Safeguarding Policy.
1. Toton United Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the
welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care and is
committed to working to provide a safe environment for all members. A child or
young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club football activity.
We subscribe to The Football Association’s (The FA) Safeguarding Children –
Policy and Procedures and endorse and adopt the Policy Statement contained in
that document.
2. The key principles of The FA Safeguarding Children Policy are that:
• The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration
• All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse
regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, faith or
belief
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded
to swiftly and appropriately
• Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people
and their parents/carers is essential.
We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football
should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected
from poor practice and abuse. Toton United Football Club recognises that this is the
responsibility of every adult involved in our club.
3. Toton United Football Club has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all
children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional
harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The Football
Association’s Safeguarding Children Regulations (see The FA Handbook) applies to
everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This means whether
you are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach, club official
or medical staff.
4. We endorse and adopt The FA’s Responsible Recruitment guidelines for recruiting
volunteers and we will:
• Specify what the role is and what tasks it involves
• Request identification documents
• As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible
interview people before appointing them
• Ask for and follow up with 2 references before appointing someone
• Require an FA CRB Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA policy.
All current Toton United Football Club members who are regularly caring for,
supervising, training or being in sole charge of children and young people will be required
to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit1.
If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already
involved or who has approached us to become part of Toton United Football Club
guidance will be sought from The Football Association. It is noted and accepted that The
FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via The FA
CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of
children and young people.
It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant
offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to
influence policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual
or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.
5. Toton United Football Club supports The FA’s Whistle blowing Policy. Any adult
or young person with concerns about a colleague can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting
The FA Safeguarding Team on 0844 980 8200 4787, by writing to The FA Case
Manager at The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London
SW10 9EQ or alternatively by going direct to the Police, Children’s Social Care or
the NSPCC. Toton United Football Club encourages everyone to know about it
and utilise it if necessary.
6. Toton United Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer in line with The
FA’s role profile and required completion of the Safeguarding Children and Welfare
Officers Workshop. The post holder will be involved with Welfare Officer training
provided by The FA and/or County FA. The Club Welfare Officer is the first point of
contact for all club members regarding concerns about the welfare of any child or
young person. The Club Welfare Officer will liaise directly with the County FA (CFA)
Welfare Officer and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns.
They will also play a proactive role in increasing awareness of Respect, poor
practice and abuse amongst club members.
7. We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category of
abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. If bullying does occur, all
players or parents/carers should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt
with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the Club Welfare Officer in cases of
serious bullying the CFA Welfare Officer may be contacted.
8. Respect codes of conduct for Players, Parents/ Spectators, Officials and Coaches
have been implemented by Toton United Football Club. In order to validate these
Respect codes of conduct the club has clear actions it will take regarding repeated
or serious misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential
sanctions which may be implemented by the County FA in more serious
circumstances.
9. Reporting your concerns about the welfare of a child or 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.
i.
If you are worried about a child then you need to report your concerns to the
Club Welfare Officer.
ii.
If the issue is one of poor practice the Club Welfare Officer will either:
• deal with the matter themselves or
• seek advice from the CFA Welfare Officer
iii.
If the concern is more serious – possible child abuse, where possible,
contact the CFA Welfare
iv.
Officer first, then immediately contact the Police or Children’s Social Care.
v.
If the child needs immediate medical treatment take them to a hospital or call
an ambulance and tell them this is a child protection concern. Let your Club
Welfare Officer know what action you have taken, they in turn will inform the
CFA Welfare Officer.
vi.
If at any time you are not able to contact your Club Welfare Officer or the
matter is clearly serious then you can either:
• contact your CFA Welfare Officer directly
• contact the Police or Children’s Social Care
• call the NSPCC 24 hour Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000 or text 88858
or email [email protected]
NB – The FA’s Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures are available via
www.TheFA.com/Footballsafe – click on the ‘downloads’ under Policy and
Procedures. The policy outlines in detail what to do if you are concerned about the
welfare of a child and includes flow diagrams which describe this process. How to
make a referral is also covered in the Safeguarding Children workshop. Participants
are given the opportunity to discuss how this feels and how best they can prepare
themselves to deal with such a situation. For more information on this workshop
contact your County Welfare Officer.
10. Further advice on Safeguarding Children matters can be obtained from:
Ali Howie
T: 0115 9837411 M: 07970329462
E: [email protected]
Nottinghamshire County Football Association’s Welfare Officer
• www.TheFA.com/Footballsafe
• Emailing – [email protected]
• The FA Safeguarding Children general enquiry line 0845 210 8080
1. Toton United Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the
welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care and is
committed to working to provide a safe environment for all members. A child or
young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club football activity.
