Safeguarding Policy

CASA LTD Safeguarding​ ​Children​ ​Policy​ ​and​ ​Procedures.

1.​ ​CASA LTD​ ​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 ​ ​activity.

​ ​2.​ ​The​ ​key​ ​principles​ ​the​ ​CASA LTD​ ​Safeguarding​ ​Children​ ​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,​ ​race,​ ​sexual​ ​orientation,​ ​faith​ ​or​ ​belief

● 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/carers​ ​is​ ​essential.

We​ ​acknowledge​ ​that​ ​every​ ​child​ ​or​ ​young​ ​person​ ​who​ ​plays​ ​or​ ​participates​​ ​should be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​take​ ​part​ ​in​ ​an​ ​enjoyable​ ​and​ ​safe​ ​environment​ ​and​ ​be​ ​protected​ ​from​ ​poor​ ​practice and​ ​abuse.​ CASA LTD ​recognises​ ​that​ ​this​ ​is​ ​the​ ​responsibility​ ​of​ ​every adult​ ​involved​ ​in​ ​our​ ​organisation.

3.​ ​CASA LTD​ ​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​ CASA LTD’s​ ​Safeguarding Children​ ​Regulations​ ​apply​ ​to​ ​everyone​​ ​whether​ ​in​ ​a​ ​paid​ ​or​ ​voluntary​ ​capacity.​

4.​ ​We​ ​implement strong and thorough guidelines during our recruitment process and​ ​we​ ​will:

 ● Specify​ ​what​ ​the​ ​role​ ​is​ ​and​ ​what​ ​tasks​ ​it​ ​involves

● Request​ ​identification​ ​documents

● As​ ​a​ ​minimum​ ​meet​ ​and​ ​chat​ ​with​ ​the​ ​applicant(s)​ ​and​ ​where​ ​possible​ ​interview​ ​people

before​ ​appointing​ ​them

● Ask​ ​for​ ​and​ ​follow​ ​up​ ​with​ ​2​ ​references​ ​before​ ​appointing​ ​someone

● Require a DBS check.

All​ ​current​ ​CASA LTD ​ ​members​ ​working​ ​in​ ​eligible​ ​roles,​ ​with​ ​children​ ​and young​ ​people​ are​ ​required​ ​to​ ​hold​ ​an​ ​in-date​ ​Enhanced​ ​DBS​ ​with​ ​Barring​ ​List​ ​check​ ​as​ ​part​ ​of​ ​responsible​ ​recruitment​ ​practice.

If​ ​there​ ​are​ ​concerns​ ​regarding​ ​the​ ​appropriateness​ ​of​ ​an​ ​individual​ ​who​ ​is​ ​already​ ​involved​ ​or who​ ​has​ ​approached​ ​us​ ​to​ ​become​ ​part​ ​of​ ​CASA LTD,​ ​guidance​ ​will​ ​be sought​ ​from local governing bodies.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​noted​ ​and​ ​accepted​ ​that​ ​those governing bodies ​will​ ​consider​ ​the relevance​ ​and​ ​significance​ ​of​ ​the​ ​information​ ​obtained​ ​via​ ​the​ ​DBS Process​ ​and​ ​that​ ​all suitability​ ​decisions​ ​will​ ​be​ ​made​ ​in​ ​accordance​ ​with​ ​legislation​ ​and​ ​in​ ​the​ ​best​ ​interests​ ​of children​ ​and​ ​young​ ​people.

It​ ​is​ ​accepted​ ​that​ ​these governing bodies ​​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. ​We​ ​acknowledge​ ​and​ ​endorse​ ​The​ ​FA’s​ ​identification​ ​of​ ​bullying​ ​as​ ​a​ ​category​ ​of​ ​abuse. Bullying​ ​of​ ​any​ ​kind​ ​is​ ​not​ ​acceptable​ ​at​ ​our​ ​clubs.​ ​If​ ​bullying​ ​does​ ​occur,​ ​all​ ​players​ ​or parents/carers​ ​should​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​and​ ​know​ ​that​ ​incidents​ ​will​ ​be​ ​dealt​ ​with​ ​promptly.

 Incidents​ ​need​ ​to​ ​be​ ​reported​ ​to​ ​the​ our ​​coaches (lead safeguarding officer)​ ​in​ ​cases​ ​of​ ​serious​ ​bullying​.

6.​ ​Respect​ ​codes​ ​of​ ​conduct​ ​for​ ​ ​Coaches​ ​have​ ​been implemented​ ​by​ ​CASA LTD.​ ​In​ ​order​ ​to​ ​validate​ ​these​ ​Respect​ ​codes​ ​of conduct​ ​CASA LTD ​ ​has​ ​clear​ ​actions​ ​it​ ​will​ ​take​ ​regarding​ ​repeated​ ​or​ ​serious​ ​misconduct​ ​​ ​and​ ​acknowledges​ ​the​ ​possibility​ ​of​ ​potential​ ​sanctions​ ​which​ ​may​ ​be​ ​implemented​​ for ​more​ ​serious​ ​circumstances.

