Everyone who participates in bowls is entitled to do so in a safe and enjoyable environment. Bowls Jersey (Association) has carefully considered its responsibilities to young people (junior members) and adults at risk, participating in the sport very carefully, and has produced this Safeguarding Policy to outline the standards that the Association seeks to uphold. These standards ensure the welfare of young people and adults at risk while they are participating in the sport of bowls. This Policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies:- Anti-Bullying Policy The various terms used in this policy are explained in Appendix 1
Policy Statement
The Association acknowledges its duty of care to safeguard the welfare of all young people and adults at risk, involved in the sport. All young people and adults at risk have a right to protection, and have their specific needs taken into account. Through this Policy the Association will endeavour to ensure the safety and protection of all young people and adults at risk. It is the responsibility of all adults within the Association to assist the Management Committee in achieving this objective.
Policy Aims
To ensure all young persons and adults have the right to be safe, free from fear of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
To reassure parents that their children will receive the best practicable care possible whilst participating in the sport.
To support those adults at risk and encourage them to make their own decisions and informed consent.
To provide guidance to the Association members, to enable them to make informed responses to specific safeguarding issues.
To ensure all suspicions and allegations of abuse and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
Key Officials
The Association Safeguarding Officer
Each Bowls Club (Club) will appoint a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL), in line with Clubs’ own Safeguarding and Anti Bullying Policies – (Clubs to advise the Association of the member taking on this role)
Working Together
The Association’s Safeguarding Officer will be responsible for liaising with Club DSLs and will work with the Clubs to assist with safeguarding issues. Clubs will formulate their own Safeguarding Policy.
The Association membership have a part to play in safeguarding young people and adults at risk. This policy includes guidance to ensure that the Association membership are aware of what to do, should they need to respond to a safeguarding concern. The Association will collaborate with its membership including junior members and any adult member who might be at risk, parents and carers to promote safety and well-being of young people and adults at risk to ensure that they enjoy their experience of the sport of bowls.
Where there is a specific concern regarding a young person, contact will be made with the young person’s parents or carers provided it is assessed as safe to do so. For specific concerns involving an adult at risk, discussions will take place with the adult providing they have the capacity and it is in their best interests. If an adult lacks capacity, contact will be made with their carer as long as it is assessed as safe to do so. There will be occasions where it is necessary to share information with government agencies and this may occur without consent and consultation. Where such information is shared concerning a young person, this will be done with the consent of the young person’s parents or carer, except where information sharing is in the best interests of the young person to ensure their safety. Cases involving an adult at risk, sharing of information will be done with their consent providing the adult has the capacity or with the consent of their carer, except where information sharing is in the best interests of that adult.
Anti-Bullying
The Association is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment where everyone can enjoy the sport of bowls. Bullying will not be tolerated and the Association has developed an Anti-Bullying Policy to address such matters. Clubs will formulate their own Anti-Bullying Policy.
Recognising Abuse
Abuse is a form of maltreatment. It is the violation of an individual’s human and civil rights, usually for gratification. Abuse can be self-inflicted or inflicted by another person or persons and may consist of single or repeated acts. Abuse can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it. The Association will not tolerate any form of abuse by a member against another person. Any form of abuse is usually perpetrated as the result of deliberate intent. However vulnerable people can also be harmed, damaged or distressed by acts of neglect or ignorance.
Abusers are usually known to their victims and are trusted by them or dependant on them. An abuser will make every effort to establish trust and will seek to maintain the respect of friends and colleagues alike. Contrary to commonly-held belief, strangers very seldom abuse because without having gained trust they cannot be confident that their victims will not tell.
Appendix 2 contains a description of the various types of abuse/ behaviours.
Recording a ‘Concern’
If an Association member becomes aware of a safeguarding ‘concern’ ie signs that a person has been abused, illtreated or taken an advantage of, they should inform the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead) of the relevant Club, so that an accurate record can be made on a ‘Raise a Concern Form’.
If the concern relates to a young person or adult at risk, suffering or is at risk of suffering significant harm, the relevant DSL should be notified immediately so that prompt action is taken. In the DSL’s absence the Association’s Safeguarding Officer should be made aware so the concern can receive immediate attention.
Where a young person or adult at risk says something giving rise to a concern, the words used by that person must be recorded EXACTLY as said, without paraphrasing. This should be done as soon as possible. The young person or adult at risk, should be allowed to speak freely and only ask questions to clarify points if absolutely necessary. A record of any questions asked and the context of the conversation should also be made. Wherever appropriate the person raising the concern should be informed that the information will be shared confidentially with relevant parties. No promises should be made, especially relating to what was said as being a secret.
Information obtained as a result of a safeguarding concern, will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection (Jersey) Law 2018.
As a Member, what should I do if someone shares a ‘Concern’ with me?
