WSSC Safeguarding Officer: Ms Julie Frost
Welsh Springer Spaniel Club Safeguarding policy
The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club needs to ensure that the way we engage with children and vulnerable adults keeps them safe and does not place them at risk of harm. It is also the responsibility of the organisation to ensure that members or volunteers who come into contact with children and vulnerable adults who use our services or attend our events are protected and understand the procedures to follow if there are any concerns.
The purpose of Welsh Springer Spaniel Club safeguarding policy is to educate members and volunteers with a framework to prevent and minimise the risk of harm to children and vulnerable adults who use our services or attend our events.
Scope
This policy covers all members or volunteers. This policy does not form part of any contract of employment and we may amend it at any time.
Legal framework
This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in the UK. A summary of the key legislation and guidance is available from the NSPCC.
What is safeguarding?
Safeguarding is the approach that we as an organisation take to ensure that anyone using our services or attending our events is safe. Safeguarding means putting processes in place to ensure that children or vulnerable adults are not abused in any way, including verbally or physically. The Kennel Club currently has a child protection policy, which outlines good practice to provide children and young people with appropriate safety and protection and to allow staff and volunteers to make informed responses to child protection issues.
Prevention
The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club will:
- appoint a nominated child protection/safeguarding lead and a deputy child protection/safeguarding lead
- develop child protection and safeguarding policies and procedures which reflect best practice
- design and undertake all activities in a way that protects children and vulnerable adults from any risk of harm when using services or attending events
- recruit volunteers safely
- ensure relevant volunteers receive training and support on safeguarding at a level appropriate to their role
- ensure effective reporting procedures are in place
- follow up reports on safeguarding concerns promptly and according to due process
- share concerns with relevant authorities who need to know, and involve children, vulnerable adults, parents, families, and guardians/carers as appropriate
How to raise a concern
It’s not your responsibility to diagnose a type of abuse or decide what kind of help a child or vulnerable adult needs. It is your responsibility to share your concerns. If you have a concern, no matter how small, then it’s essential that you tell someone. You can:
- report it to your safeguarding lead
- contact social care directly
Whichever option you choose, what’s important is that you report the information so that the appropriate people can work together to safeguard the child or vulnerable adult.
Confidentiality
We hope that members will feel able to voice safeguarding concerns openly under this policy. Completely anonymous disclosures are difficult to investigate. It is essential that confidentiality is maintained in all stages of the process when dealing with safeguarding concerns, and we will ensure information relating to the concern and your identity will only be shared as necessary to investigate the concern and will be kept secure at all times.
External disclosures
The law recognises that in some circumstances it may be appropriate for you to report your concerns to an external body. If you are concerned that a child or vulnerable adult may be at risk of harm, please contact your local children’s social care team.
Protection and support
We aim to encourage openness and will support anybody who raises safeguarding concerns under this policy. Individuals must not suffer any detrimental treatment as a result of raising safeguarding concerns. If you believe that you have suffered any such treatment, you should inform our safeguarding officer immediately.
You must not make false allegations of such detrimental treatment maliciously or with a view to personal gain. You must not threaten or retaliate against individuals who raise safeguarding concerns in any way. In appropriate circumstances formal action may be taken under Welsh Springer Spaniel Club associated policies – our Child Protection Policy and Code of Conduct.
This policy was last modified on 19/01/2023
