Enfield Town Ladies FC
Safeguarding Policy
Every child or young person, defined as any person under the age of 18 and any vulnerable adult who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from any form of abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in football.
Enfield Town Ladies FC recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all young people and vulnerable adults by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying.
Enfield Town Ladies FC is therefore committed to working to provide a safe environment for all young people and vulnerable adults to participate in the sport to the best of their abilities for as long as they choose to do so.
Key Principles;
- The child’s or vulnerable adult’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration.
- All young people and vulnerable adults 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 vulnerable adults and their parents and carers is essential.
Enfield Town Ladies FC is committed to working in partnership with Middlesex County FA Safeguarding team, the Police, Social Services Departments, and local Safeguarding Children’s Boards (LSCB) Committees (ACPC) in accordance with their procedures. This is essential to enable these organisations to carry out their statutory duties to investigate concerns and protect all young people and vulnerable adults.
If a disclosure is made to club volunteers or there are any safeguarding concerns;
The club representative who has had the disclosure made to them or as any safeguarding concerns will contact the Club Welfare Officer (CWO) and will then complete the relevant form and send to the CWO, who will act on the information given.
If a disclosure is made, the club representative will listen to the individual, speak to them in view of others if able to but, away enough so it is not shared with others and most importantly believe what is being said.
- Allow them time to talk and do not ask leading questions.
- Stay calm and do not show that you are shocked or upset.
- Tell the individual that is good that they are telling you and important that they have.
- Explain what will happen next and that you will have to pass this information on to the CWO.
The club representative will also complete the safeguarding form immediately after informing the CWO.
If the club representative feels the individual maybe in immediate danger, they must inform the CWO immediately and the police.
Guidelines that our club representatives will always follow;
- Be aware of which players cannot be photographed for safeguarding reasons or has not got parent/carer permission.
- Follow our safeguarding policy and discuss any concerns with our CWO.
- Whistleblowing – If there is concern with how the CWO deals with any situation, this must be reported to the Club Chairman.
- Whistleblowing – If there is a concern with how anyone at the club is responding to Safeguarding or anyone has any concerns regarding Safeguarding and club representatives, this must be reported to Club Chairman.
- We will always follow our First aid guidelines, medical need and medication guidelines, respect club members confidentially (Unless it is not appropriate to keep confidential)
- No Club representatives will contact members under the age of 18 directly by phone, email, text messages or video calling. Any contact will be through group messaging (With parent permission) or through the parent.
- All Under 18’s will have parent permission to join our club, with the form being completed by a parent.
We will share all FA Safeguarding notices / information with all members, as and when it is sent or required.
