Jersey Rugby Football Club
Safeguarding Children Policy August 2024
Jersey Rugby Football Club (JRFC) (referred to as ‘the Club’ herein) acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in the Club from harm.
The Club confirms that it adheres to the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) Safeguarding Policy and its procedures, practices and guidelines, and endorses and adopts the Policy Statement contained in that document and any successor policy.
The procedures meet the requirements of the Children and Young People (Jersey) Law 2022 and local Multi-Agency Procedures and Policies.
A child is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity. However, where a 17 year old player is playing in the adult game it is essential that every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure their safety and wellbeing are protected and that in accordance with Regulation 15. Further information about Regulation 15 is available here.
The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Children Policy are that:
The welfare of the child is, and must always be, paramount to any other considerations.
All participants regardless of age, gender, ability or disability, race, faith, culture, size, shape, language or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse or harm.
All allegations or suspicions of abuse, neglect, harm and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately. Categories and signs of abuse are detailed in Appendix 1.
Working in partnership with other organisations, statutory agencies, parents, carers, children and young people is essential for the welfare of children and young people.
Children have a right to expect support, and personal and social development delivered by a person appropriately recruited, vetted and managed in relation to their participation in rugby union, whether they are playing, volunteering or officiating in the community or professional areas of the sport.
The Club recognises that all children have the right to participate in sport in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment whilst at the same time being protected from abuse, neglect, harm or poor practice. JRFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity at the Club.
Bullying of any kind is unacceptable. If bullying does occur, all players, parents/carers, volunteers and coaches should be able to speak up and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. Anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the appropriate Manager, Club Safeguarding Officer, Designated Safeguarding Lead (Rugby Camps) or any Committee member. Further information about bullying can be found here.
The Club will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conduct and the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials as appropriate.
The Club will ensure that it has appropriate risk assessments in place which are available online
The Club will ensure its spectators, parents, members and officials are all aware of and have access to the club ‘Photography and Use of Imagery’ Policy
The Club will follow the RFU Cyber Guidance for communication. Children should not be communicated with individually via email/online messaging directly. In any event where this is may be required a parent/guardian should be copied into any communication.
The Club Safeguarding Officer is Claire White: email safeguarding@jfrc.je tel: 07797749393
If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child has been put at risk you must, in the first instance inform the Club Safeguarding Officer. They will then inform the Constituent Body (CB) Safeguarding Manager (within Hampshire RFU) and the RFU Safeguarding Executive and where appropriate the Jersey Children and Families Hub / Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub where Jersey Safeguarding Partnership Board Multi-Agency Procedures will be followed. If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer you should inform the Club Chairman/Minis and Juniors Chair and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Team.
All members of the Club who work with children in Regulated Activity must undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, in accordance with RFU Regulation 21. Prior to the completion of a DBS check, all volunteers must complete the online Introduction to Safeguarding training. JRFC is committed to best practice and will expect all volunteers to complete ‘Play it Safe’ every three years.
Where specialist training or other services (i.e. strengthening and conditioning) are sourced from an external provider, steps will be taken to ensure that any adults working with children in a Regulated Activity have received a DBS check. A DBS checked volunteer from the club will supervise any external activities.
This policy applies equally on tour/ during travel as at the club. When travelling if an adult is solely there supporting their own child they will not need DBS clearance, but they will if they are acting in any official capacity with other children. This would apply to those on bedtime or other supervisory duties. Further information about touring with children can be found here
The Club will ensure that all its members, whether they are coaches, parents, players or officials will comply with the Best Practice Guidance as issued by the RFU. In summary the following are NOT acceptable and will be treated seriously by the club, and may result in disciplinary action being taken by the club, the CB or the RFU:
Working alone with a child.
Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children.
Providing alcohol to children or allowing its supply.
Smoking/vaping in the presence of children.
Humiliating children.
Inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact with a child.
Participating in, or allowing, contact or physical games with children.
Having an intimate or sexual relationship with any child developed as a result of being in a ‘position of trust’.
Making sexually explicit comments or sharing sexually explicit material.
The Club manages the changing facilities and arranges for them to be supervised by two DBS checked adults of the appropriate gender for the players using the facilities. JRFC ensures that all its coaches, parents, officials and spectators are aware that adults must not change at the same time, using the same facilities as children. Further RFU guidance is available here
The club will ensure that its coaches, team managers are other volunteers will receive the support and training considered appropriate to their position and role. The RFU ‘Encouraging Positive Behaviour’ Policy has been adopted and circulated amongst the Club workforce, both voluntary and paid.
Any events held on the Club’s premises must comply with the Policy and if appropriate a Safeguarding Plan should be discussed and circulated to those affected. Any tours, overseas or domestic, undertaken by JRFC must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.
Where Rugby Camps are held by JRFC (activities during school holidays which are not part of Minis & Juniors Age Grade activities), then the following requirements must be met in addition:
JRFC will be registered under the Day Care of Children (Jersey) Law 2002
There will be a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Myles Landick present at all Camp Sessions who in addition to Play it Safe will fulfil the requirements of the Jersey Child Care and Early Years Service Requirements.
Michelle Clark
Michelle Clark
Minis and Juniors Chair
Claire White
Club Safeguarding Officer
20/08/24
17/08/24
Approved at M&J Committee: 21/08/24
Adopted and approved by JRFC Committee: 29/08/24
Version control
Version 1
Safeguarding Children Policy
September 2019
Version 2
Updated to latest RFU template – added sections for bullying and tours.
July 2021
Safeguarding Children Policy August 2024
Jersey Rugby Football Club (JRFC) (referred to as ‘the Club’ herein) acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of all children involved in the Club from harm.
