Golf Policies and Procedures

Children and Young People Safeguarding Policy

Introduction

Everyone working with children and young people has a responsibility for keeping them safe, irrespective of their role, whether they are paid members of staff or volunteers.

England Golf is committed to ensure that the sport of golf is one within which all participants can thrive in a safe environment and that all children and young people have an enjoyable and positive experience when playing golf.

Key principles

The welfare of children is paramount.

A child is defined by law in England and Wales as a person under the age of 18 years.

All children, regardless of their Age, Race, Religion or Belief, Disability, Gender identity or Sexual Orientation, have the right to protection from abuse.

All concerns and allegations of abuse and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.

All children have the right to be safe.

All children have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

The Alexander Park Golf Club will work with children, their parents/carers and external organisations to safeguard the welfare of children participating in golf.

We recognise the authority of the statutory agencies and are committed to complying with Local Safeguarding Children Board Guidelines (LSCB), Working Together under the Children Act 2004, and any legislation and statutory guidance that supersedes these.

The Alexander Park Golf Club is committed to working in partnership with other key UK Golf Bodies to continually improve and to promote safeguarding initiatives across the sport.

The Alexander Park Golf Club owes a legal duty of care to children on their premises or engaged in their activities. That duty is to take reasonable care to ensure their reasonable safety and the duty is higher than it would be for adults.

Objectives

The Alexander Park Golf Club aims to:

Provide a safe environment for children and young people participating in golfing activities and try to ensure that they enjoy the experience.

Ensure robust systems are in place to manage any concerns or allegations.

Support adults (staff, volunteers, PGA Professionals, coaches, members and visitors) to understand their roles and responsibilities with regard to their duty of care and protection of children.

Shape Provide appropriate level training, support and resources for staff, volunteers & coaches to make informed and confident responses to specific safeguarding issues and fulfill their role effectively.

Ensure that children and their parents/carers are informed and consulted and, where appropriate, fully involved in decisions that affect them.

Reassure parents and carers that all children and young people will receive the best care possible whilst participating in club activities and communicate Policy and Procedure to them through website/letter/consents.

Responsibilities and implementation

The Alexander Park Golf Club will seek to promote the principles of safeguarding children by:

Reviewing their policy and procedures every three years or whenever there is a major change in legislation. Guidance from England Golf will be sought as part of the review process.

Conducting a risk assessment of club activities with regard to safeguarding and take appropriate action to address the identified issues within suitable timescales.

Using appropriate recruitment procedures to assess the suitability of volunteers and staff working with children and young people in line with guidance from England Golf.

Following National Governing Body (NGB) procedures to report concerns and allegations about the behaviour of adults and ensuring that all staff, volunteers, parents and children are aware of these procedures.

Directing staff, volunteers & coaches to appropriate safeguarding training and learning opportunities, where this is appropriate to their role.

Safeguarding Adults Policy

Introduction

Alexander Park Golf Club is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment for all individuals involved in golf.

Safeguarding duties apply to an adult who:

Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and;

Is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; and;

As a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect.

Principles in relation to adults at risk

The Care and Support Statutory Guidance Section 14.13 sets out the following six key principles which underpin all adult safeguarding work:

Empowerment: People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent.

Prevention: It is better to take action before harm occurs.

Proportionality: The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.

Protection: Support and representation for those in greatest need.

Partnership: Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse.

Accountability: Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.

Making safeguarding personal is the concept that adult safeguarding should be person led and outcome focused. It engages the person in a conversation about how best to respond to their safeguarding situation in a way that enhances involvement, choice and control. As well as improving quality of life, well-being and safety.

Wherever possible discuss safeguarding concerns with the adult to get their view of what they would like to happen and keep them involved in the safeguarding process, seeking their consent to share information outside of the organisation where necessary.

The principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) state that every individual has the right to make their own decisions and provides the framework for this to happen.

In addition Alexander Park Golf Club recognises the following principles which underpin our work with all groups and individuals who may have additional needs for support and protection:

It is every adult’s right to be protected from abuse irrespective of their age, gender identity, faith or religion, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, background, economic position, marital status, disability or level of ability.

All staff and volunteers share the responsibility for the protection of adults at risk and will show respect and understanding for their rights, safety and welfare.

The additional vulnerability of disabled adults (including those with invisible disabilities, learning and communication differences) is recognised.

Allegations of abuse or concerns about the welfare of any adult will be treated seriously and will be responded to swiftly and appropriately.

Alexander Park Golf Club recognises the role and responsibilities of the statutory agencies in safeguarding adults and is committed to complying with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Adults Boards.

Confidentiality will be maintained appropriately at all times and the adult’s safety and welfare must be the overriding consideration when making decisions on whether or not to share information about them.

Alexander Park Golf Club will support all adults to understand their roles and responsibilities with regards to safeguarding and protecting adults at risk, including the responsibility to report all concerns in line with Alexander Park Golf Club safeguarding adults policy and procedures.

All participants involved in golfing activities have the right to be listened to with respect and to be heard.

Guidance and legislation

The practices and procedures within this policy are based on the principles contained within the UK and legislation and Government Guidance and have been developed to complement the Safeguarding Adults Boards policy and procedures, and take the following into consideration:

The Care Act 2014

The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012

Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment ) Act 2012

The Equality Act 2010

The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006

Mental Capacity Act 2005

Sexual Offences Act 2003

The Human Rights Act 1998

The Data Protection Act 2018

Responsibilities and implementation

Alexander Park Golf Club will seek to promote the principles of safeguarding by:

Reviewing Alexander Park Golf Club policy and procedures every three years or whenever there is a major change in legislation.

Giving guidance on appropriate recruitment procedures to assess the suitability of volunteers and staff working with vulnerable groups.

Following procedures to report welfare concerns and allegations about the behaviour of adults and ensure that all staff, volunteers, parents and participants, including children, are aware of these procedures.

Directing club staff, volunteers & coaches to appropriate safeguarding training and learning opportunities, where this is appropriate to their role.