SAFEGUARDING POLICY
QPG Clubs and QPG Football Safeguarding Policy 2023
Queen's Park Gardens, Ilbert Street, London, W10 4QJ
T: 020 8226 0084
1. QPG Clubs and QPG Football acknowledge its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care and is committed to working to provide a safe environment for all.
A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in our clubs / activities.
2. The key principles of QPG Football’s Safeguarding Children Policy are that:
• the child’s / young person welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration
• all children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, faith or belief
• all suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
• working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents/careers is essential.
We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in sport should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse. QPG Clubs and QPG Football recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our company.
3. QPG Clubs and QPG Football has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. This means whether you are a volunteer, match official, helper on company tours, sports coach, club official or medical staff.
4. QPG Clubs and QPG Football is committed to the principles of safer recruitment and, as part of that, adopts recruitment procedures that help deter, reject and/or identify people who might abuse children. Safe recruitment processes are followed and all staff recruited to the company will be subject to appropriate identity, qualification and health checks. References will be verified and appropriate criminal record checks [Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks], barred list checks and prohibition checks will be undertaken. The level of DBS check required, and whether a prohibition check is required, will depend on the role and duties of an applicant to work in schools, as outlined in Part three of the DfE guidance “Keeping children safe in education”. We will also have regard to DfE’s statutory guidance for schools about the employment of staff disqualified from childcare “Disqualification under the Childcare Act 2006”, which also contains information about ‘disqualification by association’.
QPG Clubs and QPG Football will never use employment agencies. All staff joining QPG Clubs and QPG Football on a permanent or temporary basis will be given a copy of this policy.
All QPG Clubs and QPG Football staff working in eligible roles, with children and young people - such as managers and coaches are required to hold an in-date Enhanced CRC with Barring List check as part of responsible recruitment practice.
If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of QPG Clubs and QPG Football guidance will be sought from The Relevant Association. It is noted and accepted that QPG Clubs and QPG Football will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via the CRC Process and that all suitability decisions will be made in accordance with legislation and in the best interests of children and young people.
It is accepted that QPG Clubs and QPG Football aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence our policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within sport.
5. QPG Clubs and QPG Football supports The FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about an adult in a position of trust with in sport can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting The FA Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863, by writing to The FA Case Manager at The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London SW1P 9EQ, by emailing Safeguarding@TheFA.com or alternatively by going direct to the Police, Children’s Social Care or the NSPCC.
6. QPG Clubs and QPG Football has an appointed Designated Safeguarding Lead; Connor Eldrett. The Designated Safeguarding Lead is the first point of contact for all company regarding concerns about the welfare of any child or young person. The Designated Safeguarding Lead will liaise with the relevant Welfare board and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. They also play a proactive role in increasing awareness of Respect, poor practice, and abuse amongst company staff.
7. QPG Clubs and QPG Football acknowledges and identifies bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our company. If bullying does occur, all players / Participants, parents/carers should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
8. Respect codes of conduct for Participants, Parents/ Spectators, Officials and Coaches have been implemented by QPG Clubs and QPG Football. In order to validate these Respect codes of conduct the company has clear actions it will take regarding repeated or serious misconduct at any level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions by the company.
9. Reporting your concerns about the welfare of a child or young person. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. If you are worried about a child it is important that you report your concerns – no action is not an option.
i. If you are worried about a child, then you need to report your concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.
ii. If the issue is one of poor practice the Designated Safeguarding Lead will either: deal with the matter themselves or
seek advice from the NSPCC
iii. If the concern is more serious – possible child abuse, where possible, contact NSPCC immediately or contact the Police or Children’s Social Care.
iv. If the child needs immediate medical treatment take them to a hospital or call an ambulance and tell them this is a child protection concern. Let the Designated Safeguarding Lead know what action you have taken, and they in turn will inform relevant organisations if needed
v. If at any time you are not able to contact the Designated Safeguarding Lead, or the matter is clearly serious, then you can either:
contact the Police or Children’s Social Care
call the NSPCC 24 hour Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000 or text 88858 or email help@nspcc.org.uk
10. Further advice on Safeguarding Children matters can be obtained from https://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing- abuse/safeguarding/writing-a-safeguarding-policy/
Date of Policy Review
1st March 2023
Date of Next Policy Review
4th September 2023