Safe Guarding children

Everyone shares the responsibility for safeguarding and creating safe environments in rugby union whether as a parent, coach, spectator or club official. 

All should operate within an accepted ethical framework and demonstrate exemplary behaviour to both safeguard children and protect all personnel from allegations of abuse or poor practice.

Children, which is anyone under the age of 18, must be cared for in the correct manner, as set out in the RFU Safeguarding Policy.

RFU SAFEGUARDING POLICY

• RFU Safeguarding Children Policy

 

SAFE RECRUITING

All children and vulnerable adults are entitled to protection from harm and be able to take part in sport in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment. When recruiting employees or volunteers all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure only suitable people are selected.

• Volunteer application form

 

IMPORTANT FOR ALL

This policy and guidance should be read by everyone involved in providing this environment within rugby union. Please refer to Regulation 21 for RFU procedures on dealing with abuse allegations  or breach of the policy.

• Regulation 21

CLUB SAFEGUARDING OFFICERS

Every club running mini/midi/youth rugby must have a Club Safeguarding Officer. Hornsea and Holderness Mini and Junior Section Safe Guarding officer is

Andrew Keyworth

Email : Andrew.Keyworth@uk.bosch.com

Phone : 07725477025

 

Club Safeguarding Policy

Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club

Safeguarding Policy

 

1. Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club from harm.

 

2. Hornsea Rugby Union Football confirms that it adheres to the Rugby Football Union’s Safeguarding Policy and the procedures, practices and guidelines and endorse and adopt the Policy Statement contained in that document and any successor policy.

 

3. A child is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity. However, where a 17-year-old male player is playing in the adult game it is essential that every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure his safety and wellbeing are protected.

 

4. The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Policy are that:

 

• The welfare of the child is, and must always be, paramount to any other considerations.

 

• All participants regardless of age, gender, ability or disability, race, faith, culture, size, shape, language, or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse or harm.

 

• All allegations or suspicions of abuse, neglect, harm, and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly, and appropriately.

 

• Working in partnership with other organisations, statutory agencies, parents, carers, children, and young people is essential for the welfare of children.
• Children have a right to expect support, and personal and social development delivered by an appropriately recruited, vetted, and managed in relation to their participation in rugby union, whether they are playing, volunteering, or officiating in the community or professional areas of the sport.

 

5. Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club recognises that all children have the right to participate in sport in a safe, positive, and enjoyable environment whilst at the same time being protected from abuse, neglect, harm, and poor practice. Hornsea RUFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.

 

6. Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conduct and the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials as appropriate.

 

7. The Club Safeguarding Officer is Andy Keyworth. Andy’s email is Andrew.Keyworth@uk.bosch.com. Phone number is 07725 477025

 

8. If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child has been put at risk you must, in the first instance, inform the Club Safeguarding Officer. They will then inform the CB Safeguarding Manager and the RFU Safeguarding Team. If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer, you should inform the Club Chairman (Nick O’Mahony) Junior Club Chairman (Scott Morley) and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Team.

 

9. All members of Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club who work with children in Regulated Activity must undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with RFU Regulation 21.

 

10. Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club will ensure that all its members, whether they are coaches, parents, players, or officials will comply with the Best Practice Guidance as issued by the RFU. In summary, the following are NOT acceptable and will be treated seriously by the club and may result in disciplinary action being taken by the club, the CB or the RFU:

 

• Working alone with a child.
• Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children.
• Providing alcohol to children or allowing its supply.
• Smoking in the presence of children.
• Humiliating children.
• Inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact with a child.
• Participating in, or allowing, contact or physical games with children.
• Having an intimate or sexual relationship with any child developed as a result of being in a ‘position of trust.’
• Making sexually explicit comments or sharing sexually explicit material.

 

 

11. Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club manages the changing facilities and arranges for them to be supervised by two DBS checked adults of the appropriate gender for the players using the facilities. Burnham on Sea RFC ensures that all its coaches, parents, officials, and spectators are aware that adults must not change at the same time, using the same facilities as children.

 

12. Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club will ensure that its coaches [and team managers] will receive the support and training considered appropriate to their position and role. The RFU “Managing Challenging Behaviour” Policy has been adopted and circulated amongst the club workforce both, voluntary and paid.

 

13. Any events held on Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club premises must comply with this Policy and if appropriate a Safeguarding Plan should be discussed and circulated to those affected. Any tours, overseas or domestic, undertaken by Hornsea Rugby Union Football Club must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.

 

14. Due to the open nature of the site the club workforce will ensure the safety of the junior players by providing appropriate supervision. This extends to Coaches and Team Managers keeping players within an appropriate playing area to ensure their safety. It is the responsibility of all members of the club to challenge suspicious or unknown individuals in the vicinity of players. If there are any suspicious circumstances, members must report them to the Club Safeguarding Officer or, if there is imminent danger, directly to the police.

 

15. The club will ensure that all key personnel know safety plans and actions to be taken in the instance of a serious incident.