Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

Child Protection Policy Statement

LSC acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice.

The policy recognises that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. It aims to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, all children:

• Have a positive and enjoyable experience of sport at LSC in a safe and child-centred environment.
• Are protected from abuse whilst participating in any LSC session or outside of the activity.

LSC acknowledges that some children, including disabled children and young people or those from ethnic minority communities, can be particularly vulnerable to abuse. We accept the responsibility to take reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure their welfare.

As Part of Our Safeguarding Policy, LSC Will:

• Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.
• Ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding.
• Provide appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns.
• Ensure appropriate action is taken following incidents or concerns of abuse and support is provided to individuals who raise or disclose concerns.
• Ensure confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored.
• Prevent the employment or deployment of unsuitable individuals.
• Ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are operating effectively.

The policy and procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in LSC. Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal from the organisation.

A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).

Monitoring

The policy will be reviewed a year after development and then every three years, or in the following circumstances:

• Changes in legislation and/or government guidance.
• As required by the Local Safeguarding Children Board, UK Sport and/or Home Country Sports Councils and LSC.
• As a result of any other significant change or event.

Promoting Good Practice

Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with judgement about the appropriate action to take.

Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and sporting environment. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order to harm them.

A coach, instructor, teacher, official or volunteer will have regular contact with young people and can play an important role in identifying cases where children may need protection. All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines within this policy.

When a child enters the club having experienced abuse outside of the sporting environment, sport can play a crucial role in improving their self-esteem. In such instances, LSC will work with appropriate agencies to ensure the child receives the required support.

Good Practice Guidelines

All employees should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to protect themselves from false allegations. The following are common-sense examples of how to create a positive culture and climate.

Good practice means:

• Always working in an open environment, avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication.
• Treating all young people and disabled adults equally, with respect and dignity.
• Always putting the welfare of each young person first.
• Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with children.
• Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust and empowering children to share in decision making.
• Making sport fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play.
• Ensuring that if any form of manual or physical support is required, it is provided openly and according to appropriate coaching guidelines.
• If it is difficult to maintain hand positions when a child is constantly moving, young people should always be consulted and their agreement gained.
• Considering the views of parents and carers regarding physical support and ensuring their opinions are respected.
• Keeping up to date with technical skills, qualifications and insurance requirements.
• Involving parents and carers wherever possible. For example, encouraging them to take responsibility for their children in changing rooms.
• If groups need to be supervised in changing rooms, ensuring parents, teachers, coaches or officials work in pairs.
• Being an excellent role model, including not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of young people.
• Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
• Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of young people and disabled adults.
• Avoiding excessive training or competition and never pushing children against their will.
• Securing parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis if emergency first aid and/or medical treatment is required.
• Recording any injury that occurs, including details of any treatment provided through the BMS.

Practices to Be Avoided

The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If a situation arises where these circumstances are unavoidable, for example a child requires hospital treatment or a parent fails to arrive at collection time, this should only happen with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge at the club or the child’s parent/carer.

Avoid:

• Spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others.
• Taking or dropping off a child to an event.

Practices Never to Be Sanctioned

The following behaviours are never acceptable:

• Engaging in rough physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.
• Sharing a room with a child.
• Allowing or engaging in any form of inappropriate touching.
• Allowing children to use inappropriate language without challenge.
• Making sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in humour.
• Reducing a child to tears as a form of control.
• Allowing allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.
• Doing things of a personal nature for children or disabled adults that they can do themselves.
• Inviting or allowing children to stay at your home unsupervised.

Incidents That Must Be Reported and Recorded

If any of the following occur, you must report the incident immediately to the Site Lead and record the details. You should also ensure parents/carers of the child are informed where appropriate.

• If you accidentally hurt a participant.
• If a participant appears distressed in any manner.
• If a participant appears to be sexually aroused by your actions.
• If a participant misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done.

Use of Mobile Phones, Photographic and Filming Equipment

LSC recognises the importance of mobile phones within our settings for communication purposes. However, we are aware that inappropriate use of mobile phones during school sessions or holiday clubs could pose a safeguarding risk to children.

