Children’s Safeguarding Policy for
Mann Family School of Kung Fu

 

 

This is an overarching safeguarding children policy and is aligned to the North East Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Partnership’s Safeguarding Children Procedures https://www.safernel.co.uk/nelsafeguarding-children-partnership/  and the North Lincolnshire Children's Multi Agency Resilience and Safeguarding Board https://www.northlincscmars.co.uk/

 

1. Commitment to Safeguarding

At the Mann Family School of Kung Fu, we are committed to safeguarding children and young people under the age of eighteen and we expect everyone who works or volunteers in our school to share this commitment. Adults in our school/club take all welfare concerns seriously and encourage children and young people to talk to us about anything that worries them. We will always act in the best interest of the child.

 

2. Principles

The Mann Family School of Kung Fu acknowledges the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring our safeguarding practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with both best practice and Sports England’s requirements.

 

The policy recognises that the welfare and interests of children 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 children:

 

• have a positive and enjoyable experience of sport at Mann Family School of Kung Fu in a safe and child centred environment

• are protected from abuse whilst participating in Wing Chun Kung Fu, Martial Arts, Self Defence and Fitness.

 

The Mann Family School of Kung Fu acknowledges that some children, are additionally vulnerable including children with disabilities and/or due to the impact of previous experiences. We accept the responsibility to take reasonable and appropriate steps to ensure their welfare.  Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers, and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.  As part of our safeguarding policy the Mann Family School of Kung Fu will:

 

• promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of children and young people.

• ensure that 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 and young people.

• ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and that support is 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.

• prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals.

• ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation.

 

  3. Monitoring

• The policy will be reviewed a year after development and then every three years, or in the following circumstances:

• Changes in legislation and/or government guidance

• As required by the Local Safeguarding Children Board, UK Sport

• Because of any other significant change or event.

 

 

4. Definitions:

The Children Act 1989 definition of a child is: anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday, even if they are living independently, are a member of the armed forces or in hospital.

 

Safeguarding children: Safeguarding children is defined in Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 as:

• protecting children from maltreatment.

• preventing impairment of children’s health or development.

• ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care.

 

5. Legal Framework:

This policy has been drawn up on the basis of legislation, policy and guidance that seeks to protect children in England. Keg legislation includes:

 

• Human Rights Act 1998

• Children Act 1989

• Children Act 2004 

• Children and social work Act 2017

• Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018

• Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021

• Sexual Offences Act 2003

• Data Protection Act 2018

 

6. Types of Abuse and Neglect (according to Keeping Children Safe in Education 2021)

 

All school/club staff and volunteers should be aware that abuse, neglect and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events that can be covered by one definition or label. In most cases, multiple issues will overlap with one another.

Child abuse, neglect and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events that can be covered by one definition or label. In most cases, multiple issues will overlap with one another. Children and young people may be vulnerable to neglect and abuse or exploitation from within their family and from individuals they come across in their daily lives. There are 4 main categories of abuse, which are: sexual, physical, emotional abuse, and neglect.

 

Abuse: A form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others. Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse. They may be abused by an adult or adults or by another child or children.

 

Physical abuse: A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or scalding, drowning, suffocating, or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

 

Emotional abuse: The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning or preventing the child from participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, although it may occur alone.

 

Sexual abuse: involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing, and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children. The sexual abuse of children by other children is a specific safeguarding issue (also known as peer-on-peer abuse) in education and all staff should be aware of it and of their school or college’s policy and procedures for dealing with it.

 

Neglect:

The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy, for example, as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate caregivers); or ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

 

It is important to be aware of more specific types of abuse that fall within these categories, they are:

• Bullying and cyberbullying

• Child sexual exploitation

• Child Criminal exploitation

• Child trafficking

• Domestic abuse

• Female genital mutilation

• Grooming

• Historical abuse

• Online abuse

• Radicalisation

 

7. Poor practice

Sometimes, your concerns may relate to poor practice, where an adult or another young person’s behaviour is inappropriate and may be causing distress to a child or young person. In the application of this policy, poor practice includes any behaviour which contravenes the principles of this document or the relevant Club/School/Academy/NGB Code of Conduct or brings Martial Arts into disrepute, or which infringes an individual’s rights. Where poor practice is serious or repeated this could also constitute abuse and should be reported immediately. Examples of poor practice towards students, which should never be sanctioned include:

 

• use of excessive, physical, or humiliating punishments.

