Safeguarding Policy

1. 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 club football activity. We subscribe to The Football Association’s (The FA) Safeguarding Children – Policy and Procedures and endorse and adopt the Policy Statement contained in that document.

2. 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, race, sexual orientation, faith belief.

•  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.

Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.

3. 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 or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The Football Association’s Safeguarding Children Regulations (see The FA Handbook) 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.

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

 • specify what the role is and what tasks it involves.

 • request identification documents.

 • as a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible interview people before appointing them.

 • ask for and follow up with 2 references before appointing someone.

 • where eligible require an FA accepted Enhanced Criminal Record Check (CRC) with Barring List Check in line with current FA policy and

   regulations.

All current Sporting Duet Football Club members working in eligible roles, with children and young people - such as managers and coaches are required to hold an in-date FA accepted Enhanced CRC with Barring List check as part of responsible recruitment practice.

If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Sporting Duet 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 CRC Process and that all suitability decisions will be made in accordance with legislation and 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 children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.