Safeguarding

Introduction
Camborne Rugby Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to  safeguard the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults involved in  Camborne Rugby Football Club from harm.

Camborne Rugby Football Club 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.

A child is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union  activity. However, where a 17 year old player is playing in the adult game every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure their safety and wellbeing are protected.

This policy will therefore apply to all persons under 18 years of age engaged within the Mini Junior Section, the colts section and the ladies section.

A Vulnerable adult is anyone who is 18 years or older who has:

• • a dependency upon others, or a requirement for assistance from  others, in the performance of basic physical functions
  • severe impairment in their ability to communicate with others
  • an impairment in their ability to protect themselves from assault,  abuse or neglect has been detained in lawful custody or is being supervised as a result of a court order

Whilst this Policy refers to both children and vulnerable adults throughout, there are instances in which the management, both internally and externally, of concerns and incidents involving vulnerable adults may vary slightly from those involving children.

Detailed guidance on the application of this policy and best practice can be found with Camborne Rugby Football Club Safeguarding Guidance.

Key Principles
The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults Policy are that:

• • The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult (as appropriate) 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 and young people.
  • Children have a right to expect support, and personal and social development delivered by an appropriately recruited, vetted and managed in relation to their participation in rugby union, whether they are playing, volunteering or officiating in the community or professional areas of the sport.

Camborne Rugby Football Club 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. Camborne Rugby Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.

Application
This policy applies to all club members, players, spectators and officials.

Camborne Rugby Football Club will implement and comply with the RFU  Code of Conduct and the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and  Officials as appropriate. Camborne Rugby Football Club will ensure its  spectators, parents, members and officials are all aware of the clubs requirements on the use of photographic images as set out in the clubs Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults Guidance document.

Camborne Rugby Football Club will appoint a club safeguarding officer  (CSO) and a deputy on an annual basis to act as the first point of contact  for safeguarding and welfare concerns. Camborne Rugby Football Club  will ensure that the CSO is a member of the Camborne Mini Junior Section  Committee and attends the club’s executive committee by request in  order to raise safeguarding issues at the proper level. Camborne Rugby

Football Club will ensure the CSO works in accordance with the CSO  Toolkit and attends a Club Safeguarding Officers workshop within six  months of taking up the post.

Any events held on Camborne Rugby Football Club 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 Camborne Rugby Football Club must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.

Safeguarding Officer
Camborne Rugby Football Club Safeguarding Officer is Joe Parma. The role of the CSO is to:

• • Ensure each mini and youth age group has at least one person who has attended the RFU Safeguarding and Protecting Young People in Rugby Union course;
  • Informs all members, parents and children when a new CSO is appointed;
  • Publishes the club’s own safeguarding policy and makes it accessible to all members;
  • Ensures all club officers and committee members are aware of their safeguarding responsibilities;
  • Ensures that at any youth disciplinary panel the CSO supports the child and ensures the panel considers the child’s emotional wellbeing throughout;
  • Identifies any signs of harm and reports them to the CBSM and/or the RFU Safeguarding team;
  • Ensures that the club’s volunteer and paid workforce is appropriately vetted and follows the Best Practice Guidance.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
Camborne Rugby Football Club will require all who have a regular supervisory contact with children or a management responsibility for those working with children must to undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Applications must be submitted within 4 weeks of taking up a role and must be renewed every three years. Camborne Rugby Football Club does not accept a DBS clearance obtained through another organisation. A full list of those requiring such vetting together with evidence of certification and renewal dates will be held by the CSO.

Codes of Conduct
Camborne Rugby Football Club 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. A full list of the codes of conduct can be found on Camborne Rugby Football Clubs website.

Training
Camborne Rugby Football Club will ensure that its coaches and team administrators will receive the support and training considered appropriate to their position and role.

Review
This policy will be reviewed at least annually and if:

• • New legislation is published or existing legislation is updated.
  • New guidance is published or existing guidance is updated.
  • Research or monitoring or suggests that a review may be required.
  • An incident investigation suggests that a review may be required.