Safeguarding and Protecting Children Policy

Rights

Children’s rights guide us in what our responsibilities are. The following rights are highlighted:

• Each child has the right to protection from all forms of abuse and harm

• Each child has a right to be treated as an individual

• Each child has the right to express views on all matters that affect them

Policy Principles

• Safeguarding and protecting children is everybody’s responsibility. We actively promote working together to safeguard and protect children. Doing nothing is NOT an option and all concerns must be reported.

• The welfare of the child is paramount and must be always prioritised. Children should never experience abuse or harm of any kind.

• Children have the right to protection from the risk of, or actual abuse and harm. Regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, their welfare and safety is paramount.

• Failure to safeguard the welfare and safety of children and protect them from the risk of, or actual abuse and harm, will be viewed as a breach of this policy.

• Working in partnership with children, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting children’s safety, wellbeing and welfare.

• All allegations or suspicions of abuse, harm or poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly, and appropriately.

• Children have the right to be treated as individuals and should be encouraged to express their views on matters affecting them and these views valued.

• We understand the needs of some children who may have an increased vulnerability to abuse and harm and need additional safeguards to be kept safe. For example: children with a physical disability, learning difficulties or mental health issues; children on a performance pathway or participating at an elite level; children from LGBTQ+ and/or black, Asian and other minority ethnic 3 groups; and children facing issues with circumstances away from triathlon such as domestic violence, poverty, or substance abuse.

• We recognise the role and responsibilities of the statutory agencies in safeguarding and protecting children and we are committed to fully complying with their safeguarding and protecting children’s procedures. All concerns and disclosures that indicate illegal action will be reported to external authorities.

Policy Scope

This policy applies to everyone involved in Thames Turbo Triathlon Club’s activity, whether or not they are members. This policy also applies while participating or competing at events, competitions or triathlon activity in England, Scotland, Wales and internationally.

Thames Turbo Triathlon Club will keep children safe by:

• Promoting and prioritising the safety and wellbeing of children. Ensure children have positive and enjoyable experience in the sport of triathlon in a safe and child centred environment whilst at Thames Turbo Triathlon Club.

• Take action against those who fail to safeguard the welfare and safety of children and protect them from the risk of, or actual abuse and harm. Ensure that appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents or concerns of abuse and support provided to the individual(s) who raise or disclose the concern.

• Ensure everyone is aware of their safeguarding and protecting children responsibilities and understands the procedures of what to do and who to contact if they have a safeguarding concern about the welfare and safety of children.

• Appointing a Club Welfare Officer to provide advice and guidance for safeguarding who has completed the relevant Club Welfare Officer Training as defined by British Triathlon and the Home Nations every three years.

• Ensuring all children are protected from all forms of abuse and harm whilst at Thames Turbo Triathlon Club and in the sport of triathlon.

• Develop a culture which empowers the reporting of concerns about children without fear of victimisation or reprisal.

• Abide by the British Triathlon Safeguarding and Protecting Children Policy, Safeguarding Standards and Safeguarding Procedures.

• Record, monitor and safely store confidential information of all safeguarding concerns to continuously improve the safeguarding programme at Thames Turbo Triathlon Club.

• Ensuring everyone at Thames Turbo Triathlon Club understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of Safeguarding Children and are provided with learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children.

• Following the Home Nations safeguarding reporting procedures and reporting concerns raised with the Home Nation Lead Safeguarding Officer.

• Ensuring that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored.

• Share information about anyone found to be a risk or a potential risk to children with the appropriate bodies including children’s parents, British Triathlon and the Home Nations and cooperate with the relevant authorities in taking action to safeguard a child.

• Making sure children and their parents know where to go for help or have a concern.

• Requiring club officers, coaches, other staff, members, and volunteers to adopt and abide by this policy.

• Ensuring there is a commitment to review safeguarding practice within the club via committee meetings and member involvement.

• Recruiting and selecting staff, coaches, activators and volunteers safely following British Triathlon and the Home Nations safe recruitment standards and best practice.

