Overton RFC Safeguarding Policy

Overton Rugby Club Safeguarding Officers are Sarah Mitchell and Luby Hough and she can be contacted at overtonsafeguarding@hotmail.com

If you have any concerns or questions about the clubs policies, child protection, bullying, something you may have seen or are worried about, please contact the Safeguarding officer for advice. Please note all policies are displayed on notice boards within the club house

Overton Rugby Club acknowledge its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in rugby at our club. As a club we adhere to the RFU’s Safeguarding policies and procedures, recommended practices and guidelines and endorse and adopt the statements contained within these documents. These can be viewed at:

http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/volunteers/safeguarding-children/

Under Child Protection laws and RFU policy, a “child” is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity.

 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, size, language or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse or harm and should be able to enjoy their rugby in a positive, safe and enjoyable environment

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

  • Everyone involved in the sport will work in partnership to promote the welfare, health and development of children

All rugby coaches, coaching assistants, first aiders and team managers must

  • respect the rights, dignity and worth of every young person with whom they work with and treat them equally within the context of rugby union

  • undertake an enhanced DBS clearance with the RFU if working in a regulated activity (involving un-supervised access to children)

  • place the physical and emotional wellbeing of all young players above all other considerations, including the development of performance.

  • understand that the relationship that develops with the players with whom they work must be based on mutual trust and respect

  • ensure that all activities undertaken are appropriate to the age, maturity, experience and ability of the young players

  • encourage young players to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance and be aware of good safeguarding practices so that any poor practices will be addressed immediately

 

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, children, vulnerable adult, or adults.

  • Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children or vulnerable adults.

  • Providing alcohol to children or allowing its supply.

  • Smoking in the presence of children.

  • Humiliating children or vulnerable adults.

  • Inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact with a child or vulnerable adult.

  • Participating in, or allowing, contact or physical games with children or vulnerable adults.

  • Having an intimate or sexual relationship with any child or vulnerable adult developed as a result of being in a ‘position of trust.’

  • Making sexually explicit comments or sharing sexually explicit material.

It is EVERYONE’S responsibility at Overton rugby club to report concerns.   Overton is committed to working in partnership with parents/carers and statutory agencies in order to safeguard the young people at our club.   The Club Safeguarding Officer should be the first point of call (top of page) with any concerns, however advice and guidance if the Safeguarding Officer is unavailable can also be sought from:

  • Hampshire RFU Safeguarding Manager: Michele Amos

  • Tel: 07884 271543 E-mail: Michele.Amos@hampshirerugby.com

  • NSPCC Helpline: 0800 8800 5000 and website http://www.nspcc.org.uk/

  • Childline: 0800 1111

Becoming a Coach/Volunteer

At Overton Rugby Club we encourage everyone to volunteer or help within our club but before anybody can volunteer to help as a coach in a training session/game they must first make themselves known to the Safeguarding Officer who will take their details. After two sessions you MUST have applied to be DBS’d. While we are waiting for clarification YOU must NOT be unsupervised at all and be within hearing/seeing distance of a DBS’d coach. Within 3 months of your DBS being cleared you Must attend a safeguarding course which can be found here. Any adult found on a pitch without authorisation will be asked to leave and the coach could face a disciplinary. http://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding/safeguarding-course-search