• Practitioners are not permitted to use recording equipment on personal mobile phones, including taking photographs, videos or sharing images of children.
• Practitioners must not carry personal mobile phones while working. Phones must be handed to the Site Lead and stored in an agreed secure area at the start of each session.
• If practitioners have a scheduled break during working hours, they may use their personal mobile phone during this time in an agreed area away from children, such as an office or staff room.
• If a practitioner needs to make a personal call during a session, this must be agreed with their line manager and made away from children.
• Practitioners must provide the office telephone number 0800 032 1806 to their emergency contact so they can be contacted during session hours if required.
• Due to the mobile nature of our business, Site Lead Practitioners may carry mobile phones for work duties only.
• At the beginning of every session, Head Practitioners must ensure no other practitioners have personal mobile phones on their person.
• If a practitioner has a personal phone, the Head Practitioner must ensure it is placed securely in the agreed storage area until the end of the session.
• The Head Practitioner must ensure all children attending sessions have been correctly booked and parents/carers have agreed to LSC’s terms and conditions.
• Parents/carers must be aware that LSC may occasionally take photographs or film children participating in activities for the purpose of promoting and publicising LSC activities through literature, websites, press and television.
• Any photographs or films taken by Head Practitioners must be uploaded to the LSC server and deleted from personal devices as soon as possible.
• If Head Practitioners need to use their phone for work purposes, they should do so away from children wherever possible.

Safer Recruitment

LSC recognises that our workforce is our most important resource. We understand that unsuitable individuals may seek opportunities through employment or volunteering in order to gain access to children and young people.

We also recognise that children, young people and families benefit from our efforts to recruit a skilled, committed and diverse workforce from a range of backgrounds.

New staff and volunteers cannot perform their roles effectively unless they receive appropriate induction, ongoing support and supervision.

We recruit and induct our workforce by:

• Advertising all posts through appropriate media and in a way that attracts high-quality applicants from diverse backgrounds.
• Ensuring all applications for paid and volunteer positions are completed using our standard application form.
• Involving more than one person in shortlisting applicants for interview.
• Ensuring at least two people conduct face-to-face interviews with candidates we may wish to appoint.
• Ensuring all candidates are asked the LSC core interview questions, with responses recorded.
• Incorporating the views and perspectives of children, young people and families into recruitment processes wherever appropriate.
• Obtaining two references, two forms of identification and original copies of relevant qualifications from candidates.
• Carrying out DBS checks and appropriate vetting procedures for all staff and volunteers working with children and young people.
• Verifying candidate suitability through completion of LSC’s Staff Declaration in accordance with government guidance.
• Providing a three-month induction period for all new staff and volunteers.
• Ensuring all staff understand how to keep children and young people safe during their induction period.
• Appointing staff and volunteers initially on a probation period, with a review before confirmation in post.
• Following safe recruitment procedures at all times.

Mandatory Training

All delivery staff employed by LSC, whether paid or voluntary, must complete Level 2 Safeguarding training before being placed in any setting.

Training is completed through the company training platform to ensure staff practice meets the requirements for creating a positive culture around safeguarding, good practice and child protection.

• All Site Leads must complete national first aid training where required.
• All delivery staff must complete an annual safeguarding refresher course through the company training platform.
• Staff must complete refresher online First Aid training where applicable.

Recognising and Responding to Concerns

It is not the responsibility of anyone working at LSC, whether paid or unpaid, to decide whether child abuse has taken place. However, everyone has a responsibility to act on concerns by reporting them to the appropriate authorities.

It can be extremely difficult for children and young people to speak openly about abuse. Some children may fear negative consequences, delay telling someone or never disclose what has happened.

It is vital that children and young people feel able to speak out and that whoever they tell takes them seriously and responds appropriately.

Even when a child does not verbally disclose abuse, there may be signs or indicators that something is wrong. Everyone working with children must understand how to recognise these signs and respond appropriately.

If a Child Discloses Abuse, You Should:

Show you care and help them open up:

• Give the child your full attention and maintain open, encouraging body language.
• Be compassionate, understanding and reassure them that their feelings are important.
• Use supportive phrases such as “you have shown courage by telling me.”

Take your time and allow the child to speak:

• Respect pauses and do not interrupt.
• Allow the child to share information at their own pace.
• Recognise and respond appropriately to their body language.
• Understand that it may take several conversations before a child shares everything they need to.

Show you understand and reflect back:

• Make it clear you are listening and interested in what the child is saying.
• Reflect back what they have told you to check understanding.
• Use the child’s own language to show you understand their experience.

Recording Concerns

These steps should be completed while taking a non-biased approach and making clear, accurate notes.

Records should include:

• The child’s details, including name, age and address.
• What the child said or did that caused concern.
• If the child made a verbal disclosure, record their exact words wherever possible.
• Any information provided by the child about the alleged abuser.

