RNAS Culdrose Community Football Club

Safeguarding

As a 3 Star Accredited England Football Club, RNAS Culdrose Community Football Club 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 football club activity. We subscribe to the Football Association’s Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures and endorse and adopt the policy statement contained in that document.

The key principles of the FA 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, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.

  • 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 in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse. RNAS Culdrose Community Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our Club.

As a 3 Star Accredited England Football Club, RNAS Culdrose Community Football Club 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 and bullying. It is noted and accepted the Football Association’s Child Protection Regulation applies to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This means whether you are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach, club official or medical staff.

We endorse and adopt the FA’s Responsible Recruitment guidelines for recruiting volunteers and we will:

  • Develop a role profile

  • Request identification documents.

  • As a minimum meet and chat with applicant(s) and where possible conduct interviews before appointing.

  • Require an FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA guidelines.

All current RNAS Culdrose Community Football Club members who are regularly caring for, supervising, training or being insole charge of children and young people will be required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via the FA CRB Unit. If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved with or who has approached us to become part of RNAS Culdrose Community Football Club guidance will be sought from the Football Association. It is noted and accepted that the FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via the FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of children and young people.

It is accepted that the FA 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 minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.

RNAS Culdrose Community Football Club supports the FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting the FA Child Protection Team on 0207 745 4787, by writing to the FA Case Manager at the Football Association or alternatively by going direct to the police, Children’s Services or NSPCC. RNAS Culdrose Community Football Club encourages everyone to know about it and utilise it if necessary.

RNAS Culdrose Community Football Club has an appointed Club Welfare Officer (CWO) in line with the FA’s role profile and required completion of the Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officers Workshop. The Post Holder will be involved with Welfare Officer Training provided by the FA and or CFA. The CWO is the first point of contact for all Club members regarding concerns about the welfare of any child or young person. The CWO will liaise directly with the CFA Welfare Officer and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. They will also play a proactive role in increasing awareness of RESPECT, poor practice and abuse amongst their Club members.

We acknowledge and endorse the FA‘s identification of bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable in our Club. If bullying occurs, 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 CWO or alternatively, in cases of serious bullying we may contact the CFA Welfare Officer.

RESPECT Codes of conduct for Players, Parents/Carers, Officials and Coaches have been implemented by RNAS Culdrose Community Football Club. In order to validate these respect codes of conduct the Club has clear actions it will take regarding repeated or serious misconduct at Club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented by the CFA in more serious circumstances. All registering members will be required to adopt the Respect Codes.

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 isn’t an option.

If you are worried about a child then you need to report your concerns to the CWO.

If the issue is one of poor practice they will either deal with the matter themselves or seek advice from the CFA Welfare Officer.

If the concern is more serious i.e. possible child abuse they will contact, where possible , contact the CFA Welfare Officer first, then immediately contact the Police or Children’s Services.

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 CFA Welfare Officer know what action you have taken.

If at any time you are not able to contact your CWO or the matter is serious then you can either contact your CFA Welfare Officer directly or call the FA/NSPCC 24-hour helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000 or contact the Police or Children’s Services.


Club Welfare Officer (CWO) - Shara Duffield

Shara Duffield

Tel: 07870905322

E-mail: shara8fulbrook@hotmail.co.uk

Shara’s role as Club Welfare Officer (CWO) is to ensure the safety of all players under our supervision. In order to fulfil her role, Shara herself has to undertake the following courses:

  • FA Welfare Officer Workshop

  • FA Safeguarding Children Workshop

  • FA Safeguarding for Committee Members

  • FA CRC Enhanced check

Her other main role is to liaise with the Club’s FA Charter Standard Co-ordinator to ensure that all coaching and non-coaching volunteers remain current and up to date with their FA Safeguarding Children Certification and CRC Checks.

Shara liaises closely on behalf of the club with Richard Pallot the County Welfare Officer who provides both Shara and our club with support and guidance and news on any national strategies.

As well as having to be FA qualified all our coaches have to hold an up to date FA License to coach U18 players. For more information visit:
http://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/safeguarding

Or contact:

  • Cornwall County Football Association Designated Safeguarding Officer: Claire Summers-Evans Tel: 01208 269010 E-mail: Claire.Summers-Evans@cornwallfa.com

  • The Safeguarding Children enquiry line: 0845 210 8080 E-mail: Footballsafe@TheFA.com