Health and Safety and Safeguarding Policy

Fairlight Tennis Club Health & Safety Policy

Fairlight Tennis club is committed to ensuring the Health & Safety of our members and guests.

To support this aim, we are committed to the following duties.

• Discuss Health & Safety matters as the first agenda item of all committee meetings.
• Appoint a competent club member to take the lead on Health & Safety responsibilities.
• Undertake regular, recorded Risk Assessments of the club premises and activities undertaken by the club.
• As far as is reasonably practical, create a safe environment by putting measures in place as identified by the Risk Assessment.
• Ensure that all accidents and injuries sustained during any club activity or whilst on the club premises are reported.
• Provide access to adequate first aid facilities.

Risk Assessment.
Fairlight tennis club will carry out regular risk assessment of the club facilities to identify potential hazards.
We will consider the results of the Risk Assessment at committee meetings, and implement appropriate actions, as far as reasonably practical, to ensure that we maintain a safe environment for our members.
The risk assessment includes the following areas.
• Are the facilities and surrounding areas safe, free from obstacles and suitable for the activity?
• Is the equipment fit and sound for activity and suitable for age and ability.
• Do members have access to information relating to Health & Safety.
• Can emergency vehicles access the club facilities? e.g. (tennis court).

Safeguarding Policy.

1.Policy statement.
The Fairlight Tennis Club is committed to prioritising the well-being of all children and adults at risk, promoting safeguarding in our club at all times, including all programmes and events we run. This policy strives to minimise risk, deliver a positive tennis experience for everyone and respond appropriately to all safeguarding concerns/disclosures.
2. Use of terminology.
Child: a person under the age of eighteen years.
Note that some legislation in Scotland defines a child as a person under sixteen years old. However, where there is any safeguarding concern, anyone under the age of18 is regarded as a child.
Adult at risk of abuse or neglect: a person aged eighteen years or over who is, or may be, in need of community care services by reason of disability, age or illness; and is, or may be, unable to take care of, or unable to protect him or herself against abuse or neglect.
Safeguarding children: protecting children from abuse and neglect, preventing the impairment of children’s health or development, ensuring that they grow up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and effective care, and taking action to enable all children to have the best life chances.
Safeguarding adults at risk: protecting adults from abuse and/or neglect. Enabling adults to maintain control over their lives and make informed choices without coercion. Empowering adults at risk, consulting them before taking action, unless someone lacks the capacity to make a decision, or their mental health poses a risk to their own or someone else’s safety, in which case, always acting in his or her best interests.
3. Scope.
This Policy is applicable to all committee members and club members. It is in line with national legislation and applicable across the UK.



4. Responsibility for the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy.
SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILTY: NOT RESPONDING TO A SAFE GUARDING CONCERN IS NOT AN OPTION.
• Our club’s committee has overall accountability for this policy and its implementation.
• Our club Safeguarding Lead Sandi Mouzer is responsible for updating this policy in line with legislative and club developments.
• All individuals involved in/present at the club are required to adhere to the policy.
Where there is a safeguarding concern/closure:
• The individual who is told about, hears, or is made aware of the concern/disclosure is responsible for following the Reporting a Safeguarding Concern Procedure. Unless someone is in immediate danger they should inform their club Safeguarding Lead.
Dependent on the concern/disclosure, a referral may be made to:
The police in an emergency (999).
Local Authority Children’s services. East Sussex 01323-464222.
Local Authority Adult services. East Sussex 0345 6080 191.
5. Whistleblowing.
Safeguarding children and adults at risk requires everyone to be committed to the highest possible standards of openness, integrity and accountability.
As a club, we are committed to the highest possible standards of openness, integrity and accountability and maintaining a culture where people feel able to raise a genuine safeguarding concern.
What is whistle blowing?
In the context of safeguarding, “whistle blowing” is when someone raises a concern about the well – being of a child or an adult at risk.
A whistle blower may be:
• a player.
• a club member.
• a parent or member of the public.
How to raise a concern about a child or an adult at risk at the club.
If a child or an adult is in immediate danger or risk of harm, the police should be contacted by calling 999.
Where a child or an adult at risk is not in immediate danger, any concerns about their well-being should be made without delay to the club Safeguarding Lead. The Safeguarding Lead will pass to the relevant local authority and the police will be contacted where appropriate.
The Club Safeguarding Lead can be contacted on: 01424 812595 or 07938731470.
Information to include when raising a concern
The whistle blower should provide as much information as possible regarding the incident or circumstance which has given rise to concern, including: their name and contact details (unless they wish to remain anonymous);
• name of individuals involved;
• date, time and location of incident/circumstances; and
• whether any witnesses were present.
What happens next?
All concerns raised by a whistle blower about the well- being of a child or an adult at risk will be taken seriously and every effort will be made to deal with each concern fairly, quickly and proportionately.
Support
The club will not tolerate any harassment, victimisation or unfair treatment of, and will take appropriate action, whistle blowers when they raise a concern in good faith.
This policy will be reviewed every two years (or earlier if there is a change in national legislation or relevant changes within the club e.g. introduction of coaching services.)
Dated 2 August 2019
To be updated August 2021.