Introduction

Harold Wood Running Club is committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of all members, including participants, coaches, leaders and volunteers; and to preventing poor practice, bullying and risk of harm.

All club members, and particularly those at risk of harm, are entitled to a duty of care and to be protected from abuse. The club accepts that we must do everything that can be reasonably expected of us to help safeguard and protect people and to act when we suspect that someone is being harmed or is at a risk of harm.

This document outlines the club’s approach, responsibilities and procedures relating to the safeguarding of adults at risk.

Harold Wood Running Club adopts the UK Athletics Adult Safeguarding Policy, and Safeguarding Code of Conduct:

https://www.englandathletics.org/clubhub/resource/adult-safeguarding-policy/

https://www.englandathletics.org/clubhub/resource/club-safeguarding-code-of-conduct/

The club has a Lead Welfare Officer and a Welfare Officer. Their contact details can be found at the bottom of this document. Where possible, one position will be filled by a male, and one by a female. The current holders of these positions are:

Lead Welfare Officer: Jonathan Waterfield

Welfare Officer: Clare Whitby

Further information on the commitments and actions taken by the club to support safeguarding is below.

Aims

The aims of the safeguarding policy are:

To ensure the club is fulfilling its duty of care to all club members, in particular, adults at risk

To raise awareness of safeguarding risks amongst all members, so that they can recognise and report concerns

To deal with safeguarding concerns quickly and appropriately in the best interests of children and adults at risk

Club responsibilities

The club takes the welfare of its members seriously and has a responsibility to ensure the Safeguarding Policy is implemented and good practice maintained.

The club will take appropriate action, where it is advised that a breach of the Welfare policy has occurred.

The club will have at least one Welfare Officer (preferably two), appointed by the committee. The Lead Welfare Officer must be a member of the club’s committee.

All Welfare Officers should have an up to date DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) certificate.

When a Welfare Officer steps down, a suitable replacement should be chosen and appointed within 30 days. The outgoing Welfare Officer should support and advise the new Welfare Officer during transition.

 The committee should ensure Welfare Officers have the opportunity to attend appropriate training courses, as recommended by England Athletics.

Role and responsibilities of the Welfare Officers

To be the first point of contact for members to refer any concerns they have about fellow members or any suspected breaches of welfare policy.

Members referring concerns should always seek permission from the person affected before passing on their name. If this is not possible the Welfare Officer can receive the information anonymously and suggest how the person may be encouraged to give permission. Decisions as to whether names can be passed on without permission will be decided on an individual basis depending on the nature of the concern.

To listen to any welfare concerns referred to them and respond appropriately. This may require referring the issue to another Welfare Officer or committee member so that appropriate response/action can be taken.

To contact England Athletics or UK Athletics Welfare Officers for guidance if in doubt about the appropriate response required.

To make discreet contact with members whose welfare has been raised as a concern and make them aware that you are there to support them. If appropriate, support and encourage them to seek external advice and support. A list of appropriate services is detailed at the end of this document.

To advise and support the committee in implementing its Safeguarding Policy, Inclusion Policy, and Code of Conduct.

To keep up to date with national developments regarding welfare and safeguarding and update club policies when required.

Awareness and induction

To support awareness of safeguarding issues, this policy and the club code of conduct amongst members, the club will:

• require that as part of the induction of new members, they agree and sign up to the club’s code of conduct and safeguarding policy

• ensure that this policy and the relevant UK Athletics documents and codes of conduct are displayed on the club website; and that members are reminded of them at least once a year.

Criminal records checks and training

In line with UKA requirements, the club will:

• ensure leaders and committee members have undergone a Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check, as required

• ensure run leaders and other relevant committee members attend safeguarding training every 3 years

• maintain a list of DBS records and safeguarding training attended

Responding to concerns

The club will abide by the UKA guidance on responding to and reporting concerns about an adult at risk.

https://www.englandathletics.org/clubhub/resource/adult-safeguarding-procedures/

If the adult at risk has a need for immediate medical attention, call an ambulance on 999.

If you are concerned the adult at risk is in immediate danger or a serious crime is being committed, contact the Police on 999 straight away. Other actions:

• report the concern to one of the club’s Welfare Officers without delay; only share information with those who have a need to know in order to take action to keep the child or adult at risk safe.

• Alternatively, if you would prefer to speak to someone independent from the club, you can report concern directly to the UKA Safeguarding team by emailing: Safeguarding@uka.org.uk.

• if the risk or concern is believed to be due to the behaviour of a club member, the Chair and/or Lead Welfare Officer will consider whether any immediate action needs to be taken (e.g. interim suspension from the club) to prevent that person making contact with the person at risk.

• the Lead Welfare Officer will refer the case as soon as possible to the England Athletics Welfare Officer, or to the UKA Safeguarding Team via the Safeguarding Report Form.

• If the club Lead Welfare Officer is not available, the Welfare Officer, or another member of the Committee will submit the information or form to the England Athletics or UKA safeguarding contact.

• Any concerns for the wellbeing and safety of a club member arising from the conduct or practice of a run leader or volunteer must be reported to the Lead Welfare Officer on the day the concern arises, or as soon as practically possible.

The Lead Welfare Officer must report the concern to the UKA Safeguarding Team immediately and always within 48 hours.

Contacts

Lead Welfare Officer:

Jonathan Waterfield 

Welfare Officer:

Clare Whitby 

Welfare team email address:

welfare@haroldwoodrunning.club

UK Athletics: safeguarding@uka.org.uk 07920 532552

England Athletics: welfare@englandathletics.org 07967 317341

List of services