Safeguarding

Jane and Zlatan Swim School’s main priority is to ensure all children and vulnerable adults aren’t at risk from harm when attending their sessions. This policy sets out: JAZ expectations of staff, what procedures and supporting policies there are, who to contact and who is responsible for safeguarding.

Safeguarding is defined as protecting children and vulnerable adults from harm.

JAZ swim school has the responsibility to:

• Safeguard and promote the interests and well-being of children and vulnerable adults with whom we are working with.
• Take all reasonable practical steps to protect them from harm, discrimination, or degrading treatment.
• Respect their rights, wishes and feelings.

Principles:

• The child’s welfare is paramount, as is that of the vulnerable adult.
• All participants, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse and harm.
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously; and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
• Anyone aged 17 years or under should be considered a child for the purposes of this document.

Indications that a child or vulnerable adult is being abused:

• 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
• The child describes what appears to be an abusive act involving him/her.
• Someone else—a child or adult, expresses concern about the welfare of another child
• Unexplained changes in behaviour—e.g., becoming very quiet, withdrawn, or displaying sudden outbursts of temper
• Inappropriate sexual awareness
• Engages in sexually explicit behaviour in games
• Is distrustful of adults, particularly those with whom a close relationship will normally be expected
• Has difficulty in making friends
• Is prevented from socialising with other children
• Displays variations in eating patterns including overeating or loss of appetite
• Loses weight for no apparent reason
• Becomes increasingly dirty or unkept.

It must be acknowledged that the above list is not exhaustive and the presence of one or more of the indicators is not proof that abuse is actually taking place. Therefore, it is not the responsibility of those working for JaZ Swim School to decide that child abuse is occurring, but it is their responsibility to act upon any concerns.

Forms of Abuse,

Physical Abuse:

Where adults or young individuals, physically hurt or injure children/adults by causing harm in a physical way such as, hitting, squeezing biting, or supplying children with any prohibited substances (drugs/alcohol).

Sexual:

Girls and boys are abused by adults, both male and female and by other young people who use children to meet their own sexual needs.

Emotional abuse:

Persistent lack of love and affection, where a child may be constantly shouted at, threatened, or taunted leading to the child becoming very nervous and withdrawn, this form of abuse can also be shown in when there is constant over protection which prevents a child from socialising.

Neglect:

This is when an adult fails to meet a child’s basic needs, such as food or warm clothing. Children might also be regularly left alone or unsupervised.

Bullying:

Although bullying is not a specific form of abuse, JaZ Swim School recognises that having a number of children in a group can have a negative impact if one of these children acts irresponsibly. Bullying can not only be physical, sexual, or neglectful, but it can also be emotionally damaging.

If a child or vulnerable adult discloses any indication that they are being abused or harmed. A member of staff should:

• Report to the appropriate person or organisation.
• React calmly, to not frighten the child.
• Tell the child they are not to blame and that it was right to tell someone.
• Take what the child says seriously, recognising the difficulties in interoperating what is said by a child, who is very young, has a speech disability and/or is fluent in other languages.
• Report to the appropriate person or organisation.
• Keep questions to the absolute minimum necessary to ensure a clear and accurate understanding on what has been said. (Do not push for an answer or offer up any words that the child has not offered themselves)
• Reassure the child, but do not make promises of confidentiality. Encourage an open environment, no secrets.
• Make a full record of what has been said, heard and/or seen as soon as possible. (Make sure it is factual, no opinions, no slang words and as detailed as possible).

Responding to suspicions or allegations of abuse:

It is not the responsibility of JaZ Swim School or their employees to decided whether or not child abuse is taking place. However, JaZ Swim School and all employees have the responsibility to report concerns so that appropriate agencies can then make inquiries and take necessary action to protect the child.

What to do if you have concerns:

• There is always a commitment to work in partnerships with parents, carers, or guardians where there are concerns about their children. Therefore, in most situations, it would be important to talk to the parents, carers, or guardians to help clarify any initial concerns. For example, if a child seems withdrawn, they may have experienced a bereavement in the family. However, in some circumstances a child may be placed at an even greater risk when concerns are shared, for example if a parent, carer, or guardian is the person responsible for the abuse concerned.
• In these situations, where a concern still exists, then this must be reported to the person in charge as soon as possible and accurately recorded.
• It is the responsibility of the person in charge of safeguarding to inform the social services department without delay. If this person is not available, then it is the responsibility of the employee who has the concern to contact the appropriate department of social services or the police.

