Safeguarding Policy – Adults

POLICY OBJECTIVES

Most adults can live their lives safely and free from harm. However, for some, there may be times when, for a variety of reasons, their ability to keep themselves safe and protect their wellbeing and rights is compromised.

Crook and District AC is committed to safeguarding adults in line with relevant national legislation, and relevant national and local guidelines.

We will safeguard adults by ensuring that our activities are delivered in a way which keeps all adults safe.

We will develop a culture of zero tolerance of harm to adults, which necessitates:

  • the recognition of adults who may be at risk and the circumstances which may increase risk
  • knowing how adult abuse, exploitation, or neglect manifests itself
  • being willing to report safeguarding concerns.

This extends to recognising and reporting harm experienced anywhere, including within our activities, within other organised activities, in the community, in the person’s own home and in any care setting.

Crook and District AC is committed to best safeguarding practice and to uphold the rights of all adults to live a life free from harm from abuse, exploitation, and neglect.

The purpose of this policy is to demonstrate our commitment as a club to safeguard adults and to ensure that everyone involved in our sport is aware of the following, as appropriate:

  • the legislation, policy, and procedures for safeguarding adults
  • their role and responsibility for safeguarding adults
  • what to do or who to speak to if they have a concern relating to the welfare or wellbeing of an adult within the club.

POLICY STATEMENT

Crook and District AC believes that everyone has the right to live free from abuse or neglect, regardless of age, ability, disability, sex, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital or gender status.

We are committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment and an open, listening culture where people feel able to share concerns without fear of retribution. We collectively acknowledge that safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility and we are committed to the prevention of abuse and neglect through safeguarding the welfare of all adults involved in our sport.

Crook and District AC recognises that health, wellbeing, ability, disability and need for care and support can affect a person’s resilience. We recognise that some people experience barriers, for example, to communication in raising concerns or seeking help. We recognise that these factors can vary at different points in people’s lives.

We recognise that there is a legal framework within which sports need to work to safeguard adults who have needs for care and support, and for protecting those who are unable to take action to protect themselves. We will act in accordance with the relevant safeguarding adult legislation and with local statutory safeguarding procedures.

Actions taken by Crook and District AC will be consistent with the principles of adult safeguarding, ensuring that any action taken is prompt, proportionate and that it includes and respects the voice of the adult concerned.

POLICY APPLICATION

Safeguarding and protecting vulnerable is everyone’s responsibility, not just the obligation of a few. Therefore, this policy applies to the following who must abide by its terms:

  • All coaches and volunteers
  • All senior members
  • All club officers and committee members

COMMITMENTS

To implement this policy, Crook and District AC will ensure:

  • club coaches, run leaders, volunteers, welfare officers, committee members and senior members are aware of the safeguarding adult procedures and knows what to do and who to contact if they have a concern relating to the safety or wellbeing of an adult
  • any concern that an adult is not safe is taken seriously, responded to promptly, and followed up in line with this policy and associated procedures
  • the wellbeing of those at risk of harm will be put first and the adult actively supported to communicate their views and the outcomes they want to achieve. Those views and wishes will be respected and supported unless there are overriding reasons not to (see the Adult Safeguarding Procedure)
  • any actions taken will respect the rights and dignity of all those involved and be proportionate to the risk of harm
  • records will be maintained in confidence
  • cooperation with the Police and the relevant Local Authorities in taking action to safeguard an adult
  • all club members understand their role and responsibility for safeguarding adults, and have completed and are up to date with safeguarding adult training and learning opportunities appropriate for their role
  • a sharing of information with the appropriate bodies about anyone found to be a risk to adults; for example: Disclosure and Barring Service, Police, Local Authority/Social Services
  • the inclusion of a risk assessment when planning activities and events as to the safety of all adults from abuse, exploitation, and neglect.

IMPLEMENTATION

Crook and District AC is committed to developing and maintaining a capability to implement this policy and its procedures. In order to do so, the following will be in place:

  • Club Welfare Officer
  • Aligned adult safeguarding procedures that deal effectively with any concerns of abuse or neglect, including those caused through poor practice
  • Arrangements to work effectively with other UKA to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults, including arrangements for sharing information
  • Codes of conduct for all relevant roles and individuals that specify zero tolerance of abuse in any form
  • Risk assessments that specifically include safeguarding of adults
  • Policies and procedures that address the following areas and which are consistent with this Adult Safeguarding Policy:
  • Child safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Codes of conduct
  • Adult Safeguarding Procedures

EQUALITY

Crook and District AC endorses the principle of equality and will strive to ensure that everyone who wishes to be involved in athletics (in all its disciplines and forms):

  • has a genuine and equal opportunity to participate to the full extent of their own ambitions and abilities, without regard to their age, sex, gender identity, disability, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, religion, race, socio-economic status or sexual orientation
  • can be assured of an environment in which their rights, dignity and individual worth are respected and, in particular, that they are able to enjoy their sport without the threat of intimidation, victimisation, harassment, or abuse.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION

DEFINITION OF AN ADULT AT RISK

An ‘adult at risk’ is defined by the Care Act 2014 as follows:

An adult at risk is an individual aged 18 years and over who:

  1. a) has needs for care and support (whether or not the Local Authority is meeting any of those needs) and
  2. b) is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect and
  3. c) 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.

Policy Review

This policy is based on the UK ATHLETICS AND THE HOME COUNTRY ATHLETICS FEDERATIONS ADULTS SAFEGUARDING POLICY published by UKA at http://www.uka.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Adult-Safeguarding-Policy.pdf

Further documents are provided by UK Athletics and are available below:

UKA and HCAF Adult Safeguarding Procedures

UKA and HCAF Adult Safeguarding Policy

Date of policy: 06/12/22

This policy will be reviewed every two years, or sooner in the event of changes or revisions to the UKA policy