This Policy to all staff including management, coaches, sessional workers, students, volunteers or anyone working on behalf of First Touch Football.
The purpose of this policy:
- To protect children and young people who receive First Touch Football services;
- To provide staff and volunteers with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding and child protection;
First Touch Football believes that a child or young person should never experience abuse. We have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and young people and to keep them safe. We are committed to practice in a way that protects them.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
This policy has been drawn up on the basis on law and guidance that seeks to protect children, namely:
- Children Act 1989
- United Convention of the Rights of the Child 1991
- Data Protection Act 1998
- Human Rights Act 1998
- Sexual Offenses Act 2003
- Children Act 2004
- Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
- Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
- Children and Families Act 2014
- Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) code of practice; 0-25 years - statuary guidance for organisations which work with and support children and young people who have special educational needs or disabilities; HM Government 2014
- Information Sharing: Advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services to children, young people, parents and carers; HM Government 2015
- Working together to safeguarding children; A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children; HM Government 2015
This Policy should be read along side our policies and procedures on:
- Recruitment, Induction and training
- Role of the designated safeguarding officer
- Dealing with disclosures and concerns about a child or young person
- Managing allegations against staff and volunteers
- Recording and information sharing
- Code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Safer recruitment (VET Checks)
- E-Safety
- Anti-Bullying
- Complaints
- Whistleblowing
- Health and Safety
- Training, supervision and support
- Lone working policy and procedure
- Quality Assurance
We recognise that:
- The welfare of the child is paramount, as enshrined in the Children Act 1989.
- All children, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity, have a right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse.
- Some children are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependancy, communication needs or other issues
- Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young peoples welfare
We will seek to keep children and young people safe by;
- Valuing them, listening too and respecting them
- Appointing a Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) for children and young people, a deputy and a head of management for safeguarding
- Adopting child protection and safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for staff and volunteers
- Developing and implementing an effective E-Safety policy and related procedures
- Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures
- Recruiting staff and volunteers safely ensuring all necessary checks are made
- Recording and storing information professionally and securely
- Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
- Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
- Creating and maintaining an Anti-Bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal affectively with any bullying that does arise
- Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
- Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
CONTACT DETAILS
Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO)
Name: David Hoar
Phone: 07824336705
Email: davehoar@hotmail.co.uk
Deputy DSO
Name: David Pearce
Phone: 07969165715
Email: dave_pearce11@hotmail.co.uk
CEOP
www.ceop.police.uk
