Safeguarding Policy

The Purpose and Scope of this Policy

Lampton Leisure works with children, adults at risk and vulnerable groups as part of its activities and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk that take part in sport and leisure activities and everyone who uses our services and members of Lampton Leisure staff.

This policy has been drawn up based on legislation and guidance that seeks to protect children and adults at risk in England and sets out Lampton Leisure’s safeguarding responsibilities and arrangements to achieve mandatory and recommended requirements.

The key legislation and guidance that applies to this policy are:

Child Safeguarding Legislation and Guidance

  • The Children Act 1989 (as amended).
  • The Children and Social Work Act 2017.
  • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2020.
  • Sport England/Child Protection in Sport Unit Standards (2018)

Safeguarding Adults Legislation (Adults at Risk)

  • The Care Act 2014
  • Care & Support Statutory Guidance 2021
  • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006.

Lampton Leisure aims to achieve this by recognising safeguarding concerns however they may be encountered. This includes concerns where risks to children or adults at risk may arise from those who use the facilities including family members, members of the public, individuals from clubs and organisations who hire facilities or from behaviours of staff or others providing services within our facilities.

The purpose of this policy statement is:

  • To protect children, young people and adults at risk who undertake activities, use our services or work for or on behalf of Lampton Leisure.
  • To provide all members of the public whether customers or visitors, or anyone working on behalf of Lampton leisure with the overarching principles that guide our approach to safeguarding.

Lampton Leisure’s Safeguarding Responsibilities

Lampton Leisure is committed to providing a safe environment in which children, adults at risk and vulnerable groups can use and enjoy its services by;

  • Appointing a Senior Safeguarding Lead Officer(S)
  • Appointing Designated Safeguarding Officer(s) at all Lampton Leisure sites
  • Carry out a risk assessment and implement appropriate risk controls to mitigate safeguarding risks   
  • Implementing a policy to carry out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced checks for all eligible employee roles
  • Being accountable for policy and procedures and implementation across all Lampton Leisure operated locations by ensuring it is communicated, translated into practice and enforced
  • Ensuring that all employees working directly with or who may come in to contact with children, adults at risk or vulnerable groups have the appropriate knowledge/skills and training to identify, manage and report safeguarding concerns
  • Ensuring staff know whom to contact to express concern regarding a child’s, adult at risk or a vulnerable group person’s welfare
  • Ensuring that all suspicions and allegations or suspicions of inappropriate behaviour will be taken seriously and responded to promptly and appropriately
  • Reporting any safeguarding concerns to the appropriate reporting authorities (Children’s Social care, LADO, Police etc)

Lampton Leisure Employee Responsibilities

All staff have a responsibility to:

  • Complete and submit online a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced check (if employed in an eligible role) prior to the commencement of employment and report the outcome of the check to your line manager
  • carry out safeguarding Induction, awareness, and refresher training, and attend any safeguarding briefings when asked to do so
  • ensure familiarity with Lampton Leisure Safeguarding Policy, procedures and reporting process
  • raise any safeguarding concerns or issues about a child, adult at risk or vulnerable groups with the site Duty Manager/Line Manager, or site Designated Safeguarding Officer. Be familiar with the requirements of the ‘First Responder’ –
  • Listen
  • Make Notes
  • Pass it on / Pass it up
  • Ensure all safeguarding concerns are raised with the sites Designated Safeguarding Officer

Lampton Leisure we will seek to keep children, young people and adults at risk safe by:

  • Valuing, listening to and respecting them
  • Continuing to develop safeguarding policies and procedures which reflect best practice
  • Using our safeguarding procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately
  • Creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
  • Recruiting staff and volunteers safely, ensuring all necessary checks are made
  • Providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training
  • Using our HR procedures to manage any allegations against staff and volunteers appropriately
  • Ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place
  • Ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment

Lampton Leisure will respond to any concerns that might be raised by:

  • A child or adult making a direct allegation of abuse by another adult(s), child, or young person
  • A child or adult telling you they’re uncomfortable with an adult, child, or young person’s behaviour
  • A member of staff or volunteer observing behaviour that gives cause for concern
  • You are being informed that an adult, child, or young person is the subject of an investigation
  • An adult, child or young person telling you they have harmed someone else or may do so

Lampton Leisure Response to a Reported Safeguarding Incident:

  • Reassure the child/adult at risk that they’ve done the right thing by telling us about it
  • Listen carefully to the child/adult at risk and let them tell their whole story making sure we understand what they’re saying
  • Use non-judgmental language
  • Remember that a child who is telling us they’ve abused someone else is a child in need of support
  • Tell them that we now have to do what you can to keep them, and the other adults/children involved safe
  • Explain what we are going to do next and that they will need to speak to other people who can help
  • Treated information given carefully and confidentially
  • Seek advice/support from the Designated Safeguarding Officers
  • Report the incident to the Police if it is alleged or believed to be a criminal matter
  • Record all details on an Incident report form as a safeguarding incident

If you would like to discuss this policy or report a Safeguarding concern, please let us know by contacting the Duty Manager via Reception or the email addresses provided via our site contact pages.

Rowland Omamor -Managing Director

Lampton Leisure Ltd                                                                                                     

1st April 2023

This Safeguarding Policy statement will be reviewed annually and revised as necessary.

A copy is displayed at each of our sites and is available on the company website.

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