• failure to act when you witness possible abuse or bullying.

• being unaware of, or breaching, any relevant policy such as the Code of Ethics and Conduct.

• spending excessive amounts of time alone with young people away from others.

• inviting or allowing young people into your home where they will be alone with you.

• engaging in rough, physical, or sexually provocative activity.

• allowing young people to use inappropriate language unchallenged.

• making sexually suggestive comments even in fun.

• reducing a person to tears as a form of control.

• allowing allegations made by a young person to go unchallenged, unrecorded, or not acted upon.

• doing things of a personal nature for young people that they can do for themselves; sharing a bedroom with a young person you are not related to, even with parental permission.

 

Some participants may require assistance with personal care due to being very young or disabled. If a young person needs this level of support, it should be made clear to their parent/s that this can only be carried out by a designated carer and not by the instructor. Even if the instructor is trained in carrying out personal care tasks, this compromises their role as trainer and places them and the child in a vulnerable position. These support arrangements should clearly be in place and agreed to by all parties prior to the activities commencing.

 

8. Signs and Indicators of Abuse and Neglect

Indicators that a young person may be being abused may include the following:

 

• Unexplained or suspicious injuries such as bruising, cuts or burns, particularly if situated on a part of the body not normally prone to such injuries.

• an injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent.

• the young person describes what appears to be an abusive act involving him/her.

• someone else (a young person or adult) expresses concern about the welfare of another.

• unexplained changes in behaviour (e.g., becoming very quiet, withdrawn or displaying sudden outbursts of temper);

• inappropriate sexual awareness.

• engaging in sexually explicit behaviour.

• sudden or unusual distrust of adults, particularly those with whom a close relationship would normally be expected.

• having difficulty in making friends.

• being prevented from socialising with other young people.

• displaying variations in eating patterns including overeating or loss of appetite.

• or a sudden weight change.

• becoming increasingly dirty or unkempt.

 

It should be recognised that this list is not exhaustive and the presence of one or more of the indicators is not proof that abuse is actually taking place. A good working relationship with parent/guardians will help to identify any other concerns that a young person may be experiencing. For example, a family bereavement which could cause some of the changes listed above.

 

9. Sensitivity

The Mann Family school of Kung Fu recognises the importance of listening to students, particularly when they are distressed, worried, or concerned. It is appreciated that at times students may feel stressed and confused. The Mann Family school of Kung Fu are encouraged to identify quiet areas and provide the opportunity to students to take respite from the normal day when necessary.

 

All staff should be made aware that children who are not known to be the subjects of concern may, however, be experiencing ill treatment, neglect or abuse. This means that staff should be aware of the need for vigilance and sensitivity when dealing with students at all times. Mann Family School of Kung Fu recognise that students who are distressed through experiences outside the classroom may be less able to achieve their potential.

 

While it is understood that such students need firm boundaries, staff should take into account the student’s distress when managing behaviour. In striving to ensure that the best interests of students are given high priority, staff cannot offer or guarantee absolute confidentiality. If confidentiality has to be broken, the student should be informed first and then supported, as appropriate. As far as possible, the Academy should keep parents fully informed of concerns concerning their child. However, parents should only be informed of child abuse concerns if staff are certain that the child will not be put at risk by their doing so.

 

10. Roles and Responsibilities

The Designated Safeguarding Lead is responsible for:

 

• being the first point of call for students and staff.

• contributing to training.

• coordinating action within The Mann Family school of Kung Fu.

• liaising with other agencies on suspected cases of abuse, taking advice where necessary from the local Child Protection Committee, Social Services, or the NSPCC.

• advising the Head/Deputy Instructor about cases in hand according to the agreement already established about confidentiality.

• monitoring students who have been identified as being at risk.

• keeping in a secure place, separate from the students’ main file, clear and

• confidential records of students’ progress, providing information to other 

• professionals, reports for case conferences, and participating in case 

• conferences.

