Safeguarding

Children's swimming lessons in Northampton with Water Wizards Swim School at NSG and NSB

Safeguarding Policies and Procedures

“Safeguarding is the action that is taken to promote the welfare of children and protect them from harm. Safeguarding means: protecting children from abuse and maltreatment. Preventing harm to children’s health or development. Ensuring children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care. Taking action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes.”

NSPCC

Does your swim school have a safeguarding policy? Water Wizards Swim School recognises the responsibility for safeguarding children belongs to ALL those who work directly with, or have responsibility for, children at Water Wizards Swim School. We are committed to providing an environment in which all children and young people participating in activities have a safe and positive experience.

In order to achieve this, Water Wizards Swim School agrees to:

  1. Adopt and implement the policies and procedures in “Wavepower” (the latest Swim England child safeguarding policies and procedures publication) in full. The policies are available for all staff and members to view at any time by clicking here
  2. Recognise that all children participating at Water Wizards Swim School (regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability or disability) have a right to enjoy their involvement in aquatics in a safe environment and be protected from harm.
  3. Ensure that all individuals who work with children at Water Wizards Swim School, whether paid or voluntary, provide a positive, safe and enjoyable experience for children.
  4. Appoint a welfare officer with the necessary skills and training as outlined by Swim England who will take the lead in dealing with all child safeguarding matters raised within the organisation.
  5. Ensure that the welfare officer’s name and contact details are known to all staff, members and parents/guardians of members (our welfare officer is called Sharon and can be contacted on welfare @ swimwithwaterwizards).
  6. Ensure the welfare officer is available to discuss issues of concern on matters of safeguarding and deal with such concerns appropriately and in line with Wavepower.
  7. Ensure that all individuals who work with children at Water Wizards Swim School have undertaken the appropriate training, have had the relevant DBS checks, and adhere to the required practices for safeguarding children as outlined in Wavepower.
  8. Ensure that all individuals who will be working or will work with children at Water Wizards Swim School have been recruited in accordance with Swim England Safe Recruitment Policy.
  9. Ensure that all individuals who work with children in Water Wizards Swim School have the appropriate training, code of conduct and good practice to follow in line with the guidance in Wavepower.
  10. Provide all members of Water Wizards Swim School and parents/guardians of members with the opportunity to raise concerns in a safe and confidential manner if they have a concern about a child’s welfare.
  11. Ensure that all child safeguarding matters, whether they be concerns about child welfare or protection, are dealt with appropriately in accordance with the guidance for reporting and action in Wavepower.
  12. Ensure that confidentiality is maintained appropriately and in line with the best interests of the child.
  13. Ensure all papers relating to child safeguarding matters are held in a safe and secure manner.

Our Welfare Officer

Our voluntary Welfare Officer is called Sharon (contactable on welfare @ swimwithwaterwizards.com) who assists us with the safeguarding and protecting of children and young people at Water Wizards Swim School. Some of Sharon’s duties include:

  • Assisting the swim school to put in place Swim England’s Wavepower policy and procedures.
  • Assist the swim school to implement plans for child protection.
  • Be the first point of contact for swim school staff and volunteers, young people and parents for any issue concerning child welfare, poor practice or potential/alleged abuse.
  • Ensure that all incidents are reported correctly and referred out in accordance with Wavepower guidelines.
  • Ensure that all relevant swim school members, volunteers and staff have a DBS check and the opportunity to access appropriate child protection training.
  • Be aware of and have a note of contact details of the local Social Services, the Police and SE Independent Child Protection Officer (ICPO).
  • Ensure that codes of conduct are in place for swim school staff, volunteers, teachers, swimmers and parents/guardians.
  • Ensure confidentiality is maintained and information is only shared on a ‘need to know’ basis.
  • To raise awareness of good child protection practice with the teachers, coaches and volunteers through the Swim England/NSPCC Child Protection workshop.

Our Welfare Officer takes the lead independently in dealing with all child safeguarding matters, has the authority to contact members directly (if necessary) and can implement sanctions up to and including termination of membership.

Updated 06/2023

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