Safeguarding Policy

 

1. Policy statement

 

The Parks and Leisure team is committed to prioritising the well-being of all children and adults at risk, promoting safeguarding at our tennis courts at all times, including all programmes and events we run. All activities, events and trips arranged by the Parks and Leisure team run in accordance with the LTA’s Safeguarding at Events and Competitions guidance. This Policy strives to minimise risk, deliver a positive tennis experience for everyone and respond appropriately to all safeguarding concerns/disclosures.

 

All coaches at Lambeth venues are required to apply for a coaching license with the Council. The licenses requires all coaches to have LTA Accreditation (or equivalent).

 

LTA Coach Accreditation is a leading professional membership scheme for qualified tennis coaches. To join, members are required to complete a set of training and checks to demonstrate you are safe to practice and committed to your career as a coach. The accreditation ensures coaches have completed all current safeguarding training, first aid training, DBS checks and have undergone criminal record checks.

 

Reporting a Concern

 

 

1. Use of terminology

 

Child: a person under the age of eighteen years.

 

Note that some legislation in Scotland defines a child as a person under sixteen years old. However, where there is any safeguarding concern, anyone under the age of 18 is regarded as a child unless advised otherwise by the LTA Safeguarding Team .

 

Adult at risk: a person aged eighteen years or over who is, or may be, in need of community care services by reason of disability, age or illness; and is, or may be, unable to take care of, or unable to protect him or herself against abuse or neglect.

 

Safeguarding children: protecting children from abuse and neglect, preventing the impairment of children’s health or development, ensuring that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and taking action to enable all children to have the best life chances.

 

Safeguarding adults at risk: protecting adults from abuse and/or neglect. Enabling adults to maintain control over their lives and make informed choices without coercion. Empowering adults at risk, consulting them before taking action, unless someone lacks the capacity to make a decision, or their mental health poses a risk to their own or someone else’s safety, in which case, always acting in his or her best interests. 

 

(See appendix A for full glossary of terms).

 

1. Scope

 

This Policy is applicable to all staff, volunteers, coaches and players. It is in line with national legislation and applicable across the UK.

 

Advice, guidance and support is available from the LTA Safeguarding Team.

 

 

1. Responsibility for the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and Reporting Procedure

 

SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY: NOT RESPONDING TO A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN IS NOT AN OPTION.

 

• The Parks & Leisure team has overall accountability for this Policy and its implementation
• Our organisation is responsible for updating this Policy in line with legislative and club developments 
• All individuals involved in/present at the venue are required to adhere to the Policy and Code of Conduct
• The LTA Safeguarding Team and Tennis Scotland, Tennis Wales and Tennis Foundation Safeguarding Leads can offer support to help clubs/organisations proactively safeguard.

 

Where there is a safeguarding concern/disclosure:

• 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 at the beginning of this policy. Unless someone is in immediate danger, they should inform their designated hub, LTA Safeguarding Team or National Safeguarding Lead.
• The Designated Hub and Safeguarding Leads are responsible for reporting safeguarding concerns to the LTA Safe Safeguarding Team.
• The LTA Safeguarding Team is responsible for assessing all safeguarding concern/disclosures that are reported to them and working with the Designated Hub and National Safeguarding Leads to 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

Lambeth Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP)

T: 020 7926 5555 (Integrated Referral Hub)

W: www.lambethsaferchidren.org.uk

 

• Local Authority Adult Services

Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB)

T: 0207 926 5555 (Integrated Referral Hub)

W: www.lambethsab.org.uk

 

• Designated Officer (England only) for concerns/disclosures about a member of staff, consultant, coach, official or volunteer, Andrew Zachariades, on 020 7926 4679 or 07720 828 700 or LADO@lambeth.gov.uk

 

1. Breaches of the Safeguarding Policy, Code of Conduct and Reporting Procedure

 

Breaches of this Policy and/or failure to comply with the outlined responsibilities may result in the following:

• Disciplinary action leading to possible exclusion of association from the organisation, dismissal and legal action
• Termination of current and future roles with the organisation and roles in other clubs, the LTA, Tennis Wales, Tennis Scotland and the Tennis Foundation.

 

Actions taken by players, parents or carers, staff, consultants, volunteers, officials, coaches inside or outside of the organisation that are seen to contradict this Policy may be considered a violation of this Policy.

 

Where an appeal is lodged in response to a safeguarding decision made by the organisation, the individual should adhere to the organisation/club’s appeal procedure.

 

 

 

 

1. Whistleblowing

 

Safeguarding children and adults at risk requires everyone to be committed to the highest possible standards of openness, integrity and accountability. As an organisation, we are committed to encouraging and maintaining a culture where people feel able to raise a genuine safeguarding concern and are confident that it will be taken seriously.

