Policy statement 

On Point Tennis is committed to prioritising the well-being of all children and adults at risk, promoting safeguarding at all times, including all programmes and events we run. All activities, events and trips arranged by On Point Tennis run in accordance with the LTA’s Safeguarding at Events and Competitions guidance. This Policy strives to minimise risk, deliver a positive tennis experience for everyone and respond appropriately to all safeguarding concerns/disclosures. 

On Point Tennis has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in any activity that On Point Tennis offers from harm. All children have a right to protection, and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. On Point Tennis will ensure the safety and protection of all children involved in On Point Tennis coaching through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by On Point Tennis.

A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).

Introduction

All sporting organisations which make provision for children and young people must ensure that:

• The welfare of the child is paramount

• All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately

• All staff (paid/unpaid) working in sport have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate officer.

• Staff/volunteers are not trained to deal with situations of abuse or to decide if abuse has occurred.

  Policy aims

  The aim of the On Point Tennis Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice:

• providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of On Point Tennis.

• allow all staff /volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.

  Promoting good practice

• Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgement about the appropriate action to take.

• Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and the sporting environment. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order to harm them. A coach, instructor, teacher, official or volunteer will have regular contact with young people and be an important link in identifying cases where they need protection. All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines in this document.
  

• When a child enters the club activity having been subjected to child abuse outside the sporting environment, sport can play a crucial role in improving the child’s self-esteem. In such instances the club activity organiser must work with the appropriate agencies to ensure the child receives the required support.

  
  Good practice guidelines
  
  All personnel should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to promote children’s welfare and reduce the likelihood of allegations being made. The following are common sense examples of how to create a positive culture and climate.
  
  Good practice means:

• Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets).

• Treating all young people/disabled adults equally, and with respect and dignity.

• Always putting the welfare of each young person first, before winning or achieving goals.

• Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with players (e.g. it is not appropriate for staff or

  volunteers to have an intimate relationship with a child or to share a room with them).

• Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust which empowers children to share in the decision-making process.

• Making sport fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play.

• Ensuring that if any form of manual/physical support is required, it should be provided openly and according to guidelines provided by the Coach Education Programme. Care is needed, as it is difficult to maintain hand positions when the child is constantly moving. Young people and their parents should always be consulted and their agreement gained.

• Keeping up to date with technical skills, qualifications and insurance in sport.

• Involving parents/carers wherever possible. For example, encouraging them to take responsibility for their children in the changing rooms. If groups have to be supervised in the changing rooms, always ensure parents, teachers, coaches or officials work in pairs.

• Ensuring that if mixed teams are taken away, they should always be accompanied by a male and female member of staff. However, remember that same gender abuse can also occur.

• Ensuring that at tournaments or residential events, adults should not enter children’s rooms or invite children into their rooms.

• Being an excellent role model – this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of young people.

• Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.

• Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of young people and disabled adults – avoiding excessive training or competition and not pushing them against their will.

• Securing parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to administer emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment.

• Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with the details of any treatment given.

• Requesting written parental consent if club officials are required to transport young people in their cars.

  Practices to be avoided

  
  The following should be avoided except in emergencies. If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable it should be with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge in the club or the child’s parents. For example, a child sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent fails to arrive to pick a child up at the end of a session:

• avoid spending time alone with children away from others

• avoid taking or dropping off a child to an event or activity.

• Practices never to be sanctioned
  The following should never be sanctioned. You should never:

• engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay

• share a room with a child

• allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching

• allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged

• make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun

• reduce a child to tears as a form of control

• fail to act upon and record any allegations made by a child

• do things of a personal nature for children or disabled adults, that they can do for themselves

• invite or allow children to stay with you at your home unsupervised.

  N.B. It may sometimes be necessary for staff or volunteers to do things of a personal nature for children, particularly if they are young or are disabled. These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of parents and the players involved. There is a need to be responsive to a person’s reactions. If a person is fully dependent on you, talk with him/her about what you are doing and give choices where possible. This is particularly so if you are involved in any dressing or undressing of outer clothing, or where there is physical contact, lifting or assisting a child to carry out particular activities. Avoid taking on the responsibility for tasks for which you are not appropriately trained.