We subscribe to The Football Association’s (The FA) Safeguarding Children –
Policy and Procedures and endorse and adopt the Policy Statement contained in
that document.
2. The key principles of The FA Safeguarding Children Policy are that:
• The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration
• All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse
regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, faith or
belief
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded
to swiftly and appropriately
• Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people
and their parents/carers is essential.
We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football
should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected
from poor practice and abuse. Toton United Football Club recognises that this is the
responsibility of every adult involved in our club.
3. Toton United Football Club has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all
children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional
harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The Football
Association’s Safeguarding Children Regulations (see The FA Handbook) applies to
everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This means whether
you are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach, club official
or medical staff.
4. We endorse and adopt The FA’s Responsible Recruitment guidelines for recruiting
volunteers and we will:
• Specify what the role is and what tasks it involves
• Request identification documents
• As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible
interview people before appointing them
• Ask for and follow up with 2 references before appointing someone
• Require an FA CRB Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA policy.
All current Toton United Football Club members who are regularly caring for,
supervising, training or being in sole charge of children and young people will be required
to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit1.
If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already
involved or who has approached us to become part of Toton United Football Club
guidance will be sought from The Football Association. It is noted and accepted that The
FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via The FA
CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of
children and young people.
It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant
offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to
influence policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual
or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.
5. Toton United Football Club supports The FA’s Whistle blowing Policy. Any adult
or young person with concerns about a colleague can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting
The FA Safeguarding Team on 0844 980 8200 4787, by writing to The FA Case
Manager at The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London
SW10 9EQ or alternatively by going direct to the Police, Children’s Social Care or
the NSPCC. Toton United Football Club encourages everyone to know about it
and utilise it if necessary.
6. Toton United Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer in line with The
FA’s role profile and required completion of the Safeguarding Children and Welfare
Officers Workshop. The post holder will be involved with Welfare Officer training
provided by The FA and/or County FA. The Club Welfare Officer is the first point of
contact for all club members regarding concerns about the welfare of any child or
young person. The Club Welfare Officer will liaise directly with the County FA (CFA)
Welfare Officer and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns.
They will also play a proactive role in increasing awareness of Respect, poor
practice and abuse amongst club members.
7. We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category of
abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. If bullying does occur, all
players or parents/carers should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt
with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the Club Welfare Officer in cases of
serious bullying the CFA Welfare Officer may be contacted.
8. Respect codes of conduct for Players, Parents/ Spectators, Officials and Coaches
have been implemented by Toton United Football Club. In order to validate these
Respect codes of conduct the club has clear actions it will take regarding repeated
or serious misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential
sanctions which may be implemented by the County FA in more serious
circumstances.
9. Reporting your concerns about the welfare of a child or 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.
i.
If you are worried about a child then you need to report your concerns to the
Club Welfare Officer.
ii.
If the issue is one of poor practice the Club Welfare Officer will either:
• deal with the matter themselves or
• seek advice from the CFA Welfare Officer
iii.
If the concern is more serious – possible child abuse, where possible,
contact the CFA Welfare
iv.
Officer first, then immediately contact the Police or Children’s Social Care.
v.
If the child needs immediate medical treatment take them to a hospital or call
an ambulance and tell them this is a child protection concern. Let your Club
Welfare Officer know what action you have taken, they in turn will inform the
CFA Welfare Officer.
vi.
If at any time you are not able to contact your Club Welfare Officer or the
matter is clearly serious then you can either:
• contact your CFA Welfare Officer directly
• contact the Police or Children’s Social Care
• call the NSPCC 24 hour Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000 or text 88858
or email [email protected]
NB – The FA’s Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures are available via
www.TheFA.com/Footballsafe – click on the ‘downloads’ under Policy and
Procedures. The policy outlines in detail what to do if you are concerned about the
welfare of a child and includes flow diagrams which describe this process. How to
make a referral is also covered in the Safeguarding Children workshop. Participants
are given the opportunity to discuss how this feels and how best they can prepare
themselves to deal with such a situation. For more information on this workshop
contact your County Welfare Officer.
10. Further advice on Safeguarding Children matters can be obtained from:
Ali Howie
T: 0115 9837411 M: 07970329462
E: [email protected]
Nottinghamshire County Football Association’s Welfare Officer
• www.TheFA.com/Footballsafe
• Emailing – [email protected]
• The FA Safeguarding Children general enquiry line 0845 210 8080