Overview

At Active Communities CIC we know it’s important to keep people safe. We want to make sure that when they’re doing sport and physical activity, participants are protected. We believe that no matter how old you are, where you’re from, or who you are, you should be safe from harm.

The practices and procedures within this policy are based on the principles contained within UK legislation and Government Guidance and take the following into consideration: 

·       The Care Act 2014 

·       The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 

·       Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Act 2012 

·       The Equality Act 2010  

·       The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 

·       Mental Capacity Act 2005 (referred to as MCA 2005) 

·       Sexual Offences Act 2003 

·       The Human Rights Act 1998 

·       The Data Protection Act 1994 and 1998 

·       UK GDPR 2020 

These rules apply to everyone who works or volunteers at Active Communities CIC. We’re not just looking after our own people, but also the organisations we work with and support. We all have a duty to care and to provide a safe environment, protecting people from all forms of abuse.

Overall, we promise to:

·       Take responsibility for creating procedures that protect and care for everyone, keeping them safe from harm and abuse.

·       Promote an environment that’s open and inclusive, addressing issues of fairness and diversity.

·       Make sure safeguarding is a priority for the company. Appoint a safeguarding lead.

·       Review and assess the effectiveness of the plan every year.

·       Include safeguarding in contracts for activities.

·       Ensure all staff and volunteers follow the Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.

·       Hire, train, and oversee employees and volunteers to ensure they follow best practices for keeping people safe and preventing abuse.

·       Handle any allegations appropriately, following proper disciplinary procedures for staff.

·       Share safeguarding concerns with the right authorities and organisations in line with established procedures.

·       Be prepared to work well with safeguarding partners as needed based on local arrangements, ready to fulfil this role if required.

Assurance

There is a dedicated Safeguarding lead to draw up an annual implementation plan and review progress. The plan will highlight the action that needs to be taken, by whom, how and when to implement the Safeguarding Policy and Procedures. The implementation plan will be shared with the organisation Directors, and they will be updated with the progress.

The purpose for the implementation plan is to ensure we have identified priorities and are making progress against these. It provides assurance to the team, the Directors, and partners that we are compliant with national requirements for safeguarding.

This safeguarding policy will be reviewed at least every two years. Where there are legislation changes, changes to the organisation roles or function, or a significant incident occurs then the policy will be reviewed more often. The review will be carried out by the safeguarding lead with support and approval from directors. All staff of the organisation will be given a briefing and a copy of the updated policy.

Although we acknowledge that everyone has a duty to care for the safety of people, including raising concerns and undertaking training, the Safeguarding lead will have additional specific roles and responsibilities:

·       Top of Form

·       Lead the development of the implementation plan

·       Plan staff training

·       Ensure policy is adhered to

·       Case Management

·       Review DBS requirements for a job role within the organisation

·       Relay information to the directors at quarterly meetings

Organisation Policies and Procedures

This section explains the various organisational policies and procedures established by Active Communities CIC that contribute to the protection of individuals.

Recruitment, Employment, and Deployment of Staff and Volunteers:

We are dedicated to ensuring that unsuitable individuals are prevented from working within the sports and physical activity environment. The Charity is committed to conducting criminal records checks as required by law or for eligible roles.

Our recruitment policy is clear and robust, adhering to the following guidelines:

• Clear communication of DH Community Sport CIC’s commitment to safeguarding.
• Disclosure of past career and relevant experience.
• Identification of any convictions, cautions, reprimands, or final warnings not protected under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
• Provision of at least two non-relative references from the applicant’s previous 5 years of employment, speaking to their suitability for the role.
• A requirement for a DBS check if the role meets eligibility criteria.

Induction:

All staff members undergo an induction process where:

• Safeguarding procedures are explained, and training needs are identified.
• Good Practice Guidelines are shared.
• Staff are briefed, given a copy of, and agree to adhere to the organisation’s policies.

Training:

Mandatory safeguarding training is provided for all paid and volunteer staff to ensure their awareness of responsibilities and competence in reporting and addressing concerns. Paid staff will receive introductory safeguarding training within three months of employment. Training is regularly updated.

Complaints Procedures:

The organisation complaints and appeals procedures address formal complaints, including safeguarding matters, from external stakeholders and appeals. We strive to ensure that parents and young individuals are aware of these procedures.

Disciplinary Procedures:

The organisation employs disciplinary procedures when necessary, as warranted by the case.

Supporting Policies and Procedures:

Active Communities CIC has additional policies aligned with the Safeguarding Policy, including:

• Complaints Policy
• Diversity & Inclusion
• Disciplinary Procedure
• GDPR / Data Protection
• Personal Information / Photography Policy

Event Management:

Active Communities CIC recognises its duty to safeguard and enhance the welfare of young individuals attending its organised events. To ensure safety:

• Robust safeguarding arrangements are prioritised during event planning.
• Roles and responsibilities in relation to safeguarding are communicated through pre-event communications, briefings, and event manuals.
• Recruitment and selection procedures are followed.
• Event staff receive specific welfare training.
• A designated safeguarding lead is appointed during events.
• Staff follow reporting procedures.
• Photography policy is implemented, clearly outlining the use of photos and videos.
• Personal participant information is not stored.
• Adequate first aid provision is ensured

Reporting procedures

The reporting procedures are the same across our work to ensure consistency and to avoid confusion.

The DSL contactable for the organisation is Darren Huart (ActiveCommunities@mail.com)

Glossary of terms:

Paid staff: core team of full and part time paid officers employed by the organisation. These officers do not necessarily have direct contact with participants however, each post will be assessed on an individual basis.

Volunteers: refers to staff that assist with sessions and events, typically in an unpaid capacity. These people will not have unsupervised access to members of the public.

Parents: is used throughout this document as a generic term to represent parents, carers and guardians.

Child: a person under the age of eighteen years

(the Children’s Act 1989 defines a young person as under 18 years of age)

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.