Safeguarding Policy
Version 2.1
Adam Robinson – General Manager
Last reviewed 18.10.2024 – Full review of Policy
Safeguarding Officer lead:
Adam Robinson
02380733496 or adam.robinson@oaklandspool.org.uk
Deputy Safeguarding Officer:
Tina Chapman
02389733496 or tina.chapman@oaklandspool.org.uk
All incidents should be reported on ATLAS in as much detail as possible.
- Document Foreword
Everyone in sport has a responsibility to be able to recognise and respond to signs and indicators of abuse and malpractice. Each Welfare Officer should be aware of the definitions of abuse and must ensure individuals who hold a position of trust within the Organisation are familiar with this information. This expectation extends to the identification of abuse, poor practice by an employee, user, hirer or visiting carer with a supported adult. We also include allegations brought to the attention of the Safeguarding Officer by a member of the public.
We believe that:
• Children and adults should never experience abuse of any kind.
• we have a responsibility to promote the welfare of all children and adults, to keep them safe and to practise in a way that protects them.
• All children or adults at risk, irrespective of their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, socio-economic status, religious belief and/ or sexual orientation have the right to protection from abuse.
2.0 Policy Statement
The purpose of this policy statement is:
• To protect adults and children a who receive GO TO LEISURE CIO’s or Third-party providers from harm.
• To provide staff and volunteers, as well as children and young people and their families, with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.
• This policy applies to anyone working on behalf of GO TO LEISURE CIO, including Senior Managers, Trustees, Employees, Volunteers, Third-party providers and Students.
We aim to do this by:
- Respecting and promoting the rights of users at risk.
- Raising the awareness of the duty of care responsibilities relating to children and adults at risk.
- Responding immediately to concerns for the welfare of a adults or child.
- Promoting and implementing appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of users to protect them from harm.
- Creating a safe and healthy environment within GO TO LEISURE CIO, avoiding situations where abuse or allegations of abuse may occur.
- Recruiting, training, supporting and supervising employees or volunteers to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children and adults at risk from abuse, and minimise risk to themselves.
- Responding to any allegations of misconduct or abuse of children or adults at risk in line with this policy and procedures as well as implementing, where appropriate, the relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures.
- Requiring employee’s or volunteers to adopt and abide by the GO TO LEISURE CIO Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
- Reviewing and evaluating this Policy and Procedures document on an annual basis.
- All personal data will be processed in accordance with the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation 2018.
3.0 Types of Child abuse
Child abuse is when anyone under the age of 18 is either being harmed or not properly looked after. There are four main categories of child abuse:
Where any signs of abuse have been listed, these lists are examples only and not exhaustive
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is when a child is deliberately hurt, causing injury. It’s also physical abuse if a parent or carer makes up or causes the symptoms of illness in children.
Signs and indicators of physical abuse:
• bruises on babies who are not yet crawling or walking
• burns or scalds
• multiple injuries inflicted at different times
• an explanation that doesn’t match the injury • frequently injured.
Neglect
Neglect is when a child’s basic needs are continually not met, usually resulting in serious damage to their health and development. Neglect is the most common type of child abuse, often happening at the same time as other types of abuse.
Signs and indicators of neglect:
• parent’s or carers failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter and access to appropriate health/ dental care
• children who live in an unsuitable home environment, a dirty and unsafe house or evidence of substance misuse or violence
• children with poor language, communication or social skills for their stage of development
• children who are left alone or unsupervised
• Failure to make sure the child receives a suitable education • Failure to meet the child’s basic emotional needs.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse is forcing or enticing a child to take part in sexual activities. It does not necessarily involve violence and the child may not be aware that what is happening is abuse. Child sexual abuse can involve contact abuse and/or non-contact abuse and occurs when the abuser makes physical contact with the child. Non-contact abuse involves non-touching activities. It can happen online or in person.
There may be physical signs that a child has suffered sexual abuse. These include:
• anal or vaginal soreness or itching
• bruising or bleeding near the genital area
• discomfort when walking or sitting down
• an unusual discharge
• sexually transmitted infections (STI)
• pregnancy. Changes in the child’s mood or behaviour may also cause concern; they may want to avoid spending time with specific people, show sexual behaviour or use sexual language that is inappropriate for their age.