  
  Incidents that must be reported/recorded

  
  If any of the following occur you should report this immediately to the appropriate officer and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents of the child are informed:

• if you accidentally hurt a player

• if he/she seems distressed in any manner

• if a player appears to be sexually aroused by your actions

• if a player misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done.

• Use of photographic/filming equipment at sporting events

• There is evidence that some people have used sporting events as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage of young and disabled sportspeople in vulnerable positions. All clubs should be vigilant and any concerns should be reported to the club Child Protection Officer.

• Videoing as a coaching aid: there is no intention to prevent club coaches and teachers using video equipment as a legitimate coaching aid. However, performers and their parents/carers should be made aware that this is part of the coaching programme and their consent obtained, and such films should be stored safely.
  

  Recruitment and training of staff and volunteers
  

  On Point Tennis recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. Pre-selection checks must included the following:

• All volunteers/staff should complete an application form. The application form will elicit information about an applicant’s past and a self disclosure about any criminal record.

• Consent should be obtained from an applicant to seek information from the Criminal Records Bureau.

• Two confidential references, including one regarding previous work with children. These references must be taken up and confirmed through telephone contact.

• Evidence of identity (passport or driving licence with photo).

  Interview and induction
  

• All employees (and volunteers) will be required to undergo an interview carried out to acceptable protocol and recommendations. All employees and volunteers should receive an induction, during which:

• A check should be made that the application form has been completed in full (including sections on criminal records and self-disclosures).

  • Their qualifications should be substantiated.

  • The job requirements and responsibilities should be clarified.

  • Child protection procedures are explained and training needs are identified.

  • They should sign up to the organisation’s Code of Ethics and Conduct and Child Protection policy.

  Training
  

  In addition to pre-selection checks, the safeguarding process includes training after recruitment to help staff and volunteers to:

• Analyse their own practice against established good practice, and to ensure their practice is not likely to result in allegations being made.

• Recognise their responsibilities and report any concerns about suspected poor practice or possible abuse.

• Respond to concerns expressed by a child or young person.

• Work safely effectively with children.

  On Point Tennis requires:

• Coaching staff to attend a recognised good practice and child protection awareness training workshop, to ensure their practice is exemplary and to facilitate the development of a positive culture towards good practice and child protection.

• Non-coaching staff and volunteers to complete recognised awareness training on child protection.

• Relevant personnel receive advisory information outlining good practice and informing them about what to do if they have concerns about the behaviour of an adult towards a young person.

• Relevant personnel to gain national first aid training (where necessary).

• Attend update training when necessary. Information about meeting training needs can be obtained from The LTA ,Sports Coach UK, the NSPCC.

• Responding to allegations or suspicions

• It is not the responsibility of anyone working in On Point Tennis, in a paid or unpaid capacity to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However there is a responsibility to act on any concerns by reporting these to the appropriate officer or the appropriate authorities.

• On Point Tennis will assure all staff/volunteers that it will fully support and protect anyone, who in good faith reports his or her concern that a colleague is, or may be, abusing a child.

  
  Where there is a complaint against a member of staff there may be three types of investigation:

• a criminal investigation

• a child protection investigation

• a disciplinary or misconduct investigation.

  The results of the police and child protection investigation may well influence and inform the disciplinary investigation, but all available information will be used to reach a decision.
  
  Reporting concerns about poor practice

  If, following consideration, the allegation is clearly about poor practice the designated/Club Child

  The Protection Officer will deal with it as a misconduct issue.

  
  If the allegation is about poor practice by the On Point Tennis Child Protection Officer, or if the matter has been handled inadequately and concerns remain, it should be reported to the relevant Sports Governing Body officer who will decide how to deal with the allegation and whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings.

  
  Reporting concerns about suspected abuse

  
  Any suspicion that a child has been abused by either a member of staff or a volunteer should be reported to the On Point Tennis Child Protection Officer, who will take such steps as considered necessary to ensure the safety of the child in question and any other child who may be at risk.

  
  The On Point Tennis Child Protection Officer will refer the allegation to the social services department who may involve the police.
  

  The parents or carers of the child will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the social services department.

  Confidentiality

  Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. 

