SAFEGUARDING

The Jump Rope Company Ltd. (the “Company”) is a company run for the following purpose: jump rope / skipping rope manufacturer & education provider
The Company is based at:
Studio 16, Sutherland Institute
Lightwood Road
Longton, Staffordshire, ST3 4HY
Company Number: 13266881

The Company has adopted this safeguarding children policy and expects every adult working or helping for the Company to support it and comply with it. Consequently this policy shall apply to all staff, managers, trustees, directors, volunteers, students or anyone working on behalf of the Company.

PURPOSE OF THIS POLICY

This policy is intended to protect children who receive any service from us, including children of adults who receive services from us. Under this policy, the term “children” shall mean any person who is under eighteen years of age.
The Company believes that no child or young person should experience abuse or harm and is committed to the protection of children and young people. This policy provides guidance and overarching principles to those who represent us as volunteers or staff, to guide our approach to child protection and safeguarding.

THE RISKS TO CHILDREN

Children can be vulnerable to different forms of abuse and harm. It is important to recognise that abuse and harm of children can cover a wide range of circumstances and behaviours. For example, children can be at risk of:

  • physical or emotional abuse

  • neglect

  • sexual abuse

  • female genital mutilation (FGM)

  • grooming and exploitation

  • trafficking and modern slavery

  • exposure to or infliction of domestic abuse

  • bullying or cyber-bullying

  • exposure to other inappropriate content or behaviour, such as violence, criminal behaviour, or sharing of harmful material online

  • self-harm

  • physical harm when engaging with activities without adequate supervision

The causal factors of any such harm and/or abuse can also be wide-ranging. For example, children can be placed at risk by family members, other children, or members of the community.

SAFEGUARDING PRINCIPLES

Safeguarding children from harm and abuse is an essential responsibility for our Company. We are committed to ensuring that any child who comes into contact with our services is properly safeguarded.
Every person under this policy must ensure that they play an active role in ensuring that children are properly safeguarded. Every person under this policy holds responsibility for:

  • remaining alert and aware of possible safeguarding risks to children

  • guarding children against harmful environments with appropriate actions (for example, adequate supervision or ensuring safe environments)

  • taking positive steps to maintain the safety and wellbeing of children engaging with us

  • reporting concerns expeditiously and appropriately, in line with child-protection procedures

  • understanding the duty to report specific concerns (and understanding how this interplays with confidentiality)

  • challenging any inappropriate or harmful behaviour of any other adult and reporting this accordingly

  • acting appropriately in the presence of children

  • not taking any inappropriate risks

  • not smoking, drinking alcohol or taking any form of illicit substances in the presence of children

  • upholding inclusion and fairness, safeguarding every child regardless of gender, race, disability, religion, sexual orientation or other characteristic

  • promoting safe online behaviour and ensuring digital communications with children are professional and appropriate

SAFEGUARDING LEADS

The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for the Company is:
Christopher James Walker
A Deputy DSL will be appointed to ensure cover is available at all times, and details of that role will be communicated to all staff and volunteers.

SAFER RECRUITMENT

All recruitment involving contact with children will follow safer recruitment practices. This includes: verifying identity, obtaining references, confirming suitability to work with children, and undertaking appropriate checks (such as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) or equivalent) before engagement.

TRAINING & POLICY REVIEW

  • This safeguarding policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if national guidance or our circumstances change.

  • All staff, volunteers, and those working on behalf of the Company will receive appropriate safeguarding training at induction and regular refresher training (at least every three years, with recommended annual refreshers) to ensure awareness of current risks and good practice.

CONFIDENTIALITY AND DATA PROTECTION

All personal information processed in relation to children shall be processed and stored in accordance with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and our data-protection privacy policy, which can be located at: www.thejumpropecoachchris.com/privacy
We ensure secure storage of records, restricted access, and clear retention and disposal procedures.

RESPONDING TO A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN

Where a child is at immediate risk of serious harm, any adult present should call 999. Thereafter, the available DSL (or Deputy) should be contacted as soon as is reasonably practicable.
Where there is a safeguarding concern but no immediate risk of serious harm, the adult who has heard or witnessed this concern should consult with the DSL as soon as practicable and no later than the end of the same working day.
Where any child makes a disclosure relating to harm or abuse to an adult, it is important for that adult to:

  • listen calmly and carefully, showing that their views are taken seriously

  • provide an appropriate and honest level of reassurance

  • avoid interrogating children and asking probing, intrusive and/or leading questions

  • avoid making false promises regarding confidentiality (because any concern of abuse/harm must be shared with the DSL and may need referral)

  • make a confidential written record of the discussion during or immediately afterwards. The record should include key details of the disclosure (times, dates, places, people concerned). Audio and video recordings of children making disclosures should be avoided.

  • refer all relevant information to the DSL as soon as practicable afterwards, and by no later than the end of the day

Upon receipt of any safeguarding concern, the DSL (or Deputy) shall consult with any other relevant persons and will make any appropriate referrals to the relevant authorities (for example the local authority children’s social care or the Police). This may include the three statutory safeguarding partners as set out in Multi‑Agency Safeguarding Arrangements (local authority, integrated care board, police) in accordance with Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. GOV.UK+1

REPORTING CONCERNS ABOUT OTHER ADULTS

Where any person has a concern regarding the conduct of an adult connected to the Company, which poses or may pose a safeguarding risk to children (such as: harming a child physically or emotionally; exposing a child to behaviour which may cause harm; engaging in criminal activity concerning a child) this must be raised in the first instance with the DSL (or Deputy) so that the next appropriate steps may be agreed and actioned.

