Reviewed: February 2022
Safeguarding is our number one priority and it is important to us that all staff and visitors adhere to this policy at all times. Failure to do so may result in action being taken to remedy the concerns, this may include but is not limited to making reports to the police, barring and disclosure service, the local authority designated officers, schools and other relevant organisations. Where a safeguarding concern arises, we will act swiftly to deal with it putting the vulnerable person’s needs and interests first at all times.
Scope and purpose
The aims and intentions of A Hill Sport LTD are to deliver engaging sport and non-traditional activity sessions to children and adults. We want to encourage lifelong participation in physical activity and instil a love of movement.
This safeguarding policy is designed as such to reflect the needs of the children, young people and adults with extra needs our organisation works with and aligns with other key safeguarding and organisational policies, procedures and standards.
The purpose of this policy statement is:
- To protect the children, young people and vulnerable adults, including those with extra needs, who receive services or take part in sessions delivered by A Hill Sport LTD from harm.
- To provide staff, volunteers, parents of children and young people attending our sessions, their siblings or similar-aged peers who may not be taking part, as well as the children, young people and adults who are taking part in our sessions or receiving our services with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.
This policy applies to and should be adopted by anyone working on behalf of A Hill Sport LTD, the company licensed to use the name Active Future Leicester, their directors or alongside the organisation where a sufficient safeguarding policy does not already exist; this includes managers, paid staff, volunteers, seasonal workers, agency staff, apprentices, students, premises managers, external contractors, etc.
Legal Framework
This policy has been drawn up based on legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. A summary of key legislation, as it is updated, can be found at https://nspcc.org.uk/learning.
Safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children
A Hill Sport LTD recognises that we have a duty and responsibility under the Children Act 1989 and the Children Act 2004 for making arrangements that ensures all of our functions are discharged having regard to the safeguarding of young people and promoting their welfare whilst in our care. A young person is defined as a child until their eighteenth birthday.
The statutory framework ‘Working together to safeguard children: statutory framework’, first published in 2015 and revised in 2018, defines the safeguarding and promotion of the welfare of children as:
- Protecting children from maltreatment including protecting children from abuse and neglect,
- Preventing the impairment of children’s health and development,
- Ensuring that children grow up in circumstances that are consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and;
- Taking action to enable all children to have the best outcomes.
The statutory frameworks can be found here and include all most recent updates.
Supporting Documents
This policy statement should be read alongside other organisational policies, procedures, guidance and other related documents. These include:
Why we have this policy
- Children, young people and adults with extra needs in our care, and adults we work with, and any person in general for that matter, should never experience any abuse of any kind.
- As responsible employers and service providers to vulnerable (and non-vulnerable) people, we have a responsibility to promote the welfare and to keep our staff and customers safe and operate in a way that protects children, young people and any other vulnerable people we work with. This responsibility stretches to our non-vulnerable customers and staff.
- The welfare of children and vulnerable people is the most important in the work that we do and any decisions we take regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion, belief, sex or sexual orientation. All people, regardless of these characteristics and any other characteristics set out by the Equalities Act 2010 have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse.
- We recognise that some individuals are additionally vulnerable because of the impact of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication or other issues they live with.
Keeping customers and staff safe
It is paramount that our staff and customers are kept safe and that additional steps are taken to protect those who are vulnerable. We will do this by:
- Valuing our customers and staff by listening to and showing them respect at all times.
- Appointing a nominated safeguarding lead who will act as a nominated child protection lead for children and young people.
- Adopting child protection and safeguarding best practices through policies, procedures and codes of conduct that our staff, volunteers and other workers will be expected to adhere to at all times.
- Develop and implement effective online safety policies and related procedures where necessary.
- Providing effective management of workers through supervision, support, training, quality assurance measures and other means that support workers to implement adequate safeguarding measures.
- Ensure all relevant checks are made when recruiting and selecting workers.
- Recording, storing and unsing information professionally and securely in line with data protection legislation and guidance set out by the Information Commissioner’s Office.
- Sharing information about safeguarding and good practice with our customers and their families where appropriate.
- Making sure that our customers and their families know where to go if they have a concern.
- Using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involve other relevant persons appropriately.
- Using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff, volunteers and other workers and other customers appropriately.
- Creating and maintaining an environment free from prejudice, bullying, abuse and harm and implementing policies and procedures to help us deal effectively with any issues contrary to this environment that may arise.
- Ensuring that we have effective complaints procedures in place.
- Building a culture focused on safeguarding where staff, volunteers and other workers, customers and children, young people and adults with extra needs and their families treat others with respect and are comfortable sharing their concerns.
- By regularly reviewing this policy and updating our policies and procedures as necessary.
Contact Details:
Company:
A Hill Sport LTD
20 Shakespeare Close
Leicester
LE3 2SX
Nominated child protection & safeguarding lead
Name: Andrew Hill
Phone: 07454777552 (emergency use only) / 0116 410 5123