  This includes the following people:

• the Club Child Protection Officer

• the parents of the person who is alleged to have been abused

• the person making the allegation

• social services/police

• Seek social services advice on who should approach the alleged abuser (or parents if the alleged abuser is a child).

• Information should be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws (e.g. that information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure).
  

  Bullying

• Every child has the right to experience sport in a safe environment free from abuse and bullying.

• Sports organisations play an important role in creating a positive club ethos that challenges bullying by empowering young people to understand the impact of bullying, how best to deal with it and agree standards of behaviour.
  
  Reporting concerns outside the immediate sporting environment (e.g. a parent or carer)
  

• Report your concerns to the Club Child Protection Officer, who should contact social services or the police as soon as possible.
  If the Club Child Protection Officer is not available, the person being told of or discovering the abuse should contact social services or the police immediately.

• Social Services and the Club Child Protection Officer will decide how to involve the parents/carers. The Club Child Protection Officer should also report the incident to the On Point Tennis Governing Body.

• The Governing Body should ascertain whether or not the person/s involved in the incident play a role in On Point Tennis and act accordingly.

• Maintain confidentiality on a need to know basis only.

• Providing information to police or social services

  Information about suspected abuse must be accurate and a detailed record should always be made at the time of the disclosure/concern. It should include the following:

• The child’s name, age and date of birth of the child.

• The child’s home address and telephone number.

• Whether or not the person making the report is expressing their own concerns or those of someone else.

• The nature of the allegation. Include dates, times, any special factors and other relevant information.

• Make a clear distinction between what is fact, opinion or hearsay.

• A description of any visible bruising or other injuries. Also any indirect signs, such as behavioural changes.

• Details of witnesses to the incidents.

• The child’s account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred.

• Have the parents been contacted?

• If so what has been said?

• Has anyone else been consulted? If so record details.

• If the child was not the person who reported the incident, has the child been spoken to? If so what was said?

• Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? Record details.

• Where possible referral to the police or social services should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours and the name of the contact who took the referral should be recorded.

  If you have any concerns about a child or young person call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, text 88858 or visitwww.nspcc.org.uk for immediate advice.

   

  POLICY PRINCIPLES

• Safeguarding is everybody’s responsibility

• The welfare of the child is paramount 

• All children, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation have an equal right to protection from all types of harm or abuse 

• Safeguarding concerns are taken seriously, responded to swiftly and appropriate support provided to those involved 

• We are committed to developing and implementing the highest standards of safeguarding across the sport and recognise this is integral to delivering our vision of tennis opened up 

• We strive to create a culture and  environment where everyone is empowered to protect themselves and others and feel able to raise concerns • We actively promote working together  to ensure all children and adults at risk  are safeguarded

  CONCERN THAT OCCURS WITHIN TENNIS

• Safeguarding concerns (including low level concerns) arise about a child or a person who works with children. Yes No Is there an immediate risk to the child? Speak to the Venue Welfare Officer.

• You should discuss the concerns with parents/carers except where this may place a child or others at risk. LTA online concern form completed by Venue Welfare Officer (or alternative if they are not available). 

• Safeguarding Team triage concern and assess/investigate whether it may amount to Prohibited Conduct. 

• Referral to statutory agencies (if not already complete). LTA considers a suspension from tennis activity and notifying relevant parties. 

• Consultation with statutory agencies to share information and agree investigative strategy. 

• Referral to Safeguarding Tribunal for determination of risk and sanctions where applicable  (i.e. supervision, training, permanent ban). Case closed and relevant parties informed. 

• Subject is charged with Prohibited Conduct and given opportunity to admit/deny charges and the proposed measures. 

• Outcome of statutory agency investigations (e.g. no further action, criminal prosecution) is reached. Decision by Appeal Tribunal. 

• If the Venue Welfare Officer is not available, or they are implicated, please contact the LTA Safeguarding Team via the LTA online concern form.

• If you need advice outside of business hours, and it is not an emergency, you can contact the NSPCC. Concern does not constitute Prohibited Conduct. Concern may amount to Prohibited Conduct and requires further investigation by the LTA.

• No further action taken but record kept for intelligence purposes. 

Subject admits charges and proposed measures. Decision provided with appeal window of 28 days Appeal lodged.