Child sexual exploitation (CSE)
CSE is a type of sexual abuse. Young people in exploitative situations and relationships receive things such as gifts, money, drugs, alcohol, status or affection in exchange for taking part in sexual activities. They may be tricked into believing they’re in a loving, consensual relationship. They can also be groomed and exploited online.
Signs and indicators of sexual abuse Sexual exploitation can be very difficult to identify, with warning signs easily mistaken for ‘normal’ teenage behaviour. Young people who are being sexually exploited may:
• go missing from home, care or education
• hang out with groups of older people, or anti-social groups, or with other vulnerable peers
• have older boyfriends or girlfriends
• spend time at places of concern, such as hotels or known brothels
• have access to drugs and alcohol
• have new things such as clothes and mobile phones which they can’t or won’t explain • have unexplained physical injuries.
Emotional abuse
Persistent emotional abuse severely damages a child’s emotional health and development. Examples of emotional abuse could involve humiliating, putting down or constantly criticising a child, shouting at, threatening a child, or calling them names, constantly blaming or scapegoating a child for things which are not their fault and being cold and emotionally unavailable during interactions with a child. Signs and indicators of emotional abuse Obvious physical signs of emotional abuse are rare, but you may notice changes in a child’s actions or emotions. Be alert to behaviours which are out of character.
Babies and pre-school children who are being emotionally abused may:
• be overly affectionate towards strangers or people they haven’t known for very long
• lack confidence or become wary or anxious
• be unable to play
• be aggressive or nasty towards other children and animals.
Older children may:
• use language, act in a way or know about things that you wouldn’t expect for their age
• struggle to control strong emotions or have extreme outbursts
• seem isolated from their parents
• lack social skills or have few, if any, friends
• self-harm.
4.0 Types of Adult Abuse
The Care Act recognises 10 categories of adult abuse. Where any signs of abuse have been listed, these lists are examples only and not exhaustive:
Physical abuse
Physical abuse may include assault, hitting, slapping, punching, kicking, hair-pulling, biting, pushing, rough handling, scalding and burning, physical punishments, inappropriate or unlawful use of restraint, making someone purposefully uncomfortable, involuntary isolation or confinement, misuse of medication, forcible feeding or withholding food, unauthorised restraint, restricting movement.
Signs and indicators of physical abuse:
• frequent injuries or no explanation for injuries or inconsistency with the account of what happened
• injuries are inconsistent with the person’s lifestyle
• bruising, cuts, welts, burns and/or marks on the body or loss of hair in clumps
• subdued or changed behaviour in the presence of a particular person
• signs of malnutrition
• failure to seek medical treatment or frequent changes of GP.
Domestic violence or abuse
Domestic abuse is defined as behaviour that is abusive, between two people who are aged 16 or over and are personally connected to each other.
Behaviour is “abusive” if it consists of the following but is not limited to
1. physical or sexual abuse;
2. violent or threatening behaviour;
3. controlling or coercive behaviour;
4. economic abuse
5. psychological, emotional or other abuse other types of abuse that would be considered domestic abuse include; honour-based violence, female genital mutilation and forced marriage. It does not matter whether the behaviour consists of a single incident or a course of conduct.
Signs and indicators of domestic abuse:
• physical evidence of violence such as bruising, cuts, broken bones
• verbal abuse and humiliation in front of others
• fear of outside intervention
• damage to home or property
• isolation – not seeing friends and family
• limited access to money. Coercive or controlling behaviour is also a core part of domestic violence and behaviour can include:
• acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation
• harming, punishing, or frightening the person
• isolating the person from sources of support
• exploitation of resources or money
• preventing the person from escaping abuse
• regulating everyday behaviour.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse is any sexual activity, where a person has been forced or persuaded to take part or does not understand. Types of sexual abuse include rape, attempted rape or sexual assault, inappropriate touching anywhere, any sexual activity where the person lacks the capacity to consent and sexual harassment. Signs and indicators of sexual abuse: • bruising, particularly to the thighs, buttocks and upper arms and marks on the neck • torn, stained or bloody underclothing • unusual difficulty in walking or sitting • pregnancy in a woman who is unable to consent to sexual intercourse • the uncharacteristic use of explicit sexual language or significant changes in sexual behaviour or attitude • self-harming • poor concentration, withdrawal, sleep disturbance • excessive fear/apprehension of, or withdrawal from relationships • reluctance to be alone with a particular person.
