vulnerable adult to feel frightened or in danger e.g., witnessing domestic violence
• exploitation or corruption of children or vulnerable adults
Some level of emotional abuse is involved in most types of ill treatment, although emotional abuse may occur alone.
Sexual Abuse: Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or vulnerable adult to take part in sexual activities, whether they are aware of what is happening and includes penetrative (i.e., vaginal, or anal rape or buggery) and non penetrative acts. It may also include non-contact activities, such as looking at, or being involved in the production of pornographic materials, watching sexual activities, or encouraging children or vulnerable adults to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.
Neglect: Neglect involves the persistent failure to meet basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in serious impairment of the child or vulnerable adult’s health and development. This may involve failure to provide adequate food, shelter or clothing, failure to protect from physical harm or danger or failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of basic emotional needs.
Designated Safeguarding Officer and Responsibilities
United Sporting Club - Designated Safeguarding Officer: Md Shamim Ahmed
Contact number: 07717765932
Contact Email: [email protected]
