Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. It is a broad term that includes both the response to incidents of concern for children as well as the responsibility to promote their welfare.
In other words, to ensure children enjoy, and get the best outcomes from, participating in rugby. Hertfordshire RFU want every child’s experience of rugby to be positive. All players under the age of 18 are children in law and should be respected as such. All children’s rugby (age-grade rugby) in Hertfordshire complies with the ‘Age grade codes of practice’. To that end, clubs must ensure that all rugby coaching is Player Centred, Development Driven and Competition Supported.
The England Rugby (RFU) ‘Safeguarding Children Policy’ is applicable to all clubs across Hertfordshire. This policy sets out the key principles for safeguarding. It provides guidance on what best practice looks like, as well as what constitutes poor practice. As everyone in rugby union shares the responsibility for safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare, this policy and guidance is both relevant and useful for all those involved in creating safe environments in rugby, whether as a parent, coach, spectator or club official.
Safeguarding also applies to those adults at the club who may have additional, often hidden factors that may make them more prone to the risk of harm, such as mental ill-health or a disability. More information on safeguarding adults is set out in the RFU Safeguarding adults policy and guidance.
Every club must have a Club Safeguarding Officer (CSO). It is the responsibility of the CSO to monitor practice at each club and to refer any concerns about children to the Hertfordshire Rugby Safeguarding Manager and / or the RFU. The CSO should also ensure that volunteers are recruited using the ‘safer recruitment’ principles. To that end, applicants for volunteer roles in rugby should be directed to complete a ‘volunteer application and self-declaration form’ to begin the safer recruitment process. This process also includes a check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), which the CSO facilitates, and completion of the RFU ‘Introduction to Safeguarding’ short online course. Further information about DBS checks can be found here (for applicants) and here (for CSOs).
The CSO is also responsible for completing an online safeguarding audit at the beginning of each season through the RFU’s ‘Game Management System’ to demonstrate that the club is doing its best to provide a safe and appropriate rugby experience for all children who are training and playing at the club.
CSOs must be involved in the planning arrangements for organising children’s rugby tours. This is to ensure the RFU Touring with Children guidance is complied with.
In order to provide children with the best possible experiences and opportunities in rugby union, it is imperative that everyone operates within the above frameworks and that they demonstrate, and model exemplary behaviour. Every volunteer working with children should consistently demonstrate the Core Values of Rugby, which are:
- Teamwork
- Respect
- Enjoyment
- Discipline
- Sportsmanship
Clubs must comply with RFU Regulations 15 (Age Grade Rugby), 19 (Discipline) and 21 (Safeguarding). This ensures the game makes a positive contribution to the development of children and safeguards them and promotes their welfare. This also protects all personnel from allegations of abuse or poor practice. Allegations of abuse or poor practice must be reported to the RFU through the Herts Safeguarding Manager where possible. It is important when reporting a concern that the RFU are informed as soon as possible in order to effectively manage any case or concern and support clubs with advice on the management of risk.
To promote and maintain good safeguarding practices, the RFU have created a number of safeguarding training courses. As well as the Introduction to Safeguarding (mentioned above), there is a Play it Safe course (a three-hour face-to-face course) and an In Touch course (a virtual course). Every CSO must complete both the Play It Safe and In Touch courses as soon as possible after taking on the role. Every lead coach and team manager and members of club Mini and Youth Committees should complete the Play It Safe course. Play it Safe courses are held throughout the country and clubs that wish to host a course can arrange this through the Herts Safeguarding Manager or by contacting a tutor direct using the ‘Play it Safe Tutor Map’.
Volunteers who wish to book on to a Play it Safe Course should do so through the online course finder. Note that there is a small nominal fee to pay in advance.
If you have any questions, concerns or queries please contact you CSO in the first instance or the Herts Rugby safeguarding manager whose contact details are above. If you have any complaints about safeguarding processes undertaken by your club, Hertfordshire or the RFU, please contact the RFUs head of Safeguarding through Safeguarding@rfu.com.
The RFU have produced a set of guidance documents to support CSOs in their role. These helpful documents are under regular review but are posted in a ‘library’ in the page entitled ‘information for safeguarding officers’. Guidance documents include:
- Safeguarding considerations for changing rooms
- Parental attendance at rugby
- Physical intervention
- Protocol for contact rugby
- Encouraging positive behaviour
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