• Ensuring that all coaches, activators, volunteers, staff, club officers working or volunteering with children in Regulated Activity (as defined in the relevant legislation) hold Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS) through British Triathlon which is renewed every three years.

• Ensuring that all coaches and activators working or volunteering with children at Thames Turbo Triathlon Club obtain an appropriate safeguarding and protecting children training certificate as defined by British Triathlon and the Home Nations.

Abuse and Harm

The NSPCC identifies a number of types of abuse that may affect children. There are four main types:

Physical abuse

Neglect

Sexual abuse

Emotional abuse

The NSPCC identifies also identifies other forms of abuse that may affect children:

Bullying and cyberbullying

Child trafficking

Grooming

Criminal exploitation and gangs

Online abuse

Domestic abuse

Female genital mutilation (FGM)

Non-recent abuse

Child sexual exploitation (CSE)

Further information on types of abuse and neglect is available from NSPCC and Children 1st.

In addition to abuse, poor practice (which can also be known as low level concerns) is not acceptable and must be responded to appropriately when identified and reported.

Poor practice is behaviour:

• that may be on the fringe of abuse and/or if repeated would amount to abuse.

• which may not be immediately dangerous or intentionally harmful but nevertheless harms or places a child at risk of harm, or has a negative effect on their welfare and/or safety.

• that indicates an individual may pose an actual or risk of harm to a child.

• that is inconsistent or contrary with the Thames Turbo Triathlon Club’s, British Triathlon and Home Nation codes of ethics, codes of practice and safeguarding standards, best practice, and guidance.

Responding to a Safeguarding Concern

Everyone has a responsibility to take appropriate steps to ensure that concerns regarding the risk of and/or actual abuse or harm are taken seriously and responded to appropriately and reported, even if it may not have occurred recently.

If you think a child is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, you should call the emergency services.

It is important to remember the safety and welfare of children is paramount and must be prioritised at all times. You should not decide whether a child has been abused, nor is it your responsibility to investigate any safeguarding concerns or allegations, or determine whether abuse or harm has taken place, but rather report concerns appropriately.

Contact Details

Club Welfare Officer Name: Vicki Jones Phone/email: vicki.jones@gmail.com 07967 819591

British Triathlon Lead Safeguarding Officer: 07793 647578 | concern@britishtriathlon.org

Triathlon England Lead Safeguarding Officer: 07384214726 | concern@britishtriathlon.org

Welsh Triathlon Lead Safeguarding Officer: 0300 300 3128 / 07587 038156 | welfare@welshtriathlon.org

Triathlon Scotland Lead Wellbeing & Protection Officer: 07860 716 418 | welfare@triathlonscotland.org

Emergency Services: 999

NSPCC: 0808 800 5000 | email help@nspcc.org.uk.

Further useful contact details are included in Useful Contacts below.

All safeguarding concerns will be taken extremely seriously and once reported they will be triaged and managed through the Thames Turbo Triathlon Club’s procedures or British Triathlon and the Home Nations Safeguarding Procedures.

Confidentiality

All safeguarding concerns and allegations will be dealt with confidentiality and shared only on a need-to-know basis, not only to maintain the privacy of the individuals involved but also to ensure that evidence or any investigation is not compromised.

Anyone involved in a safeguarding concern or allegation should similarly ensure they maintain high levels of confidentiality. There may be circumstances where an individual raising a safeguarding concern or allegation does not wish to be named. It is not possible for Thames Turbo Triathlon Club and British Triathlon and the Home Nations to assure anonymity, as in some circumstances individuals will need to be named (for example, where it is necessary to carry out a fair process under the Safeguarding Procedures.

In certain situations, the Thames Turbo Triathlon Club, British Triathlon and the Home Nations Safeguarding Teams may be required to share information with statutory agencies and other relevant organisations where it is necessary and proportionate to prevent or manage the risk of harm in triathlon or to children. ‘7 Golden Rules’ of information sharing.