Psychological or emotional abuse Psychological or emotional abuse is emotional maltreatment. It is sometimes called psychological abuse and can include:
• enforced social isolation
• preventing the expression of choice and opinion
• failure to respect privacy
• intimidation, coercion, harassment, use of threats, humiliation, bullying, swearing or verbal abuse • threats of harm or abandonment
• cyber bullying. Signs and indicators of psychological abuse:
• an air of silence when a particular person is present
• withdrawal or change in the psychological state of the person
• low self-esteem
• uncooperative and aggressive behaviour
• signs of distress, for example tearfulness or anger.
Financial or material abuse
Theft or misuse of money, property or personal belongings, taken without consent or under pressure.
Types of financial or material abuse include:
• theft of money or possessions
• fraud and scamming
• preventing a person from accessing their own money, benefits or assets
• employees taking a loan from a person using the service
• someone moving into a person’s home and living rent free without agreement or under duress
• misuse of a power of attorney, deputy, appointeeship or other legal authority Signs and indicators of financial or material abuse:
• missing personal possessions
• unexplained lack of money or inability to maintain lifestyle
• unexplained withdrawal of funds from accounts
• power of attorney or lasting power of attorney (LPA) being obtained after the person has ceased to have mental capacity
• the family or others show unusual interest in the assets of the person • rent arrears and eviction notices
• failure to provide receipts for shopping or other financial transactions carried out on behalf of the person.
Modern slavery Modern slavery is the severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain. The main types of modern slavery are:
• human trafficking
• forced labour
• domestic servitude – work performed in private residences as a cover for exploitation and control
• sexual exploitation, such as escort work, prostitution, and pornography
• debt bondage – being forced to work to pay off debts that realistically they never will be able to.
Signs and indicators of modern slavery:
• signs of physical or emotional abuse
• appearing to be malnourished, unkempt or withdrawn
• isolation from the community, seeming under the control or influence of others
• living in dirty, cramped or overcrowded accommodation and or living and working at the same address • lack of personal effects or identification documents
• always wearing the same clothes
• avoidance of eye contact, appearing frightened or hesitant to talk to strangers
• fear of law enforcers.
For more information on modern slavery and reporting any concerns of modern slavery please visit: www.gov.uk/government/collections/ modern slavery
Discriminatory abuse
Discriminatory abuse is where an individual is treated differently because of one or more of the following protected characteristics (under the Equality Act 2010):
• age
• disability
• gender reassignment
• marriage and civil partnership
• pregnancy and maternity
• race, religion and belief
• sex or sexual orientation
The main types of discriminatory abuse are:
• unequal treatment based on protected characteristics.
• verbal abuse or inappropriate use of language related to a protected characteristic
• denying access to communication aids e.g. an interpreter
• harassment or deliberate exclusion on the grounds of a protected characteristic
• denying basic rights to healthcare, education, employment and criminal justice relating to a protected characteristic
• substandard service provision relating to a protected characteristic. Signs and indicators of discriminatory abuse:
• the person appears withdrawn and isolated
• expressions of anger, frustration, fear or anxiety
• the support on offer does not take account of the person’s individual needs in terms of a protected characteristic.
Organisational or institutional abuse
Organisational abuse is the inability to provide a good level of care to an individual or group of people in a care setting. Organisational or institutional abuse could include:
• a run-down or overcrowded establishment
• lack of leadership and supervision
• abusive and disrespectful attitudes towards people using the service
• inappropriate use of restraints
• not providing adequate food and drink, or assistance with eating
• not offering choice or promoting independence
• misuse of medication
• not taking account of individuals’ cultural, religious or ethnic needs
• interference with personal correspondence or communication.
Signs and indicators of organisational abuse: • lack of flexibility and choice for people using the service
• inadequate staffing levels
• people being hungry or dehydrated
• poor standards of care
• lack of adequate procedures and management overview
• absence of visitors
• public discussion of personal matters.
