Safeguarding Amendment: Covid-19
Our Responsibility
This amendment should be read in conjunction with the DCCT Safeguarding Policy, Staff Code of Conduct, and Participant Behaviour Policy.
Trust statement:
The way in which Derby County Community Trust is currently operating in response to coronavirus (COVID-19) is fundamentally different to business as usual, however, a number of our important safeguarding principles remain the same:
- With regard to safeguarding, the best interests of children and Vulnerable Adults will always continue to come first
- If anyone has a safeguarding concern about any child or Vulnerable Adult connected to the Trust they should continue to act and act immediately
- A Designated Safeguarding Officer or Deputy will always be available
- Unsuitable people are not allowed to enter the Club workforce and/or gain access to children or Vulnerable Adults
- Children continue to be protected when they are online
Club Safeguarding Contacts:
During the Covid-19 lockdown period the Safeguarding contacts for the Club are as follows:
Designated Safeguarding Officer
Tony Brittan
07912 268915
[email protected]
Senior Safeguarding Lead
Paul Newman
07890 391695
[email protected]
Remember that in an emergency or where there is risk to life you should contact the police immediately.
Other Safeguarding contacts in football or Football Trusts:
Whilst any safeguarding concern should be raised with the Trust Safeguarding contacts in the first instance, we recognise that this may not always be possible or appropriate. Below are the contact details for footballing partners with whom safeguarding concerns in relation to the Club can be discussed:
The English Football League Trust Safeguarding Team
Tel: 01772 325800
Email: [email protected]
If concerns regard a person in employed in football's conduct towards a child:
The FA Safeguarding Team
Tel: 0800 169 1863
Email: [email protected]
Procedures and Safety Measures for online learning:
The Trust expects all staff and participants to adhere to the relevant policy boundaries these must be maintained at all times. We have put extra measures in place to reduce the risks in relation to online learning which include:
- All contact online being observable and interruptible
- Staff, children and vulnerable adults must wear suitable clothing as should anyone else in the household
- Any computers being used should be in appropriate areas, for example not in bedrooms and the background should not be blurred
- Online teaching will not be carried out on a one to one basis and will be done in a group setting with several players present,
- Another adult will be invited to be present in the room when working online with children
- All communication provided will have an educational purpose
- Language must be professional and appropriate, including any family members in the background
- The Trust will record online teaching/instruction sessions. Players and parents will be informed that sessions are being recorded in advance of doing so.
- All sessions provided will be via Wi-Fi (where possible)
Mental Health and Wellbeing:
Negative experiences and distressing life events, such as the current circumstances, can affect the mental health of us all. Players who are struggling under the current circumstances should contact the Club safeguarding staff as outlined above. Support can also be accessed through a number of national organisations including:
The Samaritans Tel: 116 123 https://www.samaritans.org
ChildLine: Tel: 0800 1111 https://www.childline.org.uk
NSPCC: Tel: 0808 800 5000 https://www.nspcc.org.uk
Mind: Tel: 0300 123 3393 https://www.mind.org.uk
PFA: Tel: 07500 000 777 https://www.thepfa.com/wellbeing
Online safety:
It is important that internet safety and security messages are re-enforced during this time when we are expecting young people to be online more often. They may also be increasing their usage on devices during their own free time during this lockdown period. It is important that both participants and parents are aware of the help and support available should they be concerned about something they have seen or experienced online. These include:
UK Safer Internet Centre https://reportharmfulcontent.com/
CEOP https://www.ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
Internet Matters https://www.internetmatters.org/
NetAware https://www.net-aware.org.uk/
ParentInfo https://parentinfo.org/
ThinkuKnow https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/