 

What is whistle blowing?

In the context of safeguarding, “whistle blowing” is when someone raises a concern about the well-being of a child or an adult at risk.

 

A whistle blower may be:

• a player;
• a volunteer;
• a coach;
• other member of staff;
• an official;
• a parent;
• a member of the public.

 

How to raise a concern about a child or an adult at risk at the venue

If a child or an adult at risk is in immediate danger or risk of harm, the police should be contacted by calling 999.

 

Where a child or an adult at risk is not in immediate danger, any concerns about their well-being should be made without delay to the LSCP or LSAB. They 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 LSCP or LSAB, the whistle blower should contact the LTA Safeguarding Team directly on 020 8487 7000,

or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.

 

The Club Welfare Officer can be contacted via either:

 

• Local Authority Children’s Services

Lambeth Safeguarding Children Partnership (LSCP)

T: 020 7926 5555 (Integrated Referral Hub)

W: www.lambethsaferchidren.org.uk

 

• Local Authority Adult Services

Lambeth Safeguarding Adults Board (LSAB)

T: 0207 926 5555 (Integrated Referral Hub)

W: www.lambethsab.org.uk

 

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 happens next?

All concerns raised by a whistle blower about the well-being of a child or an adult at risk will be taken seriously and every effort will be made to deal with each concern fairly, quickly and proportionately.

 

If the whistle blower does not believe that the concern has been dealt with appropriately and wishes to speak to someone outside the club or the LTA Safeguarding Team, the NSPCC Whistleblowing advice line should be contacted on 0800 028 0285 or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk.

 

Support

The organisation will not tolerate any harassment, victimisation or unfair treatment of, and will take appropriate action to protect, whistle blowers when they raise a concern in good faith.

 

 

Codes of Conduct

 

All members of staff, volunteers and players agree to:

• Prioritise the well-being of all children and adults at risk at all times
• Treat all children and adults at risk fairly and with respect
• Be a positive role model. Act with integrity, even when no one is looking
• Help to create a safe and inclusive environment both on and off court
• Not allow any rough or dangerous behaviour, bullying or the use of bad or inappropriate language
• Report all allegations of abuse or poor practice to the club Welfare Officer
• Not use any sanctions that humiliate or harm a child or adult at risk
• Value and celebrate diversity and make all reasonable efforts to meet individual needs
• Keep clear boundaries between professional and personal life, including on social media
• Have the relevant consent from parents/carers, children and adults before taking or using photos and videos
• Refrain from making physical contact with children or adults unless it is necessary as part of an emergency or congratulatory (e.g. handshake / high five)
• Refrain from smoking and consuming alcohol during club activities or coaching sessions
• Ensure roles and responsibilities are clearly outlined and everyone has the required information and training
• Avoid being alone with a child or adult at risk unless there are exceptional circumstances
• Refrain from transporting children or adults at risk, unless this is required as part of a club activity (e.g. away match) and there is another adult in the vehicle
• Not abuse, neglect, harm or discriminate against anyone; or act in a way that may be interpreted as such
• Not have a relationship with anyone under 18 for whom they are coaching or responsible for
• Be acutely aware of the power that coaches and coaching assistants develop over players in the coaching relationship and avoid any intimacy (sexual or otherwise) with players

 

All children agree to:

• Be friendly, supportive and welcoming to other children and adults
• Play fairly and honestly
• Respect club staff, volunteers and Officials and accept their decisions
• Behave, respect and listen to your coach
• Take care of your equipment and club property
• Respect the rights, dignity and worth of all participants regardless of age, gender, ability, race, culture, religion or sexual identity
• Not use bad, inappropriate or racist language, including on social media
• Not bully, intimidate or harass anyone, including on social media
• Not smoke, drink alcohol or drugs of any kind on club premises or whilst representing the club at competitions or events
• Talk to the club Welfare Officer about any concerns or worries they have about themselves or others

 

 

All parents and carers agree to:

• Positively reinforce your child and show an interest in their tennis
• Use appropriate language at all times
• Be realistic and supportive
• Never ridicule or admonish a child for making a mistake or losing a match
• Treat all children, adults, volunteers, coaches, officials and members of staff with respect
• Behave responsibly at the venue; do not embarrass your child
• Accept the official’s decisions and do not go on court or interfere with matches
• Encourage your child to play by the rules, and teach them that they can only do their best
• Deliver and collect your child punctually from the venue
• Ensure your child has appropriate clothing for the weather conditions
• Ensure that your child understands their code of conduct
• Adhere to your venue’s safeguarding policy, diversity and inclusion policy, rules and regulations
• Provide emergency contact details and any relevant information about your child including medical history

For more details on the safeguarding policy, you can contact sports@lambeth.gov.uk