Someone who is worried about what is happening or has been harmed may talk to you. They may raise concerns that may or may not be connected with a specific Bowls Club. In most cases a person will confide in someone they know and trust. If a young person or adult at risk confides in you or you learn from anyone else, then you must report that concern, to the relevant DSL or in their absence the Association’s Safeguarding Officer. Appendix 3 contains a list of helpful Do’s and Don’ts that may assist members in dealing with safeguarding concerns.
Speaking Out
The Association is committed to ensuring that all safeguarding concerns are dealt with sensitively and with the necessary degree of confidentiality. If an Association member has any concerns about the actions of another Association member, giving rise to a safeguarding concern, they should inform the relevant DSL or in their absence the Association’s Safeguarding Officer. This can be done via email or verbally.
Monitoring and review
This policy will be reviewed one year after being introduced and then every three years or in response to significant new legislation or best practice guidance.
Appendix 1 – Definitions
Abuse – A violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by another person or persons. Adult at Risk – A person aged 18 or over who is in need of care and support regardless of whether they are receiving them, and because of those needs are unable to protect themselves against abuse or neglect. Capacity – The ability to make a decision at a particular time, for example when under considerable stress. The starting assumption must always be that a person has the capacity to make a decision unless it can be established that they lack capacity – Capacity and Self- Determination (Jersey) Law 2016. Significant harm – There is no absolute criteria on what constitutes significate harm. Consideration of the severity of ill-treatment, the degree and the extent of the physical harm need to be taken into consideration. Young person – A person under the age of 18 years of age, i.e. Junior Member
Appendix 2 – Types of abuse
The more recognisable types of abuse are listed below however this is not a comprehensive list.
Bullying – This term is defined differently in various documents with common words being used – is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour, an abuse or misuse of power through means that undermine, humiliate, denigrate or injure the recipient. Some organisations define bullying as a form of harassment, while others make a distinction between bullying and harassment however, what the two terms do have in common is that if someone feels they are being either bullied or harassed, then it is always unwelcome, unwarranted, and often causes a detrimental effect.
Cyber Bullying – Any form of bullying which takes place online (via networks, games, and mobile phones etc). Cyberbullying includes:
racist bullying homophobic bullying bullying related to special educational needs and disabilities sending threatening or abusive text messages creating and sharing embarrassing images or videos ‘trolling’ – sending menacing or upsetting messages on social media, chat rooms or online games setting up hate sites or groups about a particular person encouraging young people to self-harm voting for or against someone in an abusive poll creating fake accounts, hijacking or stealing online identities to embarrass a person or cause trouble using their name sending explicit messages, also known as sexting
Discriminatory Abuse – Abuse which centres on a difference or perceived difference particularly with respect to race, gender or disability or any of the protected characteristics of the insert law. This could be the harassing of a Club member because they are or are perceived to be transgender.
Domestic Abuse – Includes psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. Sport may notice a power imbalance between a participant and a family member. For example, a participant with Downs Syndrome may be looking quiet and withdrawn when their brother comes to collect them from sessions, in contrast to their personal assistant whom they greet with a smile. Domestic Abuse is a criminal offence.
Emotional or Psychological Abuse – Includes threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks. This could be a member threatening another member with physical harm and persistently blaming them for poor performance or a team captain who adopts a win-at-all costs philosophy.
Neglect – Includes ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health social care or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating. This could be a bowls coach not ensuring members have access to water.
Physical Abuse – Includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate sanctions. This could be a bowls coach intentionally striking a new bowler due to their poor performance.
Self-neglect – Covers a wide range of behaviour; neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding. For example, this could be a bowls player whose appearance becomes unkempt, does not wear suitable sports kit and deterioration in hygiene.
Sexual Abuse/Harassment – Unwanted conduct of a sexual nature and can occur online and offline. Such abuse is likely to violate a person’s dignity, make them feel intimidated, degraded or create a hostile, offensive or sexualised environment. It can include sexual comments, jokes or taunting, physical behaviour and consensual and non-consensual sharing of nude or semi-nude images or videos. This would also cover the scenario where one member sends unwanted sexually explicit text messages to an adult with additional needs or to a junior member.
Appendix 3 – Do’s and Don’ts
What you must do Remain calm, approachable and receptive Listen carefully without interrupting Make it clear that you are taking what is being said seriously Acknowledge you understand how difficult this may be to share such information. Reassure them that they have done the right thing in telling you Let them know that you will do everything you can to help them Record carefully using the words of the young person or vulnerable adult and sign, date and time your notes. Only record what has been said, heard, seen and what you have done.
What you must not do Do not show any shock or distaste Do not probe or investigate yourself – only listen, record and report Do not ask any questions that suggest the answer Do not speculate or make assumptions Do not make any comments about any of the people involved Do not make promises you cannot keep Do not promise to keep the information secret but explain that there may be a need to share it in confidence with an appropriate person Do not delay in contacting the DSL (in their absence the Association’s Safeguarding Officer), whatever the time, and always make sure you keep them aware of any further developments Do not discuss the situation
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