Safeguarding statement

Who is responsible

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is {{DSL_NAME}}. They hold a current Level 3 safeguarding qualification and an enhanced DBS check with a barred-list check. Their inbox is support@heatlhynation.co.uk; the duty phone line is {{DSL_PHONE}}. At board level the responsibility sits with {{BOARD_TRUSTEE_LEAD_NAME}}.

How to report a concern

• Email support@heatlhynation.co.uk. Monitored every working day, with a duty rota outside working hours.
• Call {{DSL_PHONE}}. If the DSL is unavailable, the duty officer will take the referral and call you back the same day.
• Use our anonymous reporting form at {{ANONYMOUS_REPORT_URL}} if you would rather not give your name.
• Speak to any Heatlhy Nation coach in person at a session. They are trained to receive a disclosure and pass it on to the DSL within twenty-four hours.

We take every concern seriously, even when the person reporting is not sure. We do not investigate ourselves where statutory services should. We refer.

What we do behind the scenes

• Every coach, employee and regular volunteer holds an enhanced DBS check. Where their role involves regulated activity with children, the check includes the barred list.
• All coaches complete safeguarding training before their first session and refresh it at least every two years. The DSL holds a Level 3 qualification; team leads hold Level 2.
• We follow the statutory guidance in Working Together to Safeguard Children and Keeping Children Safe in Education where it applies to community settings.
• We work with the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) on any allegation against a member of staff, volunteer or coach, in line with the Children Act 2004 §11 duty.
• We are members of the NSPCC's Child Protection in Sport Unit network and follow their standards for safeguarding in sport. Our coaches working with at-risk adults follow the Care Act 2014 safeguarding principles.
• Our safeguarding policy is reviewed by the board annually, or sooner if guidance changes, an incident requires it, or our scope of work changes.

If a member of our team is the concern

We treat allegations against staff, volunteers or coaches with the same seriousness as any other concern. The DSL refers to the LADO within one working day and follows their direction. The person concerned is not the person who handles the referral.

Confidentiality

We share information only with the people who need it to keep someone safe: usually the DSL, statutory services and the trustee lead. We will be honest with you about who we have spoken to, except where doing so would put a child at risk.