Club Policies

Report a Concern

 

CONCERNS REPORTING PROCEDURE

If you have any concerns with regards to the safety or well-being of a child or adult-at-risk, or concerns that you or someone else is being discriminated against or has been a victim of discriminatory language or behaviour then please follow this procedure:

RESPOND

Listen carefully to what the person is telling you.  Do not interrupt, keep questions to a minimum.

DO NOT PROMISE TO KEEP THE INFORMATION SECRET!

*

REFER

Is someone in immediate danger?

YES

Call the police (999)

THEN

NO

Talk to the Club Welfare Officer – for contact details see: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/EtwallTennisClub/Contacts

Talk to the LTA Safeguarding Team (020 847 7000) as soon as possible (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm).

If the Safeguarding Team is unavailable and you want advice before the next working day, call the NSPCC (0808 800 5000) if your concern is about a child.

If your concern is about an adult ask them for details of your Local Authority Social Care Service.

Hate crime can alternatively be reported through True Vision www.report-it.org.uk

RECORD

Write an objective and detailed account of your concerns immediately and send to the ETC Welfare Officer within 48 hours of the concern being raised.

Handling a concern/disclosure can be emotionally difficult. If you would like to talk to someone after raising a concern/disclosure, contact the LTA Safeguarding team by phone (020 8487 7000) or email safeguarding@lta.org.uk

Scope

This Concern Reporting Procedure should be used for all concerns relating to:

  • Safeguarding concerns / disclosure relating to children or adults at risk
  • Concerns if you feel that you or someone else has been discriminated against
  • You have any other concerns about a coach or member of the Club (for example if you feel someone has breached the club Code of Conduct)

If you wish to make a complaint about a coach or club member relating to other matters, then contact either the Welfare Officer, the Chair or Club Secretary in accordance with the Club Complaints Procedure.

How to Raise a Concern at the Club

The individual who is told about, hears, or is made aware of the concern/disclosure is responsible for following the Reporting a Safeguarding Concern Procedure shown in the flowchart on the next page.

  • If a child or an adult at risk is in immediate danger or risk of harm, call the police by calling 999

If there is no immediate danger, inform the club Welfare Officer, LTA Safeguarding Team or National Safeguarding Lead without delay.

The Club Welfare Officer and Safeguarding Leads are responsible for reporting safeguarding concerns to the LTA Safe Safeguarding Team.

The Club Welfare Officer will pass the details of the concern on to the LTA Safeguarding Team at the earliest opportunity and the relevant local authority and the police will be contacted, where appropriate.

If, however, the whistle-blower does not feel comfortable raising a concern with the Club Welfare Officer or does not believe the concern has been dealt with appropriately and wishes to speak to someone outside the club, the whistle-blower should contact the LTA Safeguarding Team directly, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) or the NSPCC as appropriate, using the contact details below.

The LTA Safeguarding Team is responsible for assessing all safeguarding concerns/disclosures that are reported to them and working with the Club Welfare Officer and National Safeguarding Leads follow up as appropriate on a case-by-case basis, prioritising the well-being of the child / adult at risk at all times.  Dependent on the concern/disclosure, a referral may be made to:

The police in an emergency (999)

Local Authority Children’s Services

  • Derbyshire County Council Child Protection Service – Starting Point - 01629 533190 (or 01629 532 600 out of hours) - starting.point@derbyshire.gov.uk
  • Derbyshire Safeguarding Children Partnership - ddscp@derby.gov.uk
  • Derby City First Contact Team - Tel: 01332 641172

Local Authority Adult Services

  • Derbyshire Safeguarding Adults Board 01629 533190
  • Derby City Careline - 01332 786968

LTA Designated Officer (England only) for concerns/disclosures about a member of staff, consultant, coach, official or volunteer

National Services

Information to include when raising a concern

The whistle-blower should provide as much information as possible regarding the incident or circumstance which has given rise to the concern, including:

their name and contact details (unless they wish to remain anonymous);

names of individuals involved;

date, time and location of incident/circumstance; and

whether any witnesses were present.

What to do if a disclosure from a child or adult at risk is made to you

Listen carefully and calmly to the individual

Reassure the individual that they have done the right thing and what they have told you is very important

Avoid questioning where possible, and never ask leading questions

Do not promise secrecy.  Let the individual know that you will need to speak to the Welfare Officer/LTA Safeguarding Team because it is in their best interest.  If you intend to speak to the police or social care, you should let them know this too.

Report the concern. Read and follow the club guidance on reporting a concern / whistle-blowing. In an emergency, call the police (999), otherwise talk to the Welfare Officer/LTA Safeguarding Team as soon as possible. Do not let doubt/personal bias prevent you from reporting the allegation

Record details of the disclosure and allegation using the LTA’s online reporting a concern form within 24 hours. If you do not have access to the online form, write down the details using what you have available then sign and date it 

Appendix A

 

 Last Updated: April 2023