Smugglers Equestrian Centre – Safeguarding Policy
Smugglers Equestrian Centre fully accepts its legal and moral obligation under The Childrens Act (1989) and (2004), to provide a duty of care to protect all children and safeguard their welfare, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, parental or marital status, pregnancy, religion or belief, creed, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.
A child/young person is defined as a person under the age of 18 (the Childrens Act 1989). Smugglers Equestrian Centre fully adopts the BEF Safeguarding Policy (Children and Young People), the full policy can be downloaded from the BEF website www.bef.co.uk
Aims
The aims of the BHS Accredited Professional Coach’s Safeguarding Policy are:
- To ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation to provide children, young people and with appropriate safety and protection whilst employing the services of Smugglers Equestrian Centre, allowing them to participate in a fun, safe environment and in an atmosphere of fair play.
- To take all reasonable, practical steps to protect children and adults at risk from harm, discrimination and degrading treatment and respect their rights, wishes and feelings.
- To ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and are provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children, young people and.
- To ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and support provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern. All concerns or allegations of poor practise or abuse are taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately. It is the responsibility of child protection experts to determine whether or not abuse has taken place, but it is everyone’s responsibility to report it.
- To ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored.
- To maintain high standards of behaviours and good practise through compliance with the BHS coach code of conduct and the BEF codes of conduct for parents/guardians, junior members and volunteers. The policy and procedures are mandatory for everyone involved with Smugglers Equestrian Centre. Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from Smugglers Equestrian Centre, any concerns about the process should initially be raised with Centre Safeguarding Officer, and if not satisfactory the BHS Education Department in conjunction with the BHS Safeguarding Lead Officer in necessary.
The policy will be reviewed every three years, or in the following circumstances:
- Changes in legislation and/or government guidance.
- As required by the Local Safeguarding Children Board, BHS and the BEF.
- As a result of any other significant change or event.
Centre Safeguarding Officer
Smugglers Equestrian Centre will appoint a Centre Safeguarding Officer (CSO)
Melissa Burles is the current CSO
The role of the CSO is:
- To ensure that Springall Equestrian staff and volunteers, are aware of the Safeguarding Policy, procedures, guidelines and codes of conduct and adopt them as appropriate.
- Be the first point of contact at Springall Equestrian for staff, volunteers, young people or parents/guardians for any issue concerning safeguarding, child protection or welfare, poor practise or potential/alleged abuse.
- To have access to contact details for Children’s Services, the Police and the BHS Lead Safeguarding Officer.
- To follow the information in the BEF Safeguarding Policy for procedures for recording and reporting information as required.
- To advise the BHS Lead Safeguarding Officer of any allegations or complaints made in relation to child protection and safeguarding and to implement BHS’s Safeguarding procedure as appropriate.
- To respond to any allegations or complaints made from within Springall Equestrian in accordance with the agreed protocols detailed in the BEF Safeguarding Equestrian Sport.
- To ensure that Under 18 clients and their parents/guardians are aware of Springall Equestrian Safeguarding Policy and Procedures and how to access them.
- To facilitate and promote education and training in safeguarding for staff and volunteers.
- To ensure that codes of conduct are in place for staff, volunteers, junior members and their parents/guardians www.bhs.org.uk/our-charity/working-withthe-law/safeguarding-children
- To ensure confidentiality is maintained and information is only shared on a ‘need to know’ basis.
It is not the role of the CSO to be a Child Protection expert or to determine whether or not a serious incident has taken place, rather to record the details and seek guidance if necessary.
Communication
Smugglers Equestrian Centre will make available their Safeguarding Policy and Procedures to all staff, volunteers, junior members and their parents/guardians, clients and their parents/guardians and it will appear in full on the Smugglers Equestrian Centre website.
Training
Instructors/coaches working with children must undertake the BEF approved safeguarding training (or recognised equivalent) course within the last 3 years. Refresher training must be completed every three years via either the BEF approved online training portal or a further face to face course.
The CSO must undertake Designated Safeguarding Lead training (or recognised equivalent).
Criminal Record checks
Instructors/coaches who teach/coach Under 18s must hold a current certificate through the Disclosure and Barring Service, Disclosure Scotland or Access NI as appropriate.
Certificates must be renewed every three years.
Further information and links
Smugglers Equestrian Centre Safeguarding Officer Contact Details
Melissa Burles – Tel: 07805 019006
BHS Safeguarding Contact Details
DBS and Safeguarding
- Monday to Thursday: 8.35am-5pm
- Friday: 8.35am-3.00pm
Telephone: 02476 840746
Email: cpleadofficer@bhs.org.uk
Other Safeguarding Contact Details
Childline 0800 1111 NSPCC 0808 800 5000
CCBC Children’s Services: 0808 100 1727
https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk/services/children-and-families/how-to-get-help-and-support/contacting-social-services
Blaenau Gwent Children’s Services: 01495 315700
https://www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk/en/resident/health-wellbeing-social-care/childrens-services/safeguarding-children/
Torfaen Children’s Services: 01495 762200
https://www.torfaen.gov.uk/en/HealthSocialCare/Keeping-Children-and-Adults-Safe/Child-Protection/Child-Protection.aspx
Documents:
Please see BHS website for useful templates and documents
http://www.bhs.org.uk/our-charity/working-with-the-law/safeguarding-children
Criminal record check information:
England and Wales http://www.bhs.org.uk/our-charity/working-with-the-law/criminal-record-checks-england-and- wales
Smugglers Equestrian Centre – Under 18’s Helpers Policy
- Helpers at Smugglers Equestrian Centre should never be left unsupervised
- Helpers should receive training in the correct method to do any tasks expected of them and also in correct and safe handling of horses. This should be reflected in the junior training scheme each helper has.
- Helpers should have clear guidance about which horses they can and cannot handle in accordance with their abilities (there is also a horse suitably profile in the tack room)
- Helpers understand the fire action plan and know where the assembly point is.
- Helpers are all required to tell a member of staff when they are picked up by parents, so we know who is on the premises at all times.
- Helpers must all be over 12 years old.
