SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE At Wath Golf Club
A Short Guide for Club members and visitors

Wath Golf Club is committed to ensure that the sport of golf is one in which children and young people involved can thrive and flourish in a safe environment and that all children, young people and adults at risk have a fun, safe and positive experience when playing golf.

Wath Golf Club is an affiliated member of England Golf, following the England Golf Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and procedures.
Anyone who has a negative experience of sport at a young age is less likely to become a regular long-term participant it is important for the future of Wath Golf Club, and the sport as a whole, that children and young people have an enjoyable experience.

All club members and visitors have a part to play in making it happen.
All adults should contribute to the club, meeting its overall duty of care, being aware of our club’s safeguarding policy, and knowing what to do if they are concerned about a young person.

Wath Golf Club asks members and visitors to:
Familiarise themselves with Wath Golf Club’s Safeguarding Policy.
The full copy of Wath Golf Club’s Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy is available on the junior notice board.
In particular

1. Codes of Conduct for Adults who work with children are placed in a position of trust
All adults should constantly be aware that age related differences exist and conduct themselves in a manner that both recognises this and prioritises the welfare of children and young people.

2. Anti-Bullying Policy
Wath Golf Club will not tolerate bullying in any of its forms during club matches, competitions, coaching or at any other time. There is no acceptable form of bullying and any identification should be reported promptly so that appropriate action can be taken. All reported incidents will be treated confidentially, seriously and individually.

3. Transport Policy
Wath Golf Club believes it is primarily the responsibility of parents/carers to transport their child/ children to and from events. If parents wish to team up and provide joint transport, this is considered a private arrangement with no responsibility on the Club. In the event of unexpected circumstances whereby a member of Wath Golf Club staff, coaching staff or a club volunteer has to transport a junior, written consent should be sought. There may be exceptional circumstances when Safeguarding measures prevail and transport has to be provided.

4. Changing Room Policy
The changing rooms are used by all members and visitors. Wherever possible, adults should avoid changing or showering at the same time as children but parents will be made aware that, with limited changing room space, there will be occasions when adults and children may need to share the facilities. Where a parent/carer does not consent to their child accessing the changing rooms, it is their responsibility to either supervise the child while in the changing rooms or to ensure that they do not use them. The Club would expect to be notified of this decision.

5. Photography, Videoing and the use of Social Media Policies
Think very carefully before contacting a young person via mobile phone, e-mail or social media. Do not accept children as contacts on social networking sites if you hold a position of trust with children/young people. In general, stick to group communications, always copy the communication to a parent and only communicate about organisational matters. Never take or use photographs without parental consent.

What should I do if I’m concerned about a child or young person?
A concern may involve the behaviour of an adult towards a child at the club, or something that has happened to the child outside the club. Children and young people may confide in adults they trust, in a place where they feel comfortable. An allegation may range from verbal bullying, inappropriate contact online, neglect or emotional abuse, to physical or sexual abuse.

If you are concerned about a child, it is not your responsibility to investigate further, but it is your responsibility to act on your concerns and share them. Pass the information to Wath Golf Club’s Welfare Officers who will follow the club’s Safeguarding procedures.

Names: John Coe or Jayne Telling
EmailAddress: Golf@wathgolfclub.co.uk / Telephone Number: 01709 878609

If you believe the child is at immediate risk of harm, call the Police.

Other useful contacts:
NSPCC 24-hour helpline Tel: 0808 800 5000 / England Golf Lead Safeguarding Officer 01526 351851


Safeguarding Adults Policy
A short Version

Wath 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.
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 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 or this to happen.

In addition Wath 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.
Wath 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.

Wath 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 Wath 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

Wath Golf Club will seek to promote the principles of safeguarding by:
Reviewing Wath 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.

You should not discriminate or make assumptions about someone’s ability to make decisions, and you should not pre-empt a “best-interests” decision merely on the basis of a person’s age, appearance, condition, or behaviour.Guidance on types of harm.

The Care Act 2014 recognises 10 categories of abuse that may be experienced by adults.
Self-neglect: This covers a wide range of behaviour: neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding.
Modern Slavery: This encompasses slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude.
Domestic Abuse: This includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse perpetrated by anyone within a person’s family.

It also includes so called 'honour' based violence.
Discriminatory: Discrimination is abuse which centres on a difference or perceived difference particularly with respect to race, gender or disability or any of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act.
Organisational : This includes neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation.
Physical: This includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate sanctions.
Sexual: This includes rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting. 

Financial or material 
This includes theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits.
Neglect/Acts of omission: This includes ignoring medical or physical care needs, failing to provide access to appropriate health social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating.
Emotional or psychological: This includes threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.
Not included in the Care Act 2014 but also relevant to safeguarding adults in sport and physical activity:
Cyber Bullying: Cyberbullying occurs when someone repeatedly makes fun of another person online or repeatedly picks on another person through emails or text messages, or uses online forums with the intention of harming, damaging, humiliating or isolating another person. It can be used to carry out many different types of bullying (such as racist bullying, homophobic bullying, or bullying related to special educational needs and disabilities) but instead of the perpetrator carrying out the bullying face-to-face, they use technology as a means to do it.
Forced marriage: This is a term used to describe a marriage in which one or both of the parties are married without their consent or against their will. A forced marriage differs from an arranged marriage, in which both parties consent to the assistance of a third party in identifying a spouse. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 make it a criminal offence to force someone to marry.
Mate Crime: A ‘mate crime’ is when vulnerable people are befriended by members of the community who go on to exploit and take advantage of them. It may not be an illegal act but still has a negative effect on the individual. Mate Crime is carried out by someone the adult knows and often happens in private. In recent years there have been a number of Serious Case Reviews relating to people with a learning disability who were murdered or seriously harmed by people who purported to be their friend.
Radicalisation: The aim of radicalisation is to attract people to their reasoning, inspire new recruits and embed their extreme views and persuade vulnerable individuals of the legitimacy of their cause. This may be direct through a relationship, or through social media.

A complete copy of Wath GC Adult Safeguarding Policy can be found on the Clubs main notice board to gather with contact details.