AEES COACHING Ltd.


Policy of Protecting Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults from Harm

(Safeguarding)


AEES COACHING Ltd. has a duty of care to safeguard all children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in its activities from harm. All children, young people and vulnerable adults have a right to protection, and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. AEES COACHING Ltd. will take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and protection of all children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in its activities through adhering to the guidelines stated in this Policy and adopted by the organisation. All employees and volunteers share in this duty of care. The company recognises that it is responsible for taking action when it is recognised that a child may be experiencing abuse (see Appendix A). A child/young person is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989). 


1. POLICY AIMS


The aim of the AEES COACHING Ltd. Protecting Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy is to:

  • Provide children, young people and vulnerable adults with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of AEES COACHING Ltd..

  • Safeguard the welfare of both the child and employee/volunteer.

  • Allow all staff/volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child/vulnerable adult protection issues.


2. PROMOTING GOOD PRACTICE


Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgement about the appropriate action to take.


Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and the sporting environment. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people and vulnerable adults in order to harm them. A coach, instructor, teacher, official or volunteer will have regular contact with young people and vulnerable adults and be an important link in identifying cases where they need protection. All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines in this document.


2.1 Good Practice Guidelines


All personnel should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to protect themselves from false allegations. The following are common sense examples of positive culture and climate.



2.2 Good practice means:

  • Always working in an open environment avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication. 

  • Treating all young people/vulnerable adults equally with respect and dignity.

  • Always putting the welfare of each young person first.

  • Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with participants in the company's activities (e.g. it is not appropriate for staff or volunteers to have an intimate relationship with a child).

  • Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust and empowering children to share in the decision making.

  • Aiming to make sport fun, enjoyable and to promote fair play. 

  • Ensuring that if any form of manual/physical support is required, it should be provided openly and according to guidelines. A child or vulnerable adult should always be consulted and his or her agreement gained before support is provided and only the assistance required to enable the child to complete the activity successfully should be provided.  Some parents are becoming increasingly sensitive about manual support and their views should always be carefully considered. 

  • Keeping up to date with technical skills, qualifications and insurance. 

  • Involving parents/carers wherever possible. For example, encouraging them to take responsibility for their children in the changing rooms. If groups have to be supervised in the changing rooms, always ensure parents, teachers, coaches or officials work in pairs. 

  • Ensuring that if mixed teams are taken away for the day or night, they should always be accompanied by a male and female member of staff. However, remember that same gender abuse can also occur. 

  • Being an excellent role model – this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of young people. 

  • Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism. 

  • Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of young people and vulnerable adults – avoiding excessive training or competition and not pushing them against their will. 

  • Securing parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to administer emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment. 

  • Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given. 

  • Requesting written parental consent if club officials are required to transport young people in their cars. 


2.3 Practices to be avoided

The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If a case arises where these situations are unavoidable (e.g. the child sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent fails to arrive to pick a child up at the end of a session), it should be with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge at AEES COACHING Ltd. or the child’s parents. 


Otherwise, avoid:

  • Spending excessive amounts of time alone with children or vulnerable adults away from others.

  • Taking or dropping off a child or vulnerable adult to an event. 


2.4 Practices never to be sanctioned


The following should NEVER be sanctioned. You should NEVER:

  • Engage in rough physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay. 

  • Share a room with a child or vulnerable adult. 

  • Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching. 

  • Allow children or vulnerable adults to use inappropriate language unchallenged.

  • Make sexually suggestive comments to a child or vulnerable adult, even in fun. 

  • Reduce a child or vulnerable adult to tears as a form of control. 

  • Allow allegations made by a child or vulnerable adult to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon. 

  • Do things of a personal nature for children or vulnerable adults that they can do for themselves. 

  • Invite or allow children or vulnerable adults to stay with you at your home unsupervised. 


