OFGC Children’s Safeguarding Policy
INTRODUCTION
Ormonde Fields Golf Club has
considered its responsibilities to the children participating in golf at our
premises and within our club very carefully, and has produced the following
Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and underpinning procedures in order
to set out the standards we wish to uphold in providing activities for children
and safeguarding the welfare of children in our care.
Everyone working with children and
young people has a responsibility for keeping them safe, irrespective of their
role, whether they are paid members of staff or volunteers.
Ormonde Fields is committed to ensure
that the sport of golf is one within which all participants can thrive in a
safe environment and that all children and young people have an enjoyable and
positive experience when playing golf.
Ormonde Fields also recognises its
obligations towards older members “vulnerable adults” and this is recognised in
a separate policy document.
KEY PRINCIPLES
• The welfare of
children is paramount.
• A child is defined
by law in England and Wales as a person under the age of 18 years.
• All children, regardless of their Age, Race, Religion or Belief,
Disability, Gender identity or Sexual Orientation, have the right to protection
from abuse.
• All concerns and
allegations of abuse and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to
swiftly and appropriately.
• All children have
the right to be safe.
• All children have
the right to be treated with dignity and respect.
• Ormonde Fields
will work with children, their parents/carers and external organisations to
safeguard the welfare of children participating in golf.
• We recognise the authority of the
statutory agencies and are committed to complying with Local Safeguarding
Children Board Guidelines (LSCB), Working Together under the:
Children
Act 2004, and any legislation and statutory guidance which supersedes these.
The Data
Protection Act 1994 & 1998 and GDPR Regulations 2019
The Police
Act 1997
The Human
Rights Act 1998
The
Protection of Children Act 1999
Caring for
the young and vulnerable - Home Office Guidance for preventing the abuse of
trust 1999
The
Criminal and Court Services Act 2000
What to do
if you are worried a child is being abused 2005
Working
Together to Safeguard Children 2010)
The UN
Convention on the Rights of the Child
• OFGC is committed
to working in partnership with other key UK Golf Bodies to continually improve
and to promote safeguarding initiatives across the sport.
• The
Club and other golf bodies have a legal duty of care to children on their premises
or engaged in their activities. That duty is to take reasonable care to ensure
their reasonable safety and the duty is higher than it would be for adults.
This policy does not imply that Ormonde Fields Golf Club assumes any of those
legal liabilities, which remain with the relevant golf bodies.
•
All staff and volunteers working in golf have a
responsibility to report concerns to the Club Welfare Officer. Adults staff, volunteers,
coaches, referees and members will be supported to understand their role and
responsibility with regard to the duty of care and
protection of children and young people. Individuals will receive support
through education and training to be aware of and understand best practice and
how to manage any welfare or child protection issues that may come to light. Ormonde
Fields will work in partnership with parents to review and implement child
protection and welfare procedures of the Golf Club’s policy and procedures.
OBJECTIVES
The overall aim of
the policy is to ensure that everyone participating in the sport of golf does
so in a safe environment that supports children and young people to meet their
potential.
Ormonde Fields aims
to work with golf bodies to:
• Provide
a safe environment for children and young people participating in golfing
activities and try to ensure that they enjoy the experience.
•
Ensure robust systems are in place to manage any concerns or allegations.
• Support
adults (staff, volunteers, PGA Professionals, coaches, members and visitors) to
understand their roles and responsibilities with regard to
their Duty of Care and protection of children.
• Provide
appropriate level training, support and resources for staff, volunteers &
coaches to make informed and confident responses to specific safeguarding
issues and fulfil their role effectively.
• Ensure that children and their
parents/carers are informed and consulted and, where appropriate, fully
involved in decisions that affect them.
• Reassure parents and carers that all children and
young people will receive the best care possible whilst participating in club
activities and communicate Policy and Procedure to them through
website/letter/consents.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND IMPLEMENTATION
Ormonde Fields will work to promote the
principles of safeguarding children by:
• Reviewing England Golf policy and
procedures every three years or whenever there is a major change in
legislation. These changes will be
incorporated into the club’s own policies and procedures. Guidance will be sought from England Golf
SafeGolf partnership and other relevant bodies.
• Giving guidance on appropriate
recruitment procedures to assess the suitability of volunteers and staff
working with children and vulnerable groups.
• Following procedures to report welfare
concerns and allegations about the behaviour of adults and ensure that all
staff, volunteers, parents and participants, including children, are aware of
these procedures.
• Directing
staff, volunteers & coaches to appropriate safeguarding training and
learning opportunities, where this is appropriate to their role.
· The Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy will be
available to all members, parents, staff, volunteers and participants.
· The Club Board has responsibility for ensuring that the
policy and procedures are implemented, including taking any appropriate
disciplinary action necessary.
· The Club Welfare Officer has responsibility for responding to
any allegations, concerns or child protection incidents, passing information to
the appropriate National Governing Body Lead Child Protection Officer and informing
the appropriate club staff.
·
Parents have a responsibility to work
together with the club in implementing procedures and providing their children
with the necessary information to safeguard themselves.
• Ormonde
Fields is a member of the SafeGolf Strategy Group which consists of members
from the golfing bodies across Great Britain and has been set up to help golf
respond to the issue of child protection in sport.
OFGC January 2020