Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy
PROCEDURES
In accordance with the Safeguarding Protection Policy of Kesteven Rugby Football Club, the following procedures need to be understood and adhered to by all Coaches/Managers and Helpers.
ACCUSATION OR SUSPICION OF CHILD ABUSE
If any of the following occurs, the individual becoming aware of an incident of allegation must contact either the Child Safeguarding Officer or the Chairman of the Mini/Junior/Youth and Girls Section.
• A child reports or is heard telling someone else of an abusive incident.
• A Coach/Manager or Helper suspects that a child has been abused whilst not in the care of Kesteven Rugby Football Club.
• A Coach/Manager or Helper suspects that a child has been abused by another Coach/Manager or Helper from Kesteven Rugby Football Club.
• A Coach/Manager or Helper suspects that a child has been abused by another child from Kesteven Rugby Football Club.
The Coach/Manager or Helper must not conduct their own enquiry or line of questioning into any incident as this could jeopardize any further professional investigation that may need to take place. Their duty is to report it to the Club Safeguarding Officer or Chairman Mini/Junior section immediately.
The Club Safeguarding Officer and Chairman will consider the allegations together and document all information obtained. If it is thought that the allegation has substance, then the relevant authorities will be contacted for advice and/or to investigate. The Club Safeguarding Officer and Chairman will provide feedback to those concerned where ever possible. The person responsible for the Safeguarding Protection Policy of the Nott’s, Lincs and Derby Rugby Union Society (Three Counties) and the Senior Club Chairman will be kept informed from the first report of the allegation.
RECORDING ATTENDANCE, INJURIES AND ACCIDENTS
Each Age Group should have a log book which should be completed at each training session and match. It should contain a record of the following:
• Attendance Records.
• Details of any incident, including injuries, accidents, fights, arguments of anything which the Lead Coach/Manager, Coach (es) or Helper (s) feel (s) worthy of note.
In the case of an injury or accident, the following procedure should be used as a guide:
• Send for Emergency Services immediately, if required.
• Do not move the player.
• Do not do anything you are not qualified to do for the player.
• Do not let any other person attend to the player who you do not feel is qualified to do so. If you feel that another person may be able to help ask for their qualification and get them confirmed by others. You are in charge – it is your responsibility.
• Stay with the player
• Notify the parents or Guardian. It is imperative that a parent or guardian is notified of any incident involving their child. This should be done, depending on the circumstances: (a) immediately by telephone. (b) After the match/training session at the ground (c) or after the match/training session by telephone.
• Put a note of the injuries or accident in your log book. If the parent/guardian was contacted, add by whom and when.
• If the incident was serious and the match was refereed by a Society Referee ask for him to send you a copy of his serious Incident Report.
• Notify the Club Secretary, Club Safeguarding Officer and Mini/Junior Chairman.
• In the event that an injury results in an overnight hospital stay you must inform the Club Safeguarding Officer who will follow the reportable injury protocols. The RFU Reportable Injury Event Report is available at www.rfu.com/firstaid.
• Follow the basic guidelines attached to this procedure.
RECRUITING/APPOINTING COACHES/MANAGERS/HELPERS
All applicants for Coaches/Managers and Helpers will be required to complete an Application/Consent Form. Any applicant who is not prepared to complete the form in its entirety will not be appointed as a Coach/Manager helper or Committee Member.
The Mini/Junior Chairman and the Club Safeguarding Officer will vet all applications. Referees will be taken up by letter and checked by the Club Safeguarding Officer; notes of these checks will be added to the back of the form (minimum information; date; person checked; contacting person; information gained and signature).
If there is any doubt about an applicant, it should be recommended that the application be refused. No feedback will be given to the applicant apart from the fact they have not been appointed as a Coach/Manager helper or Committee Member.
If there is any suspicious of previous crimes against children, the application should be referred to the NLD person nominated to be responsible for child protection.
Applications once vetted will be presented to the next monthly meeting with recommendations. It will be up to the meeting to endorse these recommendations.
AVAILABILITY OF PLAYER INFORMATION
Lead Coaches/Managers should have with them at all times during matches and training sessions, relevant information about each player to include (but not limited to):
• Surname
• Forename
• Date of Birth
• Parent/Guardian Telephone Numbers
• Any Medical Conditions
• Doctors Name
Lead Coaches/Managers will arrange that the RFU and Club Registration Forms are filled in and returned to the Registration secretary as soon as a new player joins the club.
Tracie Linehan – Club Safeguarding Officer
Susan Hodgson – Club Safeguarding Officer
Approved by Senior Committee member- David Epton – Chairman
Update June 2014.
