Child Safeguarding & Welfare Policy

WELFARE OFFICER

The details of the Welfare Officer at PRGC are:

Gary Tubb; 07866 312770 or GaryTubb@BTinternet,com

Gary is an Non-Executive Director with the NHS, holds an enhanced DBS Certificate and is fully trained as part of his role at the NHS in both Child and Adult Safeguarding

  • Safeguarding Children Level 1
  • Safeguarding Children Level 2
  • Safeguarding Adults Level 1

OBJECTIVES:

The overall aim of the policy is to ensure that everyone participating in the sport of golf does so in a safe environment that supports children and young people to meet their potential. Princes Risborough Golf Club (PRGC) aims to work to:

  • Provide a safe environment for children and young people participating in golfing activities and try to ensure that they enjoy the experience.
  • Ensure robust systems are in place to manage any concerns or allegations.
  • Support adults (staff, volunteers, PGA Professionals, coaches, members and visitors) to understand their roles and responsibilities with regard to their Duty of Care and protection of children.
  • Provide appropriate level training, support and resources for staff, volunteers & coaches to make informed and confident responses to specific safeguarding issues and fulfill their role effectively.
  • Ensure that children and their parents/carers are informed and consulted and, where appropriate, fully involved in decisions that affect them.
  • Ensure that everyone involved in a role with children have been through appropriate pre-recruitment checks.

OUR COMMITMENT:

Princes Risborough Golf Club, as part of England Golf are committed to the fact that every child and participant in golf should be afforded the right to thrive through being involved in sporting activity for life, in an enjoyable, safe environment, and be protected from harm. We acknowledge the additional vulnerability of some groups of children (e.g. disabled, looked after children, those with communication differences). We will ensure that the environment is appropriate for the child and tailored to their needs so that they have a positive experience of their sport and do this without risk of harm.

COMPLAINTS, CONCERNS AND ALLEGATIONS

  1. If a player, parent/carer, member of staff or volunteer has a concern about the welfare of a child, or the conduct of another child/young person or an adult (whether they are a parent, coach, member, or otherwise), these concerns should be brought to the attention of the PRGC Welfare Officer or England Golf Lead Safeguarding Officer without delay. The person reporting the concern is not required to decide whether abuse has occurred, but simply has a duty to pass their concerns and any relevant information to the PRGC Welfare Officer or England Golf Lead Safeguarding Officer. Please refer to Flowcharts 1 & 2 for further details (see below).
  2. All concerns will be treated in confidence. Details should only be shared on a ‘need to know’ basis with those who can help with the management of the concern.
  3. Concerns will be recorded on an Incident Report Form
  4. We will work with England Golf and other external agencies to take appropriate action where concerns relate to potential abuse or serious poor practice.
  5. In the event of a child making a disclosure of any type of abuse, the following guidance will be followed:We will reassure them that they have done the right thing to share the information ...
    • Listen carefully
    • Will not make promises that cannot be kept, such as promising not to tell anyone else
    • Will not seek to actively question the child or lead them in any way to disclose more information than they are comfortably able to: this may compromise any future action. We will only ask questions to clarify our understanding where needed e.g. can you tell me what you mean by the word xxxxx?
    • We will record what the child has said as soon as possible on an incident report form. Parents, guardians or carers of the child will be informed at the earliest opportunity if the allegation does not involve them. We may wish to seek advice from England Golf Lead Safeguarding Officer Tel: 01526 351824.
  6. The NSPCC Helpline is available to discuss concerns regarding poor practice and abuse in confidence with members of the public who need support. Those with concerns are encouraged to use this service. The Helpline number is 0808 800 5000.
  7. Safeguarding children and young people requires everyone to be committed to the highest possible standards of openness, integrity and accountability. PRGC and England Golf supports an environment where staff, volunteers, parents/carers and the public are encouraged to raise safeguarding and child protection concerns. Anyone who reports a legitimate concern to the organisation (even if their concerns subsequently appear to be unfounded) will be supported. All concerns will be taken seriously.

EMERGENCIES AND INCIDENTS

  1. Where children are participating in events or activities, or attending coaching organised by PRGC, Parental Consent Forms will be obtained. These forms will be retained, treated in confidence and only shared with those who require the information they contain to perform their role effectively.
  2. In the event of a child requiring medical attention: The parents will be contacted immediately.• In the event of failure to contact parents, the alternative emergency contacts will be used.
    • The consent form will be consulted to establish whether parents have given their consent for a PRGC or representative to act in loco parentis.
    • An adult PRGC representative will accompany the child to seek medical attention, if appropriate, ensuring that they take the consent form with them.
    • A record of the action taken will be made and retained by the PRGC Welfare Officer.
  3. Where a parent is late in collecting their child the following procedure will apply:We will attempt to contact the parent/carer using the contact details on the Parental Consent Form• We will attempt to contact the first, then the second emergency contact nominated on the Consent Form
    • We will wait with the young person(s) at the venue with, wherever possible, other staff/volunteers or parents.
    • If no one is reachable, we will contact the Welfare Officer for advice.
    • If all attempts to make contact fail, consideration will be given to contacting the police for their advice.

