SSC Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding Policy Statement for Seasalter Sailing Club (Updated 2024)

England and Wales: This policy refers to a child as anyone under the age of 18 as defined by the Children Act 1989 and an Adult at Risk as anyone aged 18 or over, who is in need of care or support, and who, because of those needs, is unable to always safeguard themselves as defined by the Care Act 2014.

Seasalter Sailing Club is committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk taking part in its activities from abuse and harm and ensuring their wellbeing. Seasalter Sailing Club recognises that the safety, welfare and needs of children, young people and adults at risk are paramount and that any person, irrespective of their age, disability, race, religion or belief, marital status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or social status, has a right to protection from discrimination, victimisation and abuse.

Seasalter Sailing Club takes all reasonable steps to ensure that through appropriate operating procedures, it offers a safe and fun environment to everyone taking part in Seasalter Sailing Club’s events and activities. Seasalter Sailing Club recognises that it has a legal duty of care to safeguard children, young people and adults at risk.

Seasalter Sailing Club is committed to minimising risk and supporting, programmes, events and individuals to deliver a safe, positive and fun boating experience for everyone by creating a welcoming environment, both on and off the water, where everyone can have fun and develop their skills and confidence.

Seasalter Sailing Club will treat everyone with respect, celebrate their achievements, listen to their views and experiences.

Seasalter Sailing Club will:

Ensure that there is a Club Welfare Officer with the necessary skills and training who will take the lead in dealing with all safeguarding concerns with support from the RYA Safeguarding Team
Ensure that the Club Welfare Officer name and contact details are known to all employees, volunteers, members and participants
Respond swiftly and appropriately to all complaints and concerns about poor practice or suspected abuse, referring to the RYA and external agencies as necessary
Ensure that all information regarding safeguarding referrals is stored securely and confidentially
Regularly review its safeguarding procedures and practices in the light of experience, to take account of legislative, social or technological changes or where there is a change of management as required.
Cooperate where necessary with multi-agency investigations and enquiries relating to serious case reviews involving children, young people and adults at risk, if there is an association with the sport and or recreation

Club Welfare Officer

The Club Welfare Officer is: Jane Bainbridge – jane.bainbridge58@gmail.com

Good Practice Procedure for Safeguarding Children

All members of the Club should follow the good practice guidelines below* and agree to abide by the Club Code of Conduct (Appendix 1 SSC Byelaws) and the RYA Racing Charter contained in the Racing Rules of Sailing.

Those working or volunteering with young people should be aware of the guidance on recognising abuse.

See RYA Appendix ** 14.1 below, “Types of Abuse: Children and Young People”.

Adults are requested not to enter the showers and changing rooms at times when children are changing before or after junior/youth training or sailing. If this is unavoidable it is advised that they are accompanied by another adult.
The Club will seek consent from parents/carers before taking photos or video of a child at an event or training session or publishing such images. Parents and spectators should be prepared to identify themselves if requested and state their purpose for photography/filming. If the Club publishes images of children, no identifying information other than first/christian names will be included. Any concerns about inappropriate or intrusive photography or the inappropriate use of images should be reported to the Club Welfare Officer.

Concerns

Anyone who is concerned about a young member’s or participant’s welfare, either outside the sport or within the Club, should inform the Club Welfare Officer immediately, in strict confidence. The Club Welfare Officer will follow the attached procedures (see RYA Flowchart 2). Any member of the Club failing to comply with the Safeguarding policy or any relevant Codes of Conduct may be subject to disciplinary action under Club Rule 21 Expulsion of Members and related Club Byelaw 16 Conduct.

*RYA Good Practice Guide for Instructors, Coaches and Volunteers

This guide only covers the essential points of good practice when working with children and young people. You should also read the organisation’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures which are available for reference.

Avoid spending any significant time working with children in isolation.
Do not take children alone in a car, however short the journey.
Do not take children to your home as part of your organisation’s activity.
Where any of these are unavoidable, ensure that they only occur with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge of the organization or the child’s parents.
Design training programmes that are within the ability of the individual child.
If a child is having difficulty with a wetsuit or buoyancy aid, ask them to ask a friend to help if at all possible.
If you do have to help a child, make sure you are in full view of others preferably another adult.
Restrict communications with young people via mobile phone, e-mail or social media to group communications about organisational matters. If it’s essential to send an individual message, copy it to the child’s parent/ carer.

You should never:

engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games
allow or engage in appropriate touching of any form
allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged, or use such language yourself when with children
make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun
fail to respond to an allegation made by a child, always act
do things of a personal nature that children can do for themselves

It may sometimes be necessary to do things of a personal nature for children, particularly if they are very young or disabled. These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of the child (where possible) and their parents/carers. In an emergency situation which requires this type of help, parents should be fully informed. In such situations it is important to ensure that any adult present is sensitive to the child and undertakes personal care tasks with the utmost discretion.

Good Practice Procedure for Safeguarding Adults

All members of the Club should follow the good practice guidelines*. Those working with adults at risk should be aware of the guidance on recognising abuse (see ** RYA Appendix 14.1).