The Club confirms that it adheres to the Rugby Football Union’s (RFU) Safeguarding Policy and its procedures, practices and guidelines, and endorses and adopts the Policy Statement contained in that document and any successor policy.
The procedures meet the requirements of the Children and Young People (Jersey) Law 2022 and local Multi-Agency Procedures and Policies.
A child is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any rugby union activity. However, where a 17 year old player is playing in the adult game it is essential that every reasonable precaution is taken to ensure their safety and wellbeing are protected and that in accordance with Regulation 15. Further information about Regulation 15 is available here.
The Key Principles of the RFU Safeguarding Children Policy are that:
The welfare of the child is, and must always be, paramount to any other considerations.
All participants regardless of age, gender, ability or disability, race, faith, culture, size, shape, language or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse or harm.
All allegations or suspicions of abuse, neglect, harm and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly, fairly and appropriately. Categories and signs of abuse are detailed in Appendix 1.
Working in partnership with other organisations, statutory agencies, parents, carers, children and young people is essential for the welfare of children and young people.
Children have a right to expect support, and personal and social development delivered by a person appropriately recruited, vetted and managed in relation to their participation in rugby union, whether they are playing, volunteering or officiating in the community or professional areas of the sport.
The Club recognises that all children have the right to participate in sport in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment whilst at the same time being protected from abuse, neglect, harm or poor practice. JRFC recognises that this is the responsibility of everyone involved, in whatever capacity at the Club.
Bullying of any kind is unacceptable. If bullying does occur, all players, parents/carers, volunteers and coaches should be able to speak up and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. Anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the appropriate Manager, Club Safeguarding Officer, Designated Safeguarding Lead (Rugby Camps) or any Committee member. Further information about bullying can be found here.
The Club will implement and comply with the RFU Code of Conduct and the Codes of Conduct for Coaches, Spectators and Officials as appropriate.
The Club will ensure that it has appropriate risk assessments in place which are available online
The Club will ensure its spectators, parents, members and officials are all aware of and have access to the club ‘Photography and Use of Imagery’ Policy
The Club will follow the RFU Cyber Guidance for communication. Children should not be communicated with individually via email/online messaging directly. In any event where this is may be required a parent/guardian should be copied into any communication.
The Club Safeguarding Officer is Claire White: email safeguarding@jfrc.je tel: 07797749393
If you witness or are aware of an incident where the welfare of a child has been put at risk you must, in the first instance inform the Club Safeguarding Officer. They will then inform the Constituent Body (CB) Safeguarding Manager (within Hampshire RFU) and the RFU Safeguarding Executive and where appropriate the Jersey Children and Families Hub / Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub where Jersey Safeguarding Partnership Board Multi-Agency Procedures will be followed. If an incident involves the Club Safeguarding Officer you should inform the Club Chairman/Minis and Juniors Chair and either the CB Safeguarding Manager or the RFU Safeguarding Team.
All members of the Club who work with children in Regulated Activity must undertake an RFU Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, in accordance with RFU Regulation 21. Prior to the completion of a DBS check, all volunteers must complete the online Introduction to Safeguarding training. JRFC is committed to best practice and will expect all volunteers to complete ‘Play it Safe’ every three years.
Where specialist training or other services (i.e. strengthening and conditioning) are sourced from an external provider, steps will be taken to ensure that any adults working with children in a Regulated Activity have received a DBS check. A DBS checked volunteer from the club will supervise any external activities.
This policy applies equally on tour/ during travel as at the club. When travelling if an adult is solely there supporting their own child they will not need DBS clearance, but they will if they are acting in any official capacity with other children. This would apply to those on bedtime or other supervisory duties. Further information about touring with children can be found here
The Club will ensure that all its members, whether they are coaches, parents, players or officials will comply with the Best Practice Guidance as issued by the RFU. In summary the following are NOT acceptable and will be treated seriously by the club, and may result in disciplinary action being taken by the club, the CB or the RFU:
Working alone with a child.
Consuming alcohol whilst responsible for children.
Providing alcohol to children or allowing its supply.
Smoking/vaping in the presence of children.
Humiliating children.
Inappropriate or unnecessary physical contact with a child.
Participating in, or allowing, contact or physical games with children.
Having an intimate or sexual relationship with any child developed as a result of being in a ‘position of trust’.
Making sexually explicit comments or sharing sexually explicit material.
The Club manages the changing facilities and arranges for them to be supervised by two DBS checked adults of the appropriate gender for the players using the facilities. JRFC ensures that all its coaches, parents, officials and spectators are aware that adults must not change at the same time, using the same facilities as children. Further RFU guidance is available here
The club will ensure that its coaches, team managers are other volunteers will receive the support and training considered appropriate to their position and role. The RFU ‘Encouraging Positive Behaviour’ Policy has been adopted and circulated amongst the Club workforce, both voluntary and paid.
Any events held on the Club’s premises must comply with the Policy and if appropriate a Safeguarding Plan should be discussed and circulated to those affected. Any tours, overseas or domestic, undertaken by JRFC must comply with the relevant RFU Regulations and Guidance relating to tours.
Where Rugby Camps are held by JRFC (activities during school holidays which are not part of Minis & Juniors Age Grade activities), then the following requirements must be met in addition:
JRFC will be registered under the Day Care of Children (Jersey) Law 2002
There will be a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) Myles Landick present at all Camp Sessions who in addition to Play it Safe will fulfil the requirements of the Jersey Child Care and Early Years Service Requirements.
Michelle Clark
Michelle Clark
Minis and Juniors Chair
Claire White
Club Safeguarding Officer
20/08/24
17/08/24
Approved at M&J Committee: 21/08/24
Adopted and approved by JRFC Committee: 29/08/24
Version control
Version 1
Safeguarding Children Policy
September 2019
Version 2
Updated to latest RFU template – added sections for bullying and tours.
July 2021
