Safeguarding Policy

1. Smiths Rugby acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in Smiths Rugby from harm.

2. Smiths Rugby confirms that it adheres to the Rugby Football Union’s Safeguarding Policy and the procedures, practices, and guidelines, and endorses and adopts the Policy Statement contained in that document and any successor policy.

3. A child is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity. However, where a 17-year-old male player is playing in the adult game, it is essential that every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure his safety and well-being are protected.

4. The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Policy are that:

   • The welfare of the child is, and must always be, paramount to any other considerations.

   • All participants, regardless of age, gender, ability or disability, race, faith, culture, size, shape, language or sexual identity, have the right to protection from abuse or harm.

   • All allegations or suspicions of abuse, neglect, harm and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately.

   • Working in partnership with other organisations, statutory agencies, parents, carers, children, and young people is essential for the welfare of children.

   • Children have a right to expect support, and personal and social development delivered by an appropriately recruited, vetted and managed workforce in relation to their participation in rugby union, whether they are playing, volunteering or officiating in the community or professional areas of the sport.

5. Smiths Rugby recognises that all children have the right to participate in sport in a safe, positive, and enjoyable environment whilst at the same time being protected from abuse, neglect, harm, and poor practice.
   Smiths Rugby recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.

6. Smiths Rugby will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conduct and the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials as appropriate.

7. The Club Safeguarding Officer is Sam Cook, cooks@hanleycastlehs.org.uk.​​

8.  If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child has been put at risk, you must, in the first instance, inform the Club Safeguarding Officer. They will then inform the CB Safeguarding Manager and the RFU Safeguarding Team. If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer, you should inform the Club chairman and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Team.

9. All members of Smiths Rugby who work with children in Regulated Activity must undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check in accordance with RFU Regulation 21.

10. Smiths Rugby will ensure that all its members, whether they are coaches, parents, players, or officials, will comply with the Best Practice Guidance as issued by the RFU. In summary, the following are NOT acceptable and will be treated seriously by the club and may result in disciplinary action being taken by the club, the CB, or the RFU:

    • Working alone with a child.

    • Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children.

    • Providing alcohol to children or allowing its supply.

    • Smoking in the presence of children.

    • Humiliating children.

    • Inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact with a child.

    • Participating in, or allowing, contact or physical games with children.

    • Having an intimate or sexual relationship with any child developed as a result of being in a ‘position of trust.’

    • Making sexually explicit comments or sharing sexually explicit material.

11. Smiths Rugby manages the changing facilities and arranges for them to be supervised by two DBS-checked adults of the appropriate gender for the players using the facilities.
    Smiths Rugby ensures that all its coaches, parents, officials, and spectators are aware that adults must not change at the same time, using the same facilities as children.

12. Smiths Rugby will ensure that its coaches [and team managers] will receive the support and training considered appropriate to their position and role. The RFU “Managing Challenging Behaviour” Policy has been adopted and circulated amongst the club workforce, both voluntary and paid.

13. Any events held on Smiths Rugby premises must comply with this Policy and, if appropriate, a Safeguarding Plan should be discussed and circulated to those affected. Any tours, overseas or domestic, undertaken by Smiths Rugby must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.

14. Smiths Rugby is based on a public site, and as such recognises that additional safeguarding measures are required due to shared access with members of the public and other site users. The club will:

    • Work proactively with other users of the site to share safeguarding information and coordinate supervision during training and match times.

    • Use signage and designated spaces to clearly identify club areas and minimise unsupervised contact between children and unrelated individuals.

    • Conduct regular risk assessments specific to our site’s open access nature and adapt plans accordingly.

    • Maintain clear lines of communication with site management and other tenant organisations to promptly address and mitigate any safeguarding concerns that arise.

 

This Safeguarding Policy must be adopted in accordance with the club constitution.