If you are not sure what to do, you can call the NSPCC’s child protection helpline.

Recording information:

Information that is passed to the social services department or the police must be as factual and detailed as possible, no opinions should be included unless absolutely necessary for example, in your opinion is that the child’s behaviour or actions have changed since teaching began.

• A description of any visible bruising or other injuries.
• The child or vulnerable adults’ account, only if he or she can give an account.
• What has happened/how the injuries have occurred.
• Any dates/times or other relevant information.

Make it clear on what is fact, opinion, and hearsay

Allegations of abuse or harm against an employee of JaZ Swim School:

Abuse can and does occur outside the family setting. JaZ Swim School ensures that all their employees have an up-to-date, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate. However, if an allegation is made against an employee, JaZ Swim School will respond in a rapid manner.

The appropriate parties will be spoken to, and all information will be collected and recorded, one of three investigations may happen.

• A disciplinary or misconduct investigation
• A criminal investigation
• A child protection investigation

The results of the police and social services investigation may well influence the disciplinary investigation, but not necessarily.

• • If, following consideration, the allegation is clearly about poor practice, then JaZ Swim School will deal with this as a misconduct issue.
• • Any suspicion that a child has been abused or harmed by a member of staff then this will be reported swiftly to the person in charge. They will take the appropriate steps they consider necessary to ensure the safety of the child or vulnerable adult in question.
• • The parent, carer or guardian of the child will be contacted as soon as possible with the advice from the social services department.
• • The person in charge should inform, the correct social services department. The use of the NSPCC’s child protection hotline, to get advice and guidance.
• • Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned and GDPR regulations will be upheld.
• • If the person in charge is the subject of the suspicion/allegation, then the report must be maid to a senior staff member. (Details are at the end of the document.)
• • Consideration should be given to what support may be appropriate to children, parents, and members of staff.

Prevention:

All people have a right to be safe and to be treated with dignity and respect.

JaZ Swim School have a set of policies in place which help safeguard, both children, vulnerable adults, staff, and the company concerned.

Recruitment:

• • At least two references should be taken up, including at least one regarding previous work with children, and one from a professional that is unrelated to the applicant
• • All volunteers and employees should read and sign the appropriate policies.
• • All volunteers and employees should be a checked and hold a valid DBS certificate before any teaching can take place.

Policy and procedures:

To help prevent the abuse of children and vulnerable adults, JaZ Swim School have policies in place to ensure that children and vulnerable adults are protected and kept safe from harm. Every employee of JaZ Swim School will be given policy documents to read and sign and will be given numbers for who to call if there are concerns about abuse.

Training:

JaZ Swim School will ensure that all staff are updated with current and new legislation, this will be conducted by having yearly training days, and online courses. There is also the option to request additional support from the company if a member of staff would like more information. All staff will be monitored and given feedback, on what can be improved.

Complaints procedure:

JaZ Swim School will ensure that there is a complaints procedure in operation, that all customers of JaZ Swim School will have the relevant information and will have easy access to this procedure. (Please see complaints procedure policy)

Good practice:

Staff can ensure that they are protected and so are children they are working with by taking steps:

• • Always be publicly open when working with children. Avoid situations where a teacher/coach and individual swimmers are completely unobserved. There must be a minimum of two members of staff on poolside.
• • Where any form of manual support is required, this should be provided openly and with the consent of the child and consent of the parent. The views of parents/guardians should always be carefully considered.
• • Where possible, parents/guardians should take on the responsibility for their children in the changing rooms. Where classes have to be supervised in the changing rooms always ensure that swimming teachers work in pairs. Encourage an open environment, e.g., no secrets.
• • Do not take children alone in a car on journeys, however short. (If a parent is late to collect their child, contact the appropriate person in charge, where they will be able to contact the parent.) Wait on-site with the child and another member of staff until they are collected by their parent/guardian.

Who to contact:

Leila Ljubuncic- Operations Manager (Designated Safeguard Lead)

• Email: Leila@jazswimschool.com
• Phone: 07584042912

National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) child protection helpline (24/7 service):

• 0808 800 5000
• help@nspcc.org.uk

Victims of abuse can seek support from the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC):

• 0808 801 0331

Policy creation date: 15/12/2020

Policy review date: 22/11/2024