Safeguarding

Our Statement: 

Everyone in the Hillingdon Musketeers Fencing Club (HMFC) has a duty of care to safeguard children and adults at risk involved in activities from harm. Everyone has a right to protection, and the needs of people with disabilities and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. 

HMFC will do their utmost to ensure the safety and protection of everyone involved in any fencing activity whether that is at clubs, events competition, trips, activity sessions or anywhere else that fencing takes place.

Everyone in HMFC has a responsibility to act appropriately and report concerns about children, young people and adults, whether these concerns arise within our sport for example inappropriate behaviour of a coach, or in the wider community or outside of it, perhaps through the action of a carer which is reported or observed by us.

HMFC acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of everyone in fencing, in particular children and adults at risk. HMFC is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice and relevant regulatory body requirements.

This policy recognises that the welfare and interests of children and adults at risk are paramount in all circumstances. It aims to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, socio-economic background, all participants:

• have a positive and enjoyable experience of fencing in safe and participant centred

environments

• are protected from abuse whilst participating in fencing or outside of the activity.

We acknowledge that some children and adults at risk, (including those with disabilities, elite athletes, those from ethnic and other minority communities, LGBT+ community members, children in care) can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and we accept the responsibility to take reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure their welfare.

We recognise that most members of clubs/organisations, whether they are staff or volunteers, are not trained to deal with situations of abuse or to determine if abuse has occurred. Everyone involved in providing activities for children and/or adults at risk will be given access to appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people and/or adults at risk.

All suspicions and allegations of abuse and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately in accordance with the relevant Safeguarding Procedures (Children or Adults at Risk).

Our Policy:

What we’ll do

As part of our safeguarding policy we will:

• promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk

• value, listen to and respect children and adults at risk

• ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation

• adopt safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for

staff and volunteers

• ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to

signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children, young people

and adults at risk.

• provide effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support,

training and quality assurance measures so that all staff and volunteers know about our

policies, procedures and behaviour codes and follow them confidently and competently

• ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents or concerns of abuse and

support provided to the individual(s) who raise or disclose the concern

• ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are

maintained and securely stored, in line with data protection legislation and guidance

• prevent the employment or deployment of unsuitable individuals by recruiting and selecting

staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made. This includes having full and clear job/role descriptions and to interview potential applicants establishing the state of their knowledge of safeguarding principles, even when filling a volunteer position. 

Coaches working solely with adults do not require a criminal record check but may do so if they are working with predominantly adults at risk. 

• appoint a nominated safeguarding lead for: children, young people and adults at risk and a lead board member for safeguarding,

• develop and implement an effective online safety policy and related procedures

• share information about safeguarding and good practice with adults at risk, children andtheir parents via leaflets, posters, group work and one-to-one discussions

• make sure that adults at risk, children, young people and their parents know where to go for help if they have a concern

• ensure that safeguarding investigations can be undertaken appropriately. If a committee member or coach is a subject of concern in a Safeguarding investigation, it may be necessary for the individual to be suspended without prejudice from their duties until the investigation is concluded.
• commit to continuous development, monitoring and review.

Furthermore we:

• will seek to ensure that our sport is inclusive and make reasonable adjustments for any

ability, disability or impairment

• recognise that ability and disability can change over time, such that some adults may be

additionally vulnerable to abuse, in particular those adults with care and support needs

• recognise the role and responsibilities of the statutory agencies in safeguarding adults and are committed to working with the procedures of the local (Home Nation) safeguarding arrangements.

The policy and procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in Hillingdon Musketeers Fencing Club , including staff, volunteers, members and any other related parties recognised by British Fencing (Home Nations, Regions etc). 

Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal, termination of membership and/or exclusion from fencing activities.

Monitoring

This policy will be reviewed every three years, or in the following circumstances:

• changes in legislation and/or government guidance as required by British Fencing, CPSU, UK Sport and/or home country sports councils

• as a result of any other significant change or event.

Adult Safeguarding:

Safeguarding is everybody’s business. It is important for everyone to be alert to possible signs of abuse or neglect and acting on their concerns. This is regardless of whether a person is a carer, healthcare professional or coach. Enshrined within the Care Act is the requirement for Local Authorities within England and Wales to establish a Safeguarding Adults Board to ensure that all agencies are co-operating and working together. A similar system operates in Scotland under the Adult Protection Committees, under the 2007 Adult Support and Protection Act.

A second catchphrase, ‘safeguarding is personal’, is intended to emphasise the importance of adults at risk being as involved as possible in any safeguarding process. With some exceptions, see later, safeguarding enquiries should only take place with the consent of the adult. The extent of any enquiry where there are suspicions of abuse or neglect should depend on the circumstances of the individual case and the views of the individual at the heart of it. As with other aspects of the social care legal framework the wellbeing of the individual through the safeguarding process is of central importance. This includes control by individuals over their day to day lives.

Wellbeing Themes:

The concept of wellbeing is threaded throughout the Care Act and similar legislation in the other Home Nations. This legislation sets out broad themes and categories that contribute to our sense of wellbeing. By keeping these themes in mind, we can all ensure that adult participants can take part in our sport fully:

• Personal dignity (including treatment of the individual with respect)

• Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing

• Protection from abuse and neglect

• Control by the individual over their day-to-day life (including over care and support provided

and the way they are provided)

• Participation in work, education, training or recreation

• Social and economic wellbeing

• Domestic, family and personal domains

• Suitability of the individual’s living accommodation

• The individual’s contribution to society.

Adult Safeguarding Principles:

Our work is founded on the six further principles of Adult Safeguarding (based on The Care Act 2014)

Empowerment- People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent.

Prevention- It is better to take action before harm occurs.

Proportionality - The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.

Protection - Support and representation for those in greatest need.

Partnership - Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse

Accountability - Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding.

CONTACT DETAILS/REPORTING A CONCERN:

IT IS NOT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PARTICIPANTS (WHETHER COACHES, STAFF, VOLUNTEERS OR PARENTS) TO DECIDE THAT ABUSE IS TAKING PLACE, BUT IT IS THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT ON ANY CONCERNS AND REPORT.

HMFC takes all allegations and concerns raised seriously. The information provided will be referred to the relevant authorities as necessary.

If you become aware of or suspect that abuse or poor practice is taking place you must report it.

REPORT A CONCERN:

Hillingdon Musketeers Fencing Club Welfare Officer:

Clare Smart

Email address: hmfcwelfare@gmail.com

REPORT A CONCERN - BRITISH FENCING:

Lead Safeguarding Officer

Name: Liz Behnke

Tel: Emergency 24hr safeguarding number: 07526 003030

Non Emergency - 077177 40125.

Email: Safeguarding@britishfencing.com

In a safeguarding emergency, where a person is at immediate risk of harm, call 999. 

Otherwise your normal first point of contact will be your club’s Welfare Officer. 

You can also get advice from British Fencing’s Lead Safeguarding Officer (see details above).

Updated and Published October 2024