Old Colfeians RFC

OCRFC Club Safeguarding Policy

  1. Old Colfeians Rugby Football Club (OCRFC) acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children and vulnerable adults involved in its Club from harm.
  2. OCRFC 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.
  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 wellbeing are protected.
  4. The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults Policy are that:
    1. The welfare of the child or vulnerable adult (as appropriate) is, and must always be, paramount to any other considerations.
    2. 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.
    3. All allegations or suspicions of abuse, neglect, harm and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately.
    4. Working in partnership with other organisations, statutory agencies, parents, carers, children and young people is essential for the welfare of children and young people.
    5. 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.
  5. OCRFC 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 and harm or poor practice. OCRFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity, at the club.
  6. OCRFC will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conduct and the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials, as appropriate. OCRFC will ensure its parents, members and officials are all aware of and have accepted the Club Photographic Policy as set out in the Club welcome pack and on the website.
  7. OCRFC will endeavour to comply with the Guidance for Websites as set out on the RFU website.
  8. The OCRFC Safeguarding Officer is Nicola Gare (M: 07880 794 983/ E: nicolagare@yahoo.co.uk). If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult has been put at risk you must in the first instance inform the Club Safeguarding Officer, who will then inform the CB Safeguarding Manager and the RFU Safeguarding Executive. If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer you should inform the Chairman of the Minis or the Chairman of the Juniors as appropriate, who will then inform the CB Safeguarding Manager, or the RFU Safeguarding Executive (Anne Hutchings, Tel: 0208 831 7479 Email :annhutchins@rfu.com ).
  9. Any allegations of child abuse will be thoroughly investigated. To ensure this happens we have:
    1. Appointed a safeguarding officer (Nicola Gare) who acts as the first point of contact for concerns about the welfare of young people and who is responsible for referring any instances of suspected or alleged abuse to the Chair of the Club's Child Protection Disciplinary Panel or to the appropriate agency.
    2. Set up a Child Protection Disciplinary Panel that will, where necessary, be convened to hear any case that is referred to it by the safeguarding officer, or a committee member. The panel currently consists of :
      1. Ken Carmichael (Chairman of Juniors)
      2. Neil Baker (Chairman of Mini's)
      3. Nicola Gare (Safeguarding Officer)
      4. Georgina Hepden (Deputy Safeguarding Officer)
  10. All members of OCRFC who have a regular supervisory contact with children or a management responsibility for those working with children must undertake an RFU Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure and must also be ISA-registered in accordance with the RFU ISA-registration Policy, when implemented.
  11. OCRFC 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:
    1. Working alone with a child, children, vulnerable adult, or adults.
    2. Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children or vulnerable adults.
    3. Providing alcohol to children or allowing its supply.
    4. Smoking in the presence of children.
    5. Humiliating children, or vulnerable adults.
    6. Inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact with a child, or vulnerable adult.
    7. Participating in, or allowing, contact or physical games (e.g. horse play) with children, or vulnerable adults.
    8. Making sexually explicit comments, or sharing sexually explicit material.
  12. OCRFC 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 or vulnerable adults.
  13. OCRFC will ensure that its coaches, first aiders, 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 officials.
  14. Any events held on OCRFC 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 OCRFC must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.