9.​ ​Reporting​ ​your​ ​concerns​ ​about​ ​the​ ​welfare​ ​of​ ​a​ ​child​ ​or​ ​young​ ​person.​ ​Safeguarding​ ​is everyone’s​ ​responsibility​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​worried​ ​about​ ​a​ ​child​ ​it​ ​is​ ​important​ ​that​ ​you​ ​report​ ​your concerns​ ​–​ ​no​ ​action​ ​is​ ​not​ ​an​ ​option.

i.​​ ​If​ ​you​ ​are​ ​worried​ ​about​ ​a​ ​child​ ​then​ ​you​ ​need​ ​to​ ​report​ ​your​ ​concerns​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Lead safeguarding officer (often one of the coaches at the session).

ii.​​ ​If​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​is​ ​one​ ​of​ ​poor​ ​practice​ ​the​ CASA ​lead safeguarding officer​ ​will​ ​either:

● deal​ ​with​ ​the​ ​matter​ ​themselves​ ​or

● seek​ ​advice​ ​from​ ​the​ ​CASA​ ​Welfare​ ​Officer (Adrian Hogan)

iii.​If​ ​the​ ​concern​ ​is​ ​more​ ​serious​ ​–​ ​possible​ ​child​ ​abuse,​ ​where​ ​possible,​ ​contact​ ​the​ ​CASA Welfare​ ​Officer​ ​first,​ ​then​ ​immediately​ ​contact​ ​the​ ​Police​ ​or​ ​Children’s​ ​Social​ ​Care.

iv​. If​ ​the​ ​child​ ​needs​ ​immediate​ ​medical​ ​treatment​ ​take​ ​them​ ​to​ ​a​ ​hospital​ ​or​ ​call​ ​an​ ​ambulance and​ ​tell​ ​them​ ​this​ ​is​ ​a​ ​child​ ​protection​ ​concern.​ ​Let​ ​your​ ​Welfare​ ​Officer​ ​know​ ​what​ ​action you​ ​have​ ​taken,​ ​they​ ​in​ ​turn​ ​will​ ​inform​ ​the​ ​CASA​ ​Welfare​ ​Officer.

v.​​ ​If​ ​at​ ​any​ ​time​ ​you​ ​are​ ​not​ ​able​ ​to​ ​contact​ ​your​ ​​ ​Welfare​ ​Officer​ ​or​ ​the​ ​matter​ ​is​ ​clearly serious​ ​then​ ​you​ ​can​ ​either:

● Contact​ ​your​ ​CASA​ ​Welfare​ ​Officer​ ​directly www.c.a.s.a@hotmail.co.uk">www.c.a.s.a@hotmail.co.uk/ 07787504838

● Contact​ ​the​ ​Police​ ​or​ ​Children’s​ ​Social​ ​Care

● Call​ ​the​ ​NSPCC​ ​24​ ​hour​ ​Helpline​ ​for​ ​advice​ ​on​ ​0808​ ​800​ ​5000​ ​or​ ​text​ ​88858​ ​or​ ​email help@nspcc.org.uk

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The following is not an exhaustive list but you might become concerned as a result of:

• Seeing a physical injury which you believe to be non-accidental

• Observing something in the appearance of a pupil of a pupil which leads you to think his/her needs are being neglected.

• A pupil telling you the s/he has been subjected to some form of abuse

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In any of these circumstances you should write down what you observed or heard. Date and sign and account and give it to the DSP or deputy DSP.

If a pupil talks to you about (discloses) sexual or physical abuse you should

• Listen carefully without interruption, particularly if s/he is freely recalling significant events

• Only ask sufficient questions to clarify what you have heard. You might not need to ask anything but, if you do, you must not ‘lead’ the pupil in any way so should only ask ‘open’ questions

• Make it clear you are obliged to pass the information on, but only to those who need to know

• Tell the DSP or deputy DSP without delay

• Write an account of the conversation as soon as you are able (definitely the same day), date and sign it and give it to the DSP.

Do not ask ask the pupil to repeat the disclosure to anyone else in the school, ask him/her or any other pupil to write a ‘statement’, or inform parents. You are not expected to make a judgement about whether the child is telling the truth.

Remember – share any concerns, don’t keep them to yourself.

If a child and/or parent wishes to make a formal complaint regarding the child care service they are receiving, please contact Ofsted on 0300 123 1231. Alternatively you can visit www.ofsted.gov.uk to file your complaint there.