Brackley Rugby Football Club Safeguarding Policy
1. Brackley Rugby Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in Brackley Rugby Union Football Club from harm.
2. Brackley RFC 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. Brackley RFC 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. Brackley RFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.
6. Brackley RFC 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 Dickie Clements (dickie.clements@brackleyrufc.com). 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, Mark Ashton (mark.ashton@brackleyrufc.com) and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Team.
8. All members of Brackley RFC who work with children in Regulated Activity must undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with RFU Regulation 21.
9. Brackley RFC 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 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. Brackley RFC 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. Brackley 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. Brackley RFC 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 Brackley RFC 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 Brackley RFC must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.
14. Mobile and on-line communication with children
• When communicating by phone, where possible Club Officials should speak to the parent of a child;
• Club officials and coaches should not communicate with individual children by text or online at any time, on any matter, unless there is an immediate risk to the welfare of that child which can by lessened by that contact;
• If communication of club related information by email is necessary, email groups using email addresses given by parents should be used. If replying to an email sent by a child, the parent should be copied in to the response;
• Coaches and Club Officials should not communicate with children through social networking sites such as Facebook, WhatsApp etc. Coaches should not be “friends” with the children they coach.
15. Photographs and Video
• Personal information which can lead to a child being identified should never be used;
• Anyone taking photographs and video clips should ensure that they obtain prior parental consent for photographs whilst a child is either at the club or at away fixtures. This is recorded on the child’s membership form;
• Parents must be notified if a film is being used as a coaching aid. The Team Manager should ensure that any footage will be carefully monitored and stored securely;
• When other clubs meet for fixtures or festivals, it is recommended that confirmation is obtained from each club that parental permission has been given for all the children participating. If there is a child who is subject of a court order who should therefore not be photographed, then this should be addressed before the event.