    Staff, Volunteers & Coaches will avoid:
    • Taking the child home or to another location without consent.
    • Asking the child to wait in a vehicle or the club with them alone.
    • Sending the child home with another person without permission.

SUPERVISION

  1. During coaching sessions, coaches will conduct a risk assessment to inform decision making about appropriate supervision levels. Regardless of the recommended ratio of adults to participants, it is recommended that a minimum of two adults should be present. This ensures at least basic cover in the event of something impacting on the availability of one of the adults during the activity.
  2. Parents may be encouraged to stay for coaching/competitions & other events where their children are of an age where greater levels of parental supervision is required.
  3. Parents should be made aware that with limited changing room space there may be occasions when adults and children may need to share the facilities.
  4. Parents should be aware that if children are left at a venue unsupervised, other than to attend specific coaching sessions, PRGC  cannot accept supervisory responsibility.

 

GOOD PRACTICE GUIDELINES WE FOLLOW AT PRGC

  1. Behaviour of adults and children
    1. Adults who work with children are placed in a position of trust in relation to children, and therefore it is important they behave appropriately and provide a strong positive role model for children, both to protect children and those working with children from allegations of poor practice. Codes of conduct will be issued to junior members & adults working with them to promote good practice.
    2. PRGC and England Golf requires that all staff and volunteers working with children adhere to the standards set out in the Code of Conduct relevant to their role. Similarly, children and all participants are expected to follow their own code of conduct to ensure the enjoyment of all participants.
  2. Adults and Children playing golf togetherOne of the reasons for the popularity of golf is that the game is not restricted by ability, age or gender. Responsible interaction between adults and children helps bring mutual respect and understanding and will be encouraged as part of club activities. Adults should always be aware, however, that age related differences do exist and conduct themselves in a manner that both recognises this and prioritises the welfare of any children involved.
  3. Physical ContactPhysical contact with children by coaches or volunteers should always be intended to meet the needs of the child and the sport, not the adult. That is, to develop golf technique, to protect the child from injury, to provide first aid or treat an injury. It should always take place in an open environment, and should not, as a general principle, be made gratuitously or unnecessarily.
  4. Transport
    1. PRGC and England Golf believes it is the responsibility of parents/carers to transport their child/children to and from events. It is not the responsibility of PRGC to transport children and young people to and from events, activities, tournaments or matches.
    2. PRGC may make arrangements for transport in exceptional circumstances, such as team events. Where this is the case, the written permission of the parent/carer of the relevant children will be sought. The drivers used will be checked for their suitability to transport and supervise children.
  5. Photography/ Videoing
    1. Permission will be sought from parents prior to the publication or use of any video or photographic images of their child, for instance in newspapers, websites or for coaching purposes. The personal details of the child will not be used in any promotional material unless consent from the parents/carer is obtained.
    2. Any press/official photographers attending events will be required to seek permission from PRGC before taking photographs and also permission of parents to use the images.
  6. Anti Bullying ProceduresWe believe that every effort must be made to eradicate bullying in all its forms. Bullying can be difficult to define and can take many forms which can be categorised as;
    Physical – hitting, kicking, theft
    • Verbal – homophobic or racist remarks, threats, name calling ~
    • Emotional – isolating an individual from activities or a groupAll forms of bullying include;
    • Deliberate hostility & aggression towards an individual(s)
    • A victim who is weaker and less powerful than the bully or bullies
    • An outcome which is always painful & distressing for the victim Bullying behaviour may also include;
    • Other forms of violence • Sarcasm, spreading rumours, persistent teasing
    • Tormenting, ridiculing, humiliation
    • Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures
    • Unwanted physical contact or abusive or offensive comments of a sexual nature.

    PRGC & Coaches will not tolerate bullying in any of its forms during events, competitions, coaching or at any other time.

    We will:
    • Provide a point of contact where those being bullied can report their concerns in confidence – the PRGC Welfare Officer.
    • Take the problem seriously.
    • Investigate any and all incidents and accusations of bullying.
    • Talk to bullies and their victims separately along with their parents/carers.
    • Impose sanctions where appropriate
    • Keep a written record of all incidents referred to PRGC and the action taken.
    • Have discussions about bullying and why it matters.

  7. Confidentiality
    1. Details of all juniors will be kept on file and secure. Details will not be shared with a third party without parent/carer consent.
    2. All concerns/allegations will be dealt with confidentially by the Welfare Officer and information will only be shared on a need to know basis, either internally or externally depending on the nature/seriousness of the concern/allegation.
  8. Changing roomsThe changing rooms are used by all members & visitors. When children are attending events/coaching sessions parents should be made aware that adults use the changing rooms throughout the day for changing & showering. Where a parent/carer does not consent to their child accessing the changing rooms, it is their responsibility to either supervise the child while in the changing rooms or ensure that they do not use them.