Concerns must then be reported within 48 hours, or as soon as possible, to the company Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

The DSL will assess the concern and, where appropriate, submit a referral to the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

The LADO will assess the situation and advise what action should be taken. A meeting may take place to identify how local agencies can work together to safeguard the child or young person.

See the appendices attached to this policy for procedures showing how LSC responds to concerns:

• Appendix 1: Allegations against a staff member.
• Appendix 2: Allegation of any other nature (Activity or Wraparound Clubs).
• Appendix 3: Allegation of any other nature (Holiday Clubs).

Whistleblowing

A whistleblower is a person who raises a genuine concern in good faith relating to suspected wrongdoing, poor practice or danger affecting children or young people.

If you have a genuine concern relating to any LSC activity, you should report it under the LSC Whistleblowing Policy.

LSC encourages employees to report suspected wrongdoing as soon as possible. All concerns will be taken seriously, investigated appropriately and confidentiality will be respected.

• Employees should feel able to raise genuine concerns without fear of reprisals, even if those concerns are later found to be mistaken.
• LSC will fully support and protect anyone who raises concerns in good faith that a colleague may be abusing a child.

Where there is a complaint against a member of staff, there may be three types of investigation:

• A criminal investigation.
• A child protection investigation.
• A disciplinary or misconduct investigation.

The outcome of police and child protection investigations may influence disciplinary investigations, but not necessarily.

Action

1. Concerns About Poor Practice

If, following consideration, an allegation is clearly related to poor practice, the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) will deal with the matter as a misconduct issue.

If the allegation concerns poor practice by the DSL, or if the matter has been handled inadequately and concerns remain, it should be reported to the HR Director who will decide how the allegation should be managed and whether disciplinary proceedings should begin.

2. Concerns About Suspected Abuse

Any suspicion that a child has been abused by a member of staff or volunteer must be reported immediately to the DSL.

The DSL will take appropriate action to ensure the safety of the child concerned and any other child who may be at risk.

• The DSL will refer allegations to the LADO, which may involve the police.
• Where appropriate, the police may be contacted directly, particularly in emergency or out-of-hours situations.
• Parents or carers will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the LADO.
• If a child is suspected of experiencing abuse from a parent, carer or family member, the DSL will contact the appropriate safeguarding agencies.
• If the DSL is the subject of an allegation, the concern must be reported to an alternative DSL or directly to the LADO.

Confidentiality

Every effort will be made to maintain confidentiality for everyone involved. Information will only be shared on a strict need-to-know basis.

This may include:

• The Designated Safeguarding Lead.
• The parents or carers of the person who is alleged to have been abused.
• The person making the allegation.
• The LADO and/or police.
• The LSC Manager.
• The alleged abuser (and their parents/carers if the alleged abuser is a child).

Information must be stored securely with restricted access to authorised individuals only, in line with data protection legislation.

Internal Enquiries and Suspension

Where an allegation is made regarding an employee:

• The employee may be temporarily suspended from duty with immediate effect while enquiries take place.
• The DSL will submit a referral to the LADO and await guidance.
• If the LADO determines the matter does not meet the required threshold, the internal disciplinary process may begin.
• The findings of investigations will be shared with the LADO where appropriate.
• Where an employee is dismissed due to safeguarding concerns, a referral will be made to the DBS.
• If the allegation meets the required threshold, a meeting will take place to identify how agencies can work together to safeguard the child.
• If the matter becomes a police-led investigation, the police will update the LADO regarding progress and outcomes.
• Information from criminal investigations may be shared with HR to support disciplinary processes.

Support to Deal With the Aftermath of Abuse

LSC recognises that children, parents/carers and staff may require support following safeguarding concerns or incidents.

Consideration should be given to appropriate support options, including helplines, support groups and professional services, to help maintain an open culture and support recovery.

Support should also be considered for anyone involved in an allegation, including the alleged perpetrator where appropriate.

Allegations of Previous Abuse

Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event. This may include disclosures from adults who experienced abuse as children or concerns relating to individuals who continue to work with children.

Where such allegations are made, LSC will follow safeguarding procedures and report concerns to the LADO or police where appropriate.

Anyone with a previous criminal conviction relating to offences against children is automatically excluded from working with children.

Where possible, referrals to police or social services should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours and the name of the person receiving the referral should be recorded.

Further Support

If you are worried about sharing safeguarding concerns with a senior colleague, you can contact social services or the police directly.

You can also contact:

• NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000
• Childline: 0800 1111