Safeguarding

Our safeguarding principles

·       Children, young people and Adults at Risk have the right to protection from incidents of harm, exploitation, poor practice, abuse, mistreatment and exploitation in any form. This is regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, or socio-economic background.

·       We will always adopt a person-centred approach and put anyone at risk at the heart of our decision-making processes.

·       Safeguarding is the collective responsibility of everyone connected with the Club and we continually strive to create an environment where everyone is empowered to protect themselves and others.

·       The safety and welfare of everyone must always be our priority in making any decision. We must always take into account the best interests and ongoing needs of any child, young person or Adult at Risk. It is important that we recognise an individual’s rights to participate in the decisions about themselves wherever possible, in line with their maturity and needs.

·       The Club is committed to address any additional vulnerability or extra barriers that children, young people or Adults at Risk may face (for example those in care, those with specific mental health issues or other disabilities). We also recognise that talented and elite football players may be additionally vulnerable.

·       We continue to work collaboratively and in partnership with parents, carers and all relevant statutory agencies or other external stakeholders.

·       We strive to communicate openly and transparently and create best practice approaches; we encourage challenge if it helps us to improve the development of our safeguarding framework.

·       We recruit staff (including, for the purposes of this policy, casual workers, agency staff, consultants, volunteers and researchers) in line with our robust safer recruitment practices and individuals are only employed after the completion of all necessary checks and referencing.

·       When appropriate we will report to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) anybody delivering a Regulated Activity for the Club who is believed by us to present a risk of harm to a child, young person or Adult at Risk. Where the Club ‘withdraws permission’ for a person to deliver a Regulated Activity they will also be reported to the DBS without exception.

·       All suspicions or allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to efficiently, fairly and appropriately. Any necessary referral or sharing of information will always be completed promptly and without undue delay.

·       We ensure that our staff are role models of good behaviour and have appropriate supervision and training in place to support them.