Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport - Policy Statement
Kent Sport, Leisure & Olympics is committed to working in partnership with organisations delivering sport within the County, to promote and deliver best practice when working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.
KCC Sport, Leisure and Olympics will:
accept the moral and legal responsibility to provide a duty of care
to protect and safeguard the wellbeing of children engaged in any
activity over which it has supervision and control- respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children and young people
- undertake recruitment procedures that take account of the need to protect children and include arrangements for appropriate checks on new staff and volunteers, in accordance with KCC recruitment practice
- train and supervise its employees and volunteers to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect young people from abuse, and reduce the likelihood of allegations of abuse against themselves
- require all staff and volunteers to adopt and abide by this Policy and Implementation Procedures, and the Code of Ethics and Conduct (see Appendix A)
- respond to any allegations and concerns appropriately and implement the appropriate disciplinary and appeals procedures, in accordance with KCC disciplinary procedures
- promote a culture that ensures that all children and young people are listened to and respected as individuals
- ensure that parents, children, staff and volunteers are provided with information about this policy, what it does, and what they can expect from KSLO
- ensure that parents, children, staff and volunteers are provided with clear procedures to voice their concerns or lodge complaints if they feel unsure or unhappy about anything
- maintain confidentiality and ensure information is shared as appropriate with other agencies in all cases involving safeguarding, in line with current legislation
- lead on the production, monitoring and review of this policy and procedures
- ensure partner organisations have adequate policies and procedures in respect of safeguarding
- expect partners to respond to any allegations appropriately and implement their own procedures
- ensure that the inclusion of adequate safeguarding arrangements is a key element of all commissioning, funding and partnership agreements
- encourage, support and assist organisations to develop and implement safeguarding policy and procedures.
All KSLO staff and volunteers have a role to play in ensuring that the organisation’s strategic responsibilities are upheld.
