KEYWORTH BRIDGE CLUB SAFEGUARDING POLICY

1. Keyworth Bridge club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted into its care and is committed to providing a safe environment for all members.  A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any Club bridge activity. We subscribe to the Nottinghamshire Count Council Safeguarding Board Child Protection procedures adopting the Policy statement endorsed in that document.

2. The Key Principles of this policy are that:

• The child’s welfare is, and always must be, the paramount consideration
• All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
• Working in partnership with Children’s Services and other agencies, children and young people and their parents and carers is essential.

We acknowledge that children and a young person who plays or participates in any bridge activity should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse. Keyworth Bridge Club accepts that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club. This applies to everyone in the bridge club whether that person is a volunteer, bridge official, visiting member from another club, cleaner or anyone employed by the club in a domestic or other capacity whether paid or not.

3. We endorse and adopt the Safeguarding guidelines for recruiting volunteers to teach and assist children and young people to play and learn bridge and we will:

• Request identification documents
• Require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check every three years
• As a minimum meet and chat with the volunteers
• Ensure that this policy is known to all volunteers and all those who may come into contact with children and young people engaged in bridge activities in the club

If there are any concerns about any individual following a DBS check and/or interview, then guidance should be sought first from the club Chairman and then from Nottingham Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).  All decisions will be binding and will be the outcome of a closed Keyworth Bridge Club committee meeting. It is accepted that Keyworth Bridge Club aims to prevent people with a history of relevant offending behaviour to have contact with children and young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and young people and to minimise the risk of any offending and/or grooming behaviour (as a preliminary to offending against children and young people).

4. Keyworth Bridge Club supports a Whistle Blowing Policy. Any adult who has concerns about another member can whistle blow by either contacting the Police, Children Services or the NSPCC. It is advised that should this be necessary the Chairman of Keyworth Bridge Club and the club’s Safeguarding lead is informed as a matter of courtesy, although this is not absolutely necessary, and it may not be possible given the circumstances of any such disclosure.

5. Keyworth Bridge Club has appointed a Club Safeguarding lead who can be contacted for advice and guidance. This safeguarding lead should be the first point of contact regarding any concerns about the welfare of any child or young person or should there be any safeguarding concerns. This person will have had safeguarding training and/or expertise in this area. This Safeguarding lead will be responsible and oversee the DBS traces, disclosures and concerns.

6. We acknowledge and endorse the identification of bullying as a category of abuse. If bullying does occur, all parents and carers/should be able to tell and know that all incidents will be dealt with promptly. In cases of serious bullying then this should be reported to the Chairman and the Safeguarding lead for the club.

7. Respect codes of conduct for players/ spectators/ session Directors are already laid down by the English Bridge Union and are implemented and reinforced by Keyworth Bridge Club. All children and young people will be required to respect these rules and will be subject to the same sanctions as other players should the behaviour continue.

8. Reporting concerns about the welfare of a child and young person: Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. If you are worried about a child, it is important that you report your concerns – no action is not an option. Escalation Process:

• If you are worried an individual should report their concerns to the Safeguarding lead and the Chairman of Keyworth Bridge club.
• Deal with the matter themselves and should either of these individuals are not available then advice /guidance should be sought from LADO and/or the Police.
• If in doubt share your concerns about children and young people
• Act now – long term abuse is damaging for children. It is better that action is taken early to stop things getting worse.
• Any disclosure from a child about any club individual and/or parent, carer or stranger should be treated seriously and immediate reporting of this should take place to the relevant service depending on the seriousness of the disclosure. Any report of inappropriate sexual activity toward a minor should be notified to the Police and /or Children Services.
• There are many possible signs of abuse, ranging from injury to changes in children’s behaviour. A Club individual could see something happen or a child may tell him or her that she or he is being hurt.
• If the child or young person requires immediate medical assistance or treatment, then an ambulance should be called, or they should be taken to hospital. Parental consent should be obtained, and the child or young person’s parent and carer should be immediately notified. Should the parent or carer not be contactable then the necessary assistance should be given. Keyworth Bridge Club cannot give consent to medical procedure. This is a parental/ carer responsibility and the relevant medics will take care of the issue of consent.

• Should a parent/carer fail to arrive to collect a child/young person at the appointed time then a club member should stay with that individual and NOT take the child or young person home in their own transport, unless otherwise agreed with the parent. This is to prevent unfounded allegations or misunderstandings against any Club member. Similarly, club members should not place themselves in any position where their actions (whether touching /patting on the back/) can be misconstrued.
• Written Consent will be given by parents and carers to participate in activities. There will be a standard form for parents to complete, giving contact details for two individuals in case of emergency.

9. Contact Numbers:

Nottinghamshire Children Services on 0115 804 1272

Nottinghamshire Designated Officer (LADO) for advice regarding allegations made by a child: Hazel McKibbin

Nottingham Police Call 101, non-emergency, 999 for emergencies.

NSPCC: 0808 800 2222

Child Line: 0800111 – a child can talk to a counsellor or e-mail

https://www.childline.org.uk

Safeguarding Lead for Keyworth Bridge Club: Martin Mellor.

Issue November 2019