SAFEGUARDING POLICY

 1. Pro Sports Academy 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 child protection and best practice policy and procedures and endorse and adopt the policy statement contained in that document.

2. The key principles of The FA safeguarding and child protection 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, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation

• 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 or careers 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. Pro Sports Academy recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.

3. Pro Sports Academy 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 child protection regulation (see The FA Handbook) applies to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This includes those who are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach, club official or medical staff.

4. We endorse and adopt The FA’s child protection and best practice guidelines for recruiting volunteers and will:

• Provide a role profile

• Request identification documents

• As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible conduct interviews before appointing

• Request and follow up with two references before appointing

• Require an FA CRB Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA guidelines.

All current Pro Sports Academy members with direct access to children and young people are required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit. If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Pro Sports Academy 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 Enhanced CRB Disclosure Unit 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. Pro Sports Academy supports The FA’s whistle blowing policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting The FA Child Protection Manager or by going direct to the police, social services or the NSPCC. Pro Sports Academy encourages everyone to know about it and utilise it if necessary.

6. Pro Sports Academy are in the process of appointing a Club Welfare Officer (CWO) in line with the FA’s role profile who will have completed the child protection and best practice workshop. The CWO will be the the first point of contact for all club members and parents or guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child or young person. They will liaise directly with the CFA CPO and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. They will also play a proactive role in increasing an awareness of 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, parents or guardians should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the CWO or in cases of serious bullying contact the CFA CPO.

8. Codes of conduct for players, parents or spectators, officials and coaches have been implemented by Pro Sports Academy. In order to validate these codes of conduct the club has clear sanctions to deal with any misconduct and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions, which may be implemented by leagues or the CFA in more serious circumstances. All prospective members will be informed of these codes.

9. Further advice on Safeguarding Children matters can be obtained from:

Designated Safeguarding Officer

Tel - 07538 990836

Email – gemma.chaffey@hertfordshirefa.com

NSPCC 24 hour Helpline:

Tel: 0808 800 5000 Text - 88858

Email - help@nspcc.org.uk

The FA Safeguarding Children general enquiry line:

Tel - 0800 169 1863