Neglect and acts of omission
Neglect is the ongoing failure to meet basic needs. The individual may be left hungry or dirty, without adequate clothing, shelter, supervision, medical/health care, and access to aids or equipment. They may not get the love, care and attention they need from their family or carers.
Signs and indicators of neglect:
• poor environment – dirty or unhygienic
• poor physical condition and/or personal hygiene
• pressure sores or ulcers
• malnutrition or unexplained weight loss
• untreated injuries and medical problems
• inconsistent or reluctant contact with medical and social care organisations
• accumulation of untaken medication
• uncharacteristic failure to engage in social interaction
• inappropriate or inadequate clothing.
Self-neglect
Self-neglect is the lack of self-care; lack of care for one’s environment; and/or the refusal of services, to an extent that it threatens personal health and safety. Signs and indicators of self-neglect:
• very poor personal hygiene
• unkempt appearance
• lack of essential food, clothing or shelter
• malnutrition and/or dehydration
• living in squalid or unsanitary conditions
• hoarding
• collecting many animals in inappropriate conditions
• non-compliance with health or care services
• inability or unwillingness to take medication or treat illness or injury.
Other forms of abuse
There are forms of abuse not listed above, but covered in our safeguarding policy and relevant to safeguarding adults these include:
Forced marriage
A marriage in which one or both of the parties are married without their consent or against their will is a forced marriage. It 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.
Honour based abuse
In many communities an ‘honour’ is deemed to be extremely important; compromising a family’s ‘honour’ can have severe consequences, resulting in punishments ranging from emotional abuse, physical abuse, family disownment and in some cases even murder.
Female genital mutilation (FGM)
FGM is a process which alters or injures female genital organs for non-medical reasons, with no health benefits for girls and women. The Female Genital Mutilation Act makes it illegal to practice FGM in the UK or to take women and girls who are British nationals or permanent residents of the UK abroad for FGM whether it is lawful in another country.
Bullying
Bullying is repeated behaviour intended to intimidate or upset someone and/or make them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. For example, name calling, exclusion or isolation, spreading rumours, embarrassing someone in public or in front of their peers, threatening to cause harm, physically hurting someone or damaging their possessions.
Cyber bullying
Cyber bullying is repeatedly making fun of another person online or picking on another person through emails, text messages, or online forums with the intention of harming, damaging, humiliating or isolating is classed as cyber bullying. It can include racist bullying, homophobic bullying, or bullying related to special educational needs and disabilities.
Criminal exploitation through ‘County lines’
County lines is a form of criminal exploitation in which gangs organise the distribution of drugs from big cities into smaller towns and rural areas using children, young people and adults at risk. Gangs recruit children, young people and adults at risk through deception, intimidation, violence, debt bondage and/or grooming. Gangs also use local property as a base for their activities, and this often involves taking over the home of an adult at risk who is unable to challenge them. County line gangs pose a significant threat to children, young people, and adults at risk as they rely on them to conduct or facilitate such criminality.
Mate Crime & ‘Cuckooing’
A ‘mate crime’ or ‘cuckooing’ can be defined as ‘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. Cuckooing is a term often linked to county lines. Cuckooing is when gangs establish a base location, they are targeting for drug dealing, often taking over the homes of adults at risk by force or coercion, to operate their criminal activity from. People exploited in this way will quite often be exposed to physical, mental and sexual abuse, and in some instances will be trafficked to areas a long way from home as part of the network’s drug dealing business. Victims of ‘cuckooing’ are often drug users but can include older people, those with learning disabilities, those suffering from mental or physical health issues, sex industry workers, lone parents and those living in poverty. Victims may suffer from other forms of addiction, such as alcoholism.
Hazing
Hazing is any rituals, initiation activities, actions or situations, with or without consent, which recklessly, intentionally or unintentionally endangers the physical or emotional wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk.
Peer-on-peer abuse
Children, young people and adults at risk can be taken advantage of or harmed by their peers. Peer-on-peer abuse is any form of physical, sexual, emotional and financial abuse, and coercive control, exercised between individuals and within relationships (both intimate and nonintimate).
