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Safeguarding and Adults

Porthmadog Sailing Club Safeguarding Adults Policy Statement


Porthmadog Sailing Club (PSC) is committed to safeguarding adults at risk taking part in its activities from physical, sexual, psychological, financial or discriminatory abuse or neglect. We recognise that everyone, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnership or social status, has a right to protection from discrimination and abuse.

Porthmadog Sailing Club (PSC) takes all reasonable steps to ensure that, through safe recruitment, appropriate operating procedures and training, it offers a safe environment to adults at risk participating in its activities. All participants will be treated with dignity and respect.

All members and volunteers should be aware of the policy.


Club Safeguarding Officer


The Club Safeguarding Officers are:

Martin Matthias Telephone: 07970832850 E-mail: Commodore@sailing-club.org

Carol McWeeney E-mail: carolann.mcweeney@outlook.com

Coaching\Training

It is currently the policy of the club that members do not offer organised training or coaching sessions or activities to a vulnerable adult while being in sole charge with no carers or other appropriate adults present.

Good Practice

All members of the Club should follow the good practice guidelines attached (see RYA Sample Document 4). Those working with adults at risk should be aware of the guidance on recognising abuse (see RYA Appendix A).

Concerns

Anyone who is concerned about the welfare of an adult, either outside the sport or within the Club, should inform the Club Safeguarding Officer immediately, in strict confidence.The Club Safeguarding Officer will follow the attached procedures(see RYA Flowcharts 1 and 2).


 



Porthmadog Sailing Club

Safeguarding Adults

Policy and Guidelines

October 2020

Taken From RYA Guidance

Version 5

February 2020

Royal Yachting Association

RYA House, Ensign Way

Hamble, Southampton

SO31 4YA

www.rya.org.uk

Tel: 023 8060 4104

E-mail: safeguarding@rya.org.uk

RYA Safeguarding Adults Policy and Guidelines

Contents

Part 1 – Policy

1 Introduction

Who could be regarded as an ‘adult at risk’ or ‘vulnerable adult’?

Mental capacity and consent

2 Policy Statements

Porthmadog Sailing Club Safeguarding Adults Policy Statement ..……………..8

Part 2 – Procedures

3 Designated Person

4 Recruitment and training

Are they competent?

Are they safe?

Criminal Records Disclosures (DBS)

Confidentiality and data storage

Safeguarding Training

5 Good practice guidelines

Culture

Minimising risk

Responsibilities of staff and volunteers

Responsibilities of participants and carers

Individual responsibility and club liability

Changing rooms and showers

First aid and medical treatment

6 Handling concerns, reports or allegations

Recording and handling information

Procedures

Reporting Procedures

Part 3 – Information

7 Useful Contacts

8 Sample Documents

Sample Document 1 – Application form

Sample Document 2 – Reference request

Sample Document 3 – Self-declaration form

Sample Document 4 – Good Practice Guide

Sample Document 5 – Club Code of Conduct

Sample Document 6 – Booking and Parental Consent form

Sample Document 7 – Safeguarding referral form

Appendix A – What is abuse?

Appendix B – RYA Instructor Code of Conduct

Appendix C – RYA Coach Code of Ethics and Conduct


Part 1 – Policy

1 Introduction

Revised April 2017

These guidelines have been produced by the RYA to help our club to enable all adults, especially those who could be defined as ‘at risk’ or ‘vulnerable’, to enjoy the sport of sailing in all its forms, in a safe environment. This policy has been adapted to meet the requirements of Porthmadog Sailing Club. The original document can be downloaded in its entirety from the RYA’s website: www.rya.org.uk/go/safeguarding

If our club provides training or activities for adults at risk, it is strongly recommended that we adopt a policyand some straightforward procedures to put the policy into practice.

There are several good reasons for doing this:

  • to safeguard adults, both on and off the water

  • to assure adults at risk, and their carers where relevant, that they are safe when taking part in activities at our club

  • to raise awareness amongst all of our members, volunteers or employees so that they know what to do if they are concerned about an adult, whether the concern relates to their welfare at our site, or to something happening outside that environment that the individual discloses to someone they trust in our club

  • to protect volunteers and staff by giving them some practical, common sense guidelines to avoid placing themselves in situations where they are open to allegations which could seriously damage their lives and careers

  • to protect the club, by showing that you have taken ‘all reasonable steps’ to provide a safe environment.

Our club is therefore strongly advised to take the following steps:

Adopt a policy statement that defines the club’s commitment to providing a safe environment.

Produce a simple code of practice and procedures governing how the club runs. This should cover:

  • the safe recruitment of staff or volunteers who will be in contact with adults at risk (see Section 4)

  • good practice guidelines to ensure the safety and welfare of adults at risk at all times whilst at our site, both on and off the water (see Section 5)

  • handling concerns, reports or allegations (see Section 6).

Everyone in the club should be aware of the policy and have access to the supporting procedures, and those working with adults at risk must be familiar with the procedures.

Although our club does not currently work with children and young people aged under 18, we do have separate Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy and Guidelines based on current RYA documentation. This can be reques