Safeguarding policy

At Courtside Hubs CIC our aim is to enable more people to play tennis more regularly, to grow and sustain the sport so that it is safe and inclusive. We are aware we have a vital role to play in keeping children and adults safe.

Courtside Hubs CIC recognises that we have a legal responsibility to safeguard children and adults at risk.

Key terminology

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and adults at risk and protect them from harm.

It involves:

• Taking action to enable all children, young people and vulnerable adults to have the best outcomes
• Ensuring that children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
• Preventing harm to children/adults health or development
• Protecting children/adults from abuse and maltreatment

(NSPCC, 2019)

Adult at risk

An adult at risk of abuse or neglect is an adult who:

• Has support and care needs
• Is experiencing or at risk of experiencing abuse or neglect; and because of their care and support needs cannot protect themselves against actual or potential abuse or neglect

Child

Definition of a child is anyone under the age of 18. Some legislation in Scotland defines a child as a person under 16 years of age, however wherever there is any safeguarding concern, anyone under the age of 18 is regarded as a child.

We are therefore committed to the following:

Children

To help prevent the physical, sexual and emotional abuse and neglect of children and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect. We want to help prevent the impairment of children's health or development.

Adults at risk

To protect adults at risk, to assist in ensuring that they can live free from abuse and neglect and where needed empower and support them to stay safe and raise any concerns.

We begin with the assumption that an individual is best-placed to make decisions about their own well-being. We shall take proportional action on their behalf if: someone lacks the capacity to make a decision, is exposed to a life-threatening risk, someone else may be at risk or harm, or a criminal offence has been/is likely to be committed.

Staff and coaches

To ensure that all staff and coaches abide by the agreed procedures and guidelines of our Safeguarding Policy Statement, Procedures and Guidance as well as being able to understand what a safeguarding concern is and how to report it.

We want to empower all of these groups to champion a proactive approach to safeguarding as well as upholding safeguarding requirements for venues, programmes and events that Courtside Hubs CIC facilitate. 

Scope

 Courtside Hubs CIC operates across the UK and has a safeguarding responsibility for:

• Staff, consultants and officials they employ
• Volunteers, including board members and councillors they recruit
• Venues they operate within 
• Events and programmes they run
• Ensuring all accreditation requirements are met by accredited coaches, officials and venues 

 We recommend and support the development of good safeguarding practices to:

• Accredited coaches, officials and venues
• Players, parents and carers
• Volunteers recruited by other organisations
• Venues hired by Courtside Hubs CIC
• Events supported by Courtside Hubs CIC

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of everyone to respond to a safeguarding issue. Not responding to a safeguarding concern is not an option.

More specifically, we recognise:

• Where an allegation suggests that a criminal offence may have been committed then the police should be informed as a matter of urgency
• The designated safeguarding lead is responsible for escalating any report of a safeguarding concern to the relevant authority or organisation
• All staff, consultants, coaches, officials and volunteers are responsible for raising safeguarding concerns/disclosures within Courtside Hubs CIC management
• All players, parents and carers are responsible for upholding the safeguarding code of conduct and reporting procedure

 Where there is a safeguarding concern/disclosure:

• The individual who is told about, hears, or is made aware of the concern/disclosure is responsible for following the concern reporting procedure
• The safeguarding leads are responsible for reporting all safeguarding concerns to Courtside Hubs CIC management

Code of conduct

The code of conduct that Courtside Hubs CIC shall adhere to is:

• The prioritisation of the wellbeing of children and adults at all time
• Be a positive role model; act with integrity, even when no one is looking
• Help to create a safe and inclusive environment both on and off court and promote the Fair Play values
• Value and celebrate diversity and make all reasonable efforts to meet the individual needs
• Keep a clear boundary between professional and personal life, including social media usage
• Check that relevant consent from parents/carers, children and adults has been obtained before taking or using photos and videos
• Ensure that our own roles and responsibilities, and those of everyone we are responsible for, are clearly outlined and everyone has the information, training and support to carry them out
• Where possible, ensuring that as adults, we are never alone with a child or another adult at risk
• Understanding that doing nothing is NOT an option. We adhere to reporting all concerns and disclosures as soon as possible, following the process in section 3. If someone is in immediate danger, call the police (999)
• We recognise that it is illegal to have a relationship with someone who is under 18 years old if you are in a position of trust; it is illegal to have a sexual relationship with anyone under the age of 16, whether they give consent or not

This code of conduct is to be interpreted in a spirit of integrity, transparency and common sense, with the best interests of children and adults at risk as the primary consideration.

This safeguarding policy shall be reviewed annually.

Concerns and further information

If you have any safeguarding concerns regarding a child or vulnerable adult, please call 01865 689754 or email safeguarding@courtside.uk.

If you would like further information about this policy, or a copy of our best practices, please contact the office on 01865 689754 or email safeguarding@courtside.uk.

We will aim to get back to you within 24 hours of your concern being reported within office hours (Monday – Friday 9am - 5pm). Outside of those hours we will usually respond on the next working day. Please provide your contact details so that we can obtain further information from you, if necessary.

Your concern will be treated in confidence and, whilst we have a duty to refer certain matters to the police or local authority, we will always try to do so with your consent. In some situations, we may ask you to complete a referral to the police or local authority.

We are here to support you and are keen to listen to any safeguarding concerns you may have. If you would like advice and support before contacting Courtside you can call the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, the police or your local authority. If you are a child or young person you can also contact Childline on 0800 1111. 

In an emergency and/or if you are concerned that someone is at immediate risk of harm, please call 999 without delay.

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