Concerns

Anyone who is concerned about the welfare of an adult, either outside the sport or within the Club, should inform the Club Welfare Officer immediately, in strict confidence. The Club Welfare Officer will follow the attached procedures (see RYA Flowchart 2). Any member of the Club failing to comply with the Safeguarding Adults policy and any relevant Codes of Conduct may be subject to disciplinary action under Club Rule 21 Expulsion of Members and related Club Byelaw 16 Conduct.

** RYA Appendix 14.1 Pages 27-29 “Type of Abuse: Children and Young People”.

Neglect in a sport or activity setting

Examples of neglect could include a coach or supervisor repeatedly:

failing to ensure children are safe
exposing children to undue cold, heat or extreme weather conditions without ensuring adequate clothing or hydration
exposing children to unnecessary risk of injury by ignoring safe practice guidelines
failing to ensure the use of safety equipment
requiring young people to participate when injured or unwell
not seeking medical or first aid attention
not responding appropriately when a concern is raised

Physical abuse in a sport or activity setting

In a sport or activity setting, physical abuse may occur:

if the nature and intensity of training or competition exceeds the capacity of the child’s immature growing body
where coaches encourage the use of drugs or harmful substances to enhance performance or delay puberty
if children are made to perform a movement they do not have the skill to execute and this causes an injury
if athletes are required to participate when injured
if coaches punish children with excessive cardio exercises
if sanctions used by coaches involve inflicting pain

Sexual abuse in a sport or activity setting

Most children who have experienced sexual abuse were abused by someone they know. Perpetrators may look for weak spots in an organisation to gain access to children.

In sport and activity settings, coaching techniques which involve physical contact with children can create situations where sexual abuse can be disguised. An abusive situation can also develop if a person in a position of authority, such as a coach, were to misuse their power.

Contacts made within sport and pursued through other routes, such as social media, have been used to manipulate and groom children for abuse. Those who want to sexually abuse children can also groom protective adults and organisations in order to create opportunities for abuse to take place.

Emotional abuse in a sport or activity setting

Emotional abuse in a sport or activity setting may be perpetrated by coaches, staff and volunteers, as well as other children and young people. This can take the form of:

subjecting a child to repeated criticism, sarcasm, name calling or racism
ignoring or excluding a child
pressuring a child to perform to unrealistically high expectations
excessive weighing of children
making a child feel like their value or worth is dependent on their sporting success
bullying behaviour

Bullying behaviour in a sport or activity setting

In sport, just like any other setting, bullying behaviour can occur based on any character distinction that can be perceived as different. This could be age, body shape, gender identity, race, religion or sporting ability. The bullying behaviour might include name-calling, offensive hand gestures, physical assault or exclusion from team activities or social media groups.

Within the world of sport, the word 'banter' can be used to disguise or excuse bullying behaviour or practices. If the social exchange is hurtful, repeated, scapegoated, shaming, upsetting, belittling, offending, then it is not 'banter', it's bullying.

Bullying behaviour can often stay confined to 'bullying hotspots' - locations which may be more secluded or have fewer witnesses, such as changing rooms or before a coaching session starts when the coach or adult volunteer is not fully engaged.

Sports coaches and volunteers can play an important role in recognising the signs of emotional abuse, responding to reports and concerns, and preventing instances of emotional abuse in a sports setting in the first place.

Sports coaches and volunteers must also act as positive role models in their behaviour, conduct and treatment of others at all times to help create a safe, fun, inclusive environment for everyone.

** RYA Appendix 14.1 “Type of Abuse: Adults at risk”.

The Care Act recognises 10 categories of abuse that may be experienced by adults.

Self-neglect: This covers a wide range of behaviour, but it can be broadly defined as neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health, or surroundings. An example of self-neglect is behaviour such as hoarding.

Modern Slavery: This encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and domestic servitude.

Domestic Abuse: This includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse perpetrated by anyone within a person’s family. It also includes so-called “honour” based violence.

Discriminatory Abuse: Discrimination is abuse that centres on a difference or perceived difference, particularly with respect to race, gender, disability, or any of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act.

Organisational Abuse: This includes neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting, such as a hospital or care home, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home.

Organisational abuse can range from one off incidents to ongoing ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice because of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.

Physical Abuse: This includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, restraint, and misuse of medication. It can also include inappropriate sanctions.

Sexual Abuse: This includes rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault, or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.

Financial or Material Abuse: This includes theft, fraud, internet scamming, and coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions. It can also include the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions, or benefits.

Neglect and Acts of Omission: This includes ignoring medical or physical care needs and failing to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services. It also includes the withdrawing of the necessities of life, including medication, adequate nutrition, and heating.

Emotional or Psychological Abuse: This includes threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation, or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.

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This policy will be reviewed by the Seasalter Sailing Club committee at least every three years, or sooner if there are relevant changes to legislation or management.

Seasalter Sailing Club recognises that EVERYONE has the right to be safeguarded and we must ALL take responsibility to ensure it.