 

All staff are responsible for protecting children from abuse and from inappropriate and inadequate care and have a responsibility to be vigilant in identifying signs of child abuse and to report concerns to the Designated Safeguarding Lead.

 

11. What to do if you have a concern or someone raises concerns with you.

Mann Family school of Kung Fu recognises ‘everyone who works with children has a responsibility for keeping them safe. No single practitioner can have a full picture of a child’s needs and circumstances and, if children and families are to receive the right help at the right time, everyone who comes into contact with them has a role to play in identifying concerns, sharing information, and taking prompt action’ (page 11 para 16 Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018).

 

 Whilst accepting this duty it is recognises Mann Family school of Kung Fu is not responsible for deciding if abuse has occurred. It does however have a duty to respond and report concerns. The Mann Family school of Kung Fu will have an appropriately trained Designated Safeguarding Lead and Deputy.

 

 

All safeguarding concerns and poor practice occurrences, except if the issue concerns those individuals, must be reported to the DSL / Deputy. This includes issues raised concerning the activities of instructors or volunteers or, where there are concerns outside of the Mann Family school of Kung Fu (for example at home, school or in the wider community). Where there is an allegation against an instructor or volunteer who works with children at the Mann Family school of Kung Fu the DSL/Deputy must report the matter to the Local Authority Designated Officer. (See safeguarding children board procedures)

 

 Instructors and volunteers must also report the following to the DSL / Deputy and make a written record of what they have done, seen, or heard:

 

• They have accidentally hurt a child.

• a child seems distressed in any manner.

• a child appears to be sexually aroused by their actions.

• a child misunderstands or misinterprets something they have said or done.

 

If you think a child is in immediate danger or requires medical attention, you should call the emergency services on 999. You can also ring the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 to report immediate risks. This is an immediate responsibility and will take priority over informing the Designated Safeguard Lead or Deputy.

 

12. Recording

Should a child make a disclosure a record in writing must be made as soon as possible, using their words as closely as possible and where relevant. Note the date, time, any names mentioned, names, and addresses to whom the information was given and who else is aware of the allegation. Note or clearly describe any visible injury.

 

Take care to distinguish between fact, observation, allegation, and opinion. It is important that the information you have is accurate. Recording of any incident, including possible abuse or poor practice incidents, should also follow this procedure. In all situations, including those in which the cause of concern arises either from a disclosure of abuse or from suspicion of abuse, it is vitally important to record the details, regardless of whether they are shared with a statutory agency, as soon as possible using the Incident Referral Form.

 

The record should be clear and factual as it may be needed by child or adult protection agencies and may, in the future, be used as evidence in court. Records should be kept securely and shared only with those who need to know about the incident. Throughout the process of any safeguarding cases, accurate records should be made and maintained.

 

13. Safer Recruitment and Training

At the Mann Family school of Kung Fu, we take all reasonable steps to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. Staff are subject to safe recruitment and vetting. Staff have undertaken safeguarding children training

 

14. Whistleblowing

It is important that people within the Mann Family school of Kung Fu have the confidence to come forward to speak or act if they are unhappy with anything. Whistleblowing occurs when a person raises a concern about dangerous or illegal activity, or any wrongdoing within their sports organisation. The NSPCC has a whistleblowing advice line to support professionals who have concerns about how child protection issues are being handled in their own or another organisation.

 

15. Complaints

To ensure we develop an open culture where children and staff feel able to express any concerns, we have a procedure for dealing with complaints from a child, worker, volunteer, parent, or carer.

 

16. Concerns about the welfare of a person:

Is the person in immediate danger or are they injured?

• If yes, contact the emergency services on 999

• Report the concern:

• If you are affiliated to a national governing body, refer to their safeguarding procedures about who to report the concerns to.

•  If your club or activity is not affiliated to a governing body, you can seek support from your Local Authority Safeguarding Board.

• If there is no one else available to help, contact the Police. Ensure you keep a record of your concern and how you reported it.

 

Useful Contacts

 

NSPCC

0808 800 5000 help@nspcc.org.uk