TEMPLATE FOR OPEN-AGE ADULT CLUBS WITH 16/17-YEAR-OLD PLAYERS,

AS WELL AS CLUBS WITH ADULT AND YOUTH TEAMS

FOOTBALL CLUB
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY
1. OUR RESPONSIBILITIES • Specify what the role is and what tasks it It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people
Football Club acknowledge that every child or involves; with a history of relevant and significant offending
As an England Accredited Club
young person who plays or participates in football from having contact with children or young people
• Request identification documents;
should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe and the opportunity to influence policies or practice
Football Club acknowledge our responsibility to
environment and be protected from poor practice • As a minimum meet and chat with the with children or young people. This is to prevent
safeguard the welfare of every child and young
inappropriate behaviour and abuse. This is the applicant(s) and where possible interview people direct sexual or physical harm to children and
person directly connected with our club and are
responsibility of every adult involved in our club before appointing them; to minimise the risk of football being used in the
committed to providing a safe environment for all.
including the parents/carers of our players and we grooming of children.
We recognise that those aged 16/17 years-of-age • Ask for and follow up with 2 references before
will effectively communicate this to our members
are legally defined as children and therefore we have appointing someone; and 4. WHISTLE-BLOWING
throughout the season.
a responsibility to ensure appropriate safeguards
• Where eligible require an FA- accepted DBS
are in place. As such we subscribe to The Football We commit to ensuring that young people have the
enhanced with barred list Check, in line with Football Club supports The FA’s Whistle Blowing
Association’s (The FA) Safeguarding Children Policy right to take part, be heard and have their views and
The FA’s current Safeguarding Children Policy policy (as described in this paragraph), which
and Procedures. opinions taken into consideration when making club
and Regulations. requires any adult or young person with
decisions and actions that concern them.
Our football club endorses and adopts the following concerns about an adult in a position of trust
key safeguarding principles: 2. OUR ROLE within football can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting
Football Club members working in eligible roles
The FA Safeguarding Team by writing to The
• The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the [add club name] has a responsibility to safeguard with children and young people, such as coaches/
FA Case Manager at The Football Association,
paramount consideration; the welfare of all children and young people by managers, first aiders and physiotherapists,
Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London SW1P
protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional are required to hold an in-date FA accepted DBS
• All children and young people have a right to 9EQ, by emailing [email protected]
harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and enhanced with barred list check as part of safer
be protected from abuse regardless of their; or alternatively by going direct to the Police,
accepted that The FA’s Safeguarding Children recruitment practice and we commit to managing
age, gender, gender reassignment, sexual Children’s Social Care or the NSPCC. [add club
Regulations (see The FA Handbook) apply to this consistently with individuals in current roles and
orientation, marital status or civil partnership, name] encourages everyone to know about The
everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary those new to role.
race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy and to utilise it as
capacity, including coaches/managers, volunteers,
or belief, ability or disability, pregnancy and If there are concerns regarding the necessary.
match officials, helpers on club tours, or medical staff
maternity; appropriateness of a club official who is already
or other club officials/helpers.
involved or who has approached us to become part
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be
3. SAFER RECRUITMENT of
taken seriously and responded to swiftly and
Football Club, guidance will be sought from the County
appropriately; and Working in partnership with We endorse and adopt The FA’s Safer Recruitment
Football Association (CFA) Designated Safeguarding
other organisations, children and young people guidelines and where an individual is going to take on a
Officer (DSO).
and their parents/carers is essential. specific role for the club we will:
TEMPLATE FOR OPEN-AGE ADULT CLUBS WITH 16/17-YEAR-OLD PLAYERS, AS WELL AS CLUBS WITH ADULT AND YOUTH TEAMS (CONTINUED)

5. BULLYING option and if anyone is worried about a child it is • Contact the Police or Children’s Social
important that they report their concerns to the Care; and/or
We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s
Club Welfare Officer (Adult Teams) (if there is one)
identification of bullying as a category of abuse. • Call the NSPCC Helpline (Monday to
or a member of the Club committee, who will deal
Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. Friday 8am-10pm or 9am-6pm at the
with reported concerns as follows:
All players and parents/carers will be able to access weekends) for advice on 0808 800
our anti-bullying policy and know that incidents will i. The Club Welfare Officer (Adult Teams) (if 5000 or text 88858 or email help@
be dealt with appropriately. Incidents need to be there is one) (“CWO”) or a member of the nspcc.org.uk.
reported in accordance with paragraph 7 below. In Club committee will manage poor practice
8. OUR COMMITMENT
cases of repeated and/or serious bullying the CFA and where necessary seek advice from the
DSO may be contacted. CFA DSO. As an England Football Accredited Club, our
Committee understands and accepts our collective
6. ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR WHEN WORKING ii. The CWO or a member of the Club
responsibility to adhere to our safeguarding
WITH YOUNG PEOPLE committee will make referrals about more
children policy and procedures and ensure that
serious concerns to the CFA DSO, or in an
Everyone who works or volunteers with children is safeguarding is always an agenda item at our
emergency contact the Police or Children’s
responsible and accountable for the way in which committee meetings.
Social Care.
they behave around and towards them and every We commit to ensuring our members are aware of
child has a right to be treated with respect and iii. We will ensure that if the child needs and have access to our policies.
dignity. We always require adults within our club immediate medical treatment that we take
to exhibit acceptable behaviour. We adopt The FAs them to a hospital or call an ambulance
‘Acceptable Behaviours When Working With Young and tell them it is a child protection
People; Guidance for Grassroots Football (5.7) concern.
available here.
iv. The CWO or a member of the
Codes of conduct for Players, Parents/Spectators, Club committee will keep records
Officials and Coaches have been implemented by of the actions taken and keep the
our Club. To police these codes of conduct the club CFA DSO informed.
has clear actions it will take regarding repeated or
v. If the CWO or a member of the Club
serious misconduct at club level and acknowledges
committee is not available at any time,
the possibility of potential sanctions which may
or the matter is clearly serious, all our
be implemented by the CFA in more serious
members should be aware that they can:
circumstances.
• Contact the CFA DSO directly;
7. REPORTING CONCERNS
• Contact The FA’s Safeguarding Team
In this Club, Safeguarding is everyone’s
via [email protected];
responsibility, and we know that inaction is not an