Injuries and Pre-Existing Injuries Policy

Last reviewed: June 2021

The purpose of this document governs how we handle injuries that occur during the provision of any of our services or pre-existing injuries which have occurred prior to our service being provided. It is broken down into two separate parts, the first part governs how we handle injuries concerning adults and the second part governs how we handle injuries concerning children and vulnerable people (this includes adults who do not have the capacity to make their own decisions (as set out in Part 2 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005).

For the purposes of this policy, a pre-existing injury is defined as any injury or short-term illness which has occurred or developed prior to attending the service. It does not apply to life-long conditions or long-term illnesses which must be declared prior to the inception of any service except.

For the purposes of this policy, we use the term “injury” in reference to injuries or illness and the term “parent” to refer to parents, guardians, carers, and authorised adults (see our safeguarding policy for the definition of “authorised adult”).

We want to assure parents/carers that any safeguarding reports we make are done so in the best interest of the child/vulnerable person. It does not reflect our feelings, opinions or view of their caregivers as individuals. It is important that we eliminate our personal feelings and opinions from any actions relating to safeguarding so as to not influence our safeguarding decisions.

Unfortunately, abuse does exist, and it is becoming more prevalent within society today. There have been many instances of child abuse in the media which has resulted in the death of a child where often, many professionals have recognised signs of abuse but haven’t acted because they believe it is either not their responsibility and that someone else will likely have already raised the same concerns or because they feel their concerns are too trivial or because they are afraid of offending their customers. However, we believe that every concern must be acted upon. However, it is not our responsibility to investigate abuse or to identify an abuser, it is only our legal obligation to ensure that concerns of abuse are reported in a timely manner.

Adults Injuries and Pre-Existing Injuries Policy

This section of the policy applies to adults who act as consumers of our services and does not apply to adults who are dropping children off to act as a consumer of our services.

  1. Where an adult identifies a pre-existing injury has occurred prior to attending a service, we will conduct an on-the-spot risk assessment to ascertain whether it is appropriate for the individual to continue receiving the service until they are recovered or physically well enough to continue receiving the service.
  2. Adults must make it known to the lead coach, in writing, preferably using our prescribed Injury Report Form of any pre-existing injury. No liability is accepted by A Hill Sport LTD for consequences that arise as a failure to disclose an injury.
  3. Where an injury is present and an adult wishes to continue receiving the service, they may do so only with the advice and on the authority of a medical professional. We reserve the right to refuse service regardless of the authority of a medical professional if we feel it is in the consumer’s best interest.
  4. Where an injury occurs during the provision of our services, it will be attended to by a qualified first aider provided the injury can be safely treated. Where it cannot be safely treated, the individual will be asked to attend medical services which may include Accident and Emergency. Where a serious injury occurs, an ambulance may be called to provide medical assistance.
  5. Where an injury occurs during the provision of our services, the injury will be documented in our Accident Book kept in our First-Aid kit and a copy of this form will be made available to the individual should they request it in writing. This form will later be made into a digital copy and uploaded to our secure server and the hard copy kept on record in the accident book. There will be no right to request deletion of such data, which will be kept for six years.

Children and Vulnerable Adults Injuries and Pre-Existing Injuries Policy

            This section of the policy applies to children who act as the consumer of our services and is to be read and applied in accordance with our Child Safeguarding Policies.

  1. Where a parent/carer declares a pre-existing injury, they will be asked to complete a Pre-Existing injury form and explain how the injury occurred and what action has been taken to treat the injury.
    1. If the injury raises a safeguarding concern for any member of staff, they have a legal obligation to report their concerns no matter how trivial they feel it may be. A Hill Sport LTD takes the safeguarding of children very seriously and we operate on a “just in case” basis.
  2. If a child/vulnerable adult discloses a pre-existing injury to us, we will help them to complete a Pre-Existing injury form as far as their ability permits them to do so. We adopt a culture of professional curiosity when injuries occur to children and act accordingly. Depending on the nature of the injury, we will take relevant steps to safeguard the child. This may include reporting the injury or enquiring with the parent/carer; it is important for us to operate in a manner which ensures the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is our highest priority. Depending on the outcome of our enquiries with the parent/carer, further action may be taken to ensure the safeguarding of customers.
  3. Where concern exists and the outcome of any report is such that it is recommended that the individual is not released back into the custody of the parent/carer, the individual will be kept under our supervision until such time an appropriate person arrives, an appropriate person may be a social worker or a police officer.
    1. Where this causes conflict and our staff feel there is a risk of behavioural escalation or risk of violence or harm towards the staff member or the individual, they are instructed to immediately call 999.
  4. Where a concern is so severe that our staff feel that by releasing the individual back into the custody of the parent/carer they may be at immediate risk of harm, they are instructed to call 999 and maintain supervision of the individual until the police arrive.
  5. Where an injury is present and their parent/carer wishes for the child/vulnerable person to continue receiving the service, they may do so only with the advice and on the authority of a medical professional. We reserve the right to refuse service regardless of the authority of a medical professional if we feel it is in the consumer’s best interest.
  6. Where an injury occurs during the provision of our services, it will be attended to by a qualified first aider provided the injury can be safely treated. Where it cannot be safely treated, the individual will be asked to attend medical services which may include Accident and Emergency. Where a serious injury occurs, an ambulance may be called to provide medical assistance.
    1. Where an ambulance is called, we will immediately attempt to contact the parent/carer to accompany them to the hospital. Where this is unsuccessful, the child/vulnerable person will be signed off into the care of the emergency services professional and taken to the appropriate hospital, details of which will be provided to the parent/carer at the earliest opportunity.
    2. It is likely that, where an injury occurs which requires them to attend medical services, the parent/carer will be asked to remove the child/vulnerable person from the programme until such medical care has been sought. Where this is not possible, an ambulance may be called, and the previous point (a) will apply.
  7. Where an injury occurs during the provision of our services, the injury will be documented in our Accident Book kept in our First-Aid kit and a copy of this form will be made available to the individual should they request it in writing. This form will later be made into a digital copy and uploaded to our secure server and the hard copy kept on record in the accident book. There will be no right to request deletion of such data, which will be kept for six years.