Radicalisation
This can be defined as the process by which people come to support terrorism and violent extremism, and in some cases participate in terrorist groups and activities. Violent extremists often use a persuasive rationale and charismatic individuals to attract people to their cause. This may be direct through a relationship, or through social media. There is no clear profile of a person who is more likely to become radicalised, but there are some factors that may make an individual more susceptible to exploitation by violent extremists. For example, identity or personal crisis, unemployment or underemployment, family or friends involved in extremism and relevant mental health issues.
5.0 Concern for Welfare
It can be very worrying to have concerns about an adults safety or welfare that relate to the conduct of a colleague. GO TO LEISURE CIO recognises that this can involve additional stress for those reporting concerns. Full support will be given in line with the GO TO LEISURE CIO Whistle Blowing Policy which puts mechanisms into place to ensure those employees are confident about concerns.
Where you have concerns about a colleague, the reporting procedures should be followed. You may need to report to the Safeguarding Officer your concerns.
There may be circumstances where allegations are about poor practice rather than abuse, but this should always be communicated to the Safeguarding Lead for guidance and appropriate action. In the event of having a concern you must talk to Safeguarding Officer. Alternatively, you can take your concerns to the Deputy Safeguarding Officer if the concern relates to the Safeguarding Lead.
We will fully support and protect all employees who, in good faith (without malicious intent), report his or her concern about a colleague’s practice or the possibility that an adult in need of safeguarding may be being abused.
6.0 What is the role of the Safeguarding Officer?
All suspicions, concerns and disclosures must be reported immediately to a Safeguarding Officer.
They have the responsibility to;
- Ensure that arrangements are made to identify staff that requires training in welfare and safeguarding issues.
- Ensure that staff understand how to report incidents to the relevant authority; usually Southampton City Council or Hampshire County Council.
- Ensure that information is recorded and stored appropriately.
- Provide information to staff reporting concerns about support available to them.
- Help the Council on formal investigations into allegations of abuse led by Social Care Services.
7.0 Incident Report
Abused children or adults are more likely to disclose details of abuse to someone they trust and with whom they feel safe. By listening and taking seriously to what is being said, you are already helping the situation. The following points are a guide to help you respond appropriately.
You need to fill in an Incident Report- ATLAS for all concerns, suspicions and disclosures relating to the protection of an adult at risk. This needs to be done as soon as possible to ensure all the facts are recorded accurately.
Confidentiality and professionalism
Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned in the protection of children or adults at risk. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need-to-know basis only. The Safeguarding Officer will guide you as to who needs to know information about the case.
Where an employee is approached regarding an allegation, issues of confidentiality should be clarified early in the discussion. The person should be informed that the employee will at the very least, must disclose the conversation to the Safeguarding Officer.
If you have a concern about the safety or welfare:
- Note the concerns and as much information as possible as quickly as possible.
- Report to Safeguarding Officer or Duty Manager immediately maintaining confidentiality.
- Do not undertake further investigations or promise confidentiality.
The person receiving the disclosure should not:
- Promise to keep secrets
- Dismiss the concern
- Probe for more information than is comfortably offered – do not overpressure for a response
- Speculate or make assumptions
- Make negative comments about the alleged abuser
- Attempt to investigate yourself
- Discourage anyone from reporting concerns
- Leave message of your concern on voice mail
Remember: Listen – write it down – report it
When there are ongoing concerns regarding a family member or carer in relation to the alleged abuse of an adult or child, the family member or carer should not be contacted about the allegation of abuse. The relevant welfare authority will do this in response to the reporting.
8.0 External Reporting Procedure
This section contains internal and external procedures for Safeguarding Officer dealing with concerns regarding the safeguarding of children or adults or concerns for welfare.
Upon receiving a report or concern about the safety or welfare:
• Note the concerns and as much information as possible as quickly as possible from the employee to clarify any details if necessary.
• Do not undertake further investigations that may compromise confidentiality.
• You are not expected to investigate suspicions or concerns relating to abuse, other external agencies are trained to do this.
• The likely external safeguarding organisation to report to will be Southampton City Council or Hampshire County Council.