Edinburgh Kayak Club is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children and protected adults (please see appendix 1) in its care. It recognises the responsibility to promote safe practice and to protect children and protected adults from harm, abuse and exploitation. For the purposes of this policy and associated procedures a child is recognised as someone under the age of 18 (please see appendix 2). Staff and volunteers will work together to embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of children and protected adults. This document outlines Edinburgh Kayak Club’s commitment to protecting children and protected adults.
These guidelines are based on the following principles:
The welfare of children and protected adults is the primary concern.
All children and protected adults, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, race, origin, socio-economic status, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from all forms of harm and abuse.
Child and protected adult protection is everyone’s responsibility.
Children and protected adults have the right to express views on all matters which affect them, should they wish to do so.
Organisations shall work in partnership together with children/protected adults and parents/carers to promote the welfare, health and development of children and protected adults.
Edinburgh Kayak Club will:
Accept that it is our responsibility as a group to check that all adults in positions requiring disclosure checks have been appropriately vetted (please see appendix 3).
Promote the health and welfare of children and protected adults by providing opportunities for them to take part in kayaking and canoeing safely.
Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children and protected adults.
Promote and implement appropriate procedure to safeguard the wellbeing of children and protected adults and protect them from abuse.
Recruit, train, support and supervise staff, members and volunteers to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children and protected adults from abuse and to reduce risk to themselves.
Require staff, members and volunteers to adopt and abide by this Safeguarding Policy and these procedures.
Respond to allegations of misconduct or abuse of children or protected adults, in line with this Policy and these procedures as well as implementing, where appropriate, the relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures.
Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Policy and these procedures.
We believe that every child and protected adult, regardless of age, has at all times and in all situations a right to feel safe and protected from any situation or practice that result in a child or protected adult being physically or psychologically damaged.
All volunteers must share concerns with the club’s Designated Safeguarding Person. If the situation is clearly an urgent case, the child or protected adult is too frightened to go home or we have serious doubts about a child or protected adults’ safety, we will contact Social Work Services or the Police immediately. It is important that all volunteers communicate concerns accurately. To this end, volunteers will follow the procedures below:
1. Upon the receipt of any information from a child or protected adult, or suspicions, it is necessary to make an accurate and detailed written record of what they have seen, heard or known, at that time the event occurs.
2. Share their concerns with the Designated Safeguarding Person for the Club and agree what action to take.
3. Avoid asking any more questions than are necessary to clarify whether there is a concern. Always refer to the statutory services to undertake in depth investigation of any suspicions or allegations.
4. All volunteers will work within the SCA Child Wellbeing and Protection Policy.
If we have concerns, we must act. Please remember to record and report, NOT investigate.
Designated Safeguarding Person at Edinburgh Kayak Club - Chris Wood - safeguarding@edinburghkayak.com
General Child Protection Enquiries - 0131 200 2324 - socialcaredirect@edinburgh.gov.uk
Out of hours Social Work Emergency Service - 0800 731 6969
Review
This Policy and these Procedures will be regularly reviewed:
In accordance with changes in legislation and guidance on the protections of children or protected adults or following any changes within Edinburgh Kayak Club.
Following any issues or concerns raised about the protection of children or protected adults within Edinburgh Kayak Club.
In all other circumstances, at least every five years.
Reviewed: September 2022, Review: September 2027.
Appendix 1
‘Protected adults’ are individuals over the age of 16 who are unable to safeguard their own interests and are at risk of harm because they are affected by disability, mental disorder, illness or physical or mental infirmity and who are provided with health care, community care or welfare services.
Appendix 2
In Scottish law a ‘child’ is generally defined as under 16 years of age. For the purposes of this guidance, a ‘child’ is defined as being under the age of 18 years. This is in accordance with legislation covering the recruitment of adults to work / volunteer with children and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child.
Appendix 3 - Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVG)
Membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme is available to anyone doing regulated work (please see appendix 4) with children and/or protected adults in Scotland. The PVG Scheme was established on 28 February 2011 under Part 2 of the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 and is designed to safeguard both children and protected adults from harm.
Any new coach or leader to the club counts as a new appointment and they should become a PVG scheme member / have a PVG scheme record update for the club.
Anyone with a known history of harmful or abusive behaviour towards children or protected adults will not be able to become a PVG Scheme member which means they will not be able to work with one or both groups.
The PVG Scheme continuously updates its members’ records, adding any new criminal convictions and any information held by the police that they consider relevant to an individual’s role. This means that any new information indicating that a person may pose a risk can be acted upon promptly by Disclosure Scotland and by employers/voluntary organisations.
Appendix 4 - Regulated Work
The PVG scheme does not apply to all jobs and volunteering. It only applies to 'regulated work'. There are 2 types of regulated work – work with children and work with protected adults.
Examples include:
Jobs with caring responsibilities
Teaching or supervising children or protected adults
Providing personal services to children or protected adults
Working directly with children or protected adults