NB It may sometimes be necessary for staff or volunteers to do things of a personal nature for children, particularly if they are young or are disabled. These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of parents and the athletes involved. There is a need to be responsive to a person’s reactions. If a person is dependent on you, talk with him/her about what you are doing and give choices where possible. This is particularly so if you are involved in any dressing or undressing of outer clothing, or where there is physical contact, lifting or assisting a child to carry out particular activities. Avoid taking on the responsibility for tasks for which you are not appropriately trained.


2.5 Incidents that must be reported/recorded


If any of the following occur you should report this immediately to another colleague and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents of the child are informed: 

  • If you accidentally hurt a player 

  • If he/she seems distressed in any manner 

  • If a player appears to be sexually aroused by your actions 

  • If a player misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done. 


3. USE OF PHOTOGRAPHIC/FILMING EQUIPMENT

There is evidence that some people have used events involving young and disabled people as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage of young and disabled people in vulnerable positions. All staff and volunteers of AEES COACHING Ltd. should be vigilant and any concerns should be reported to the Welfare Officer : Alistair Steele- todaytriathlonclub@gmail.com-07582847315


3.1 Photographing and Videoing

Photographs and video taken of young people or vulnerable adults will only be used for the purpose of raising awareness of AEES COACHING Ltd. and publicising its activities or as a coaching aid. Permission will be obtained from all parents/ guardians prior to photographing or videoing young people.


3.2 Video as a coaching aid

Video equipment can be used as a legitimate coaching aid. However, performers and their parents/carers should be made aware that this is part of the coaching programme and such films should be stored safely.


4. RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF PERSONNEL


AEES COACHING Ltd. recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children or vulnerable adults in some way and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. All employees/volunteers working with children must undergo AEES COACHING Ltd.’s screening process. In addition, all employees/volunteers leading a session and/or working alone with children or vulnerable adults must undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check in advance of being appointed to such a position. 


Training will be provided after recruitment to ensure that all employees/volunteers recognise their responsibilities and know how to report any concerns about suspected poor practise or possible abuse. All staff and volunteers should analyse their own practice against established good practice and ensure their practice is likely to protect them from false allegations.


If any employee/volunteer has any concerns/queries regarding Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection issues, please contact the Companies Welfare Officer (see section 5.2).



5. RESPONDING TO ALLEGATIONS OR SUSPICIONS


It is not the responsibility of anyone working for AEES COACHING Ltd., in a paid or unpaid capacity, to decide whether abuse has taken place. However, there is a responsibility to act on any concerns through contact with the appropriate authorities. AEES COACHING Ltd. recognises that the reporting of evidence that may indicate abuse is a demanding and stressful task. AEES COACHING Ltd. will fully support and protect all staff/volunteers who in good faith report his or her concern that a child or vulnerable is, or may be, being abused. 


If an employee/volunteer suspects that a child or vulnerable adult may be suffering abuse or a child or vulnerable adult discloses abuse, then he or she has an obligation to report his or her suspicions to the Welfare Officer as soon as possible. The safety and wellbeing of the child is of paramount importance and the employee/volunteer must act accordingly. The Welfare Officer will assist you in dealing with the situation, make the necessary referrals and ensure that there is good communication between the people involved. 


If the allegation is about poor practice or abuse by the Welfare Officer, or a matter has been inadequately handled and concerns remain, it should be reported to one of the Company Directors, who will decide how to deal with the allegation.


5.1 Confidentiality


Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only and stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws.


5.2 Reporting the Allegations or Suspicions


A signed written report of the allegations or suspicions must be given to the Welfare Officer as soon as possible listing:

  1. Date and time

  2. Child’s name

  3. Child’s age

  4. Child’s address

  5. Your name 

  6. Your contact details (including address)

  7.  Description of the cause for concern

  8. Statement of any disclosure

  9. Details of any witnesses to the incidents

  10. Any actions taken


All reports should be kept factual.


The Welfare Officer is:


Name:          Alistair Steele 

Position:      Company Director

Address:       AEES COACHING Ltd., 6c The Rampart, Haddenham, CB6 3ST


Mobile: 07582847315