We recognise that there may be circumstances where a person may need to report a matter that has taken place outside of their engagement with the Company. Usually, steps following a safeguarding referral in respect of an individual connected to the Company will include either:

  • further initial enquiries

  • escalation to the applicable Local Authority Children’s Services or the Police for investigation

  • instigation of any appropriate disciplinary or formal investigative process and suspension of any person concerned within the Company

  • a referral to the DBS, Disclosure Scotland (if applicable) or Access Northern Ireland or any other relevant regulatory body

Any person within the Company against whom an allegation is made shall be informed properly in a formal meeting of the particulars of the allegations and the relevant next steps which shall be taken. Such meeting should ordinarily be held by the DSL (or Deputy) once any immediate protective steps required by authorities have been taken. On certain occasions, such a meeting may not be convened until approved by relevant authorities (such as the Police or local children’s social care).
Any person from within the Company who has allegations made against them shall be treated fairly. All enquiries, investigations and decisions taken shall be just and fair, with the safety of any child at the heart of the process.
Any person within the Company who makes an allegation against another person within the Company shall be listened to, taken seriously and treated fairly and justly throughout the process.

If an individual feels unable to raise a concern internally, they may contact the NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline on 0800 028 0285 or email help@nspcc.org.uk.

DBS CHECKS

Under the appropriate legislation, checks by the DBS (or equivalent) should be undertaken wherever required. The groups of people we will usually undertake checks with the DBS, Access Northern Ireland, and Disclosure Scotland (whichever is applicable) in relation to are: workshop coaches / instructors.
Where we deem it is necessary and appropriate to remove any individual from a position of regulated activity, we will also be obliged to make a referral to the relevant body (DBS, etc).

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AT EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES

Responsibilities and Planning
Typically, we may arrange the following types of events and/or activities which could involve children:

  • paid workshops

  • after-school clubs

  • public meet-ups

  • organised competitions

The DSL (or Deputy) holds ultimate responsibility for the safeguarding aspects of these events and activities. They may appoint a delegate for specific responsibilities for a given occasion. Although the DSL and any appointed delegates will hold ultimate responsibility, all individuals under this policy must also play an active role in ensuring the safety of children at all times.

Appropriate background checking shall be undertaken for any adult engaged by us in connection with an event or activity involving children, wherever required by law (see the relevant section above). For certain types of events or activities, we may issue an additional code of conduct, a specific policy, or other specific requirements relevant for that occasion. Any such additional documentation will be made available to all those concerned (staff, parents/guardians etc.) in advance.

Venues
Any events or activities held by us will typically take place at: schools, outdoor venues, leisure centres, gyms. We will have carried out a health and safety risk assessment for the location in reference to its safety and suitability for children. Where any event is held at another location we shall also carry out a risk assessment. The fire-safety procedure at the location will be confirmed with the venue management/administration.

First Aid
Any accident or injury concerning a child should be brought to the attention of the nearest first-aider and thereafter formally reported to the DSL (or Deputy). Where children attend alongside a parent or guardian, the parent/guardian should ensure that the children are properly supervised.

MANAGING BEHAVIOUR OF CHILDREN GENERALLY

Whenever any adult engaged by us is faced with challenging or inappropriate behaviour from a child or conflict between children, they must:

  • treat each child fairly and equally

  • approach the situation in a calm and neutral manner

  • only ever use physical restraint/intervention in order to protect the immediate safety of a person (for example, to prevent injury or harm, either to the child or others)

  • wherever physical restraint or intervention is justified, the amount of force used must be kept to the absolute minimum taking into account the risk posed

  • make a written record of the incident and ensure this is reported appropriately to the DSL (or Deputy)

MANAGING RISKS POSED BY OTHER CHILDREN

It is important for all adults engaged by us to recognise that children can face harm from their peers. This can commonly take the form of bullying. Bullying can be defined as any behaviour which is:

  • repeated; and

  • has the intention of hurting somebody either physically or emotionally

Bullying can sometimes be motivated by prejudice based on certain groups (for example gender, race, religion or sexual orientation). Bullying can often include: physical harm perpetrated against another child; name-calling and threats; cyber-bullying (threats and abusive comments made via technology).
Any instance of bullying or concern relating to possible bullying between children at any event or activities arranged by us will usually be dealt with by us in the first instance as follows:

  • all children and any relevant staff shall be spoken to individually to ascertain the facts

  • where appropriate, the child(ren) will receive a first warning and relevant support/education

  • all information received by the Company will be communicated to a relevant teacher or person responsible for the child or children (if the event is held in a school-setting)
    Where behaviour amounting to bullying continues following this, the following steps will be taken:

  • any child or children found to be responsible for persistent behaviour amounting to bullying of another child shall be banned from attending the workshops/events
    All steps in relation to prevention or management of bullying should be taken in consultation with the DSL (or Deputy).

PHOTOGRAPHY

Our Photographs
On some occasions, we may take photographs featuring children. We recognise that photography of children carries risks, such as: the potential for images to be re-used, shared or adapted in a damaging or inappropriate manner; the general risk of sharing images and the impact this could have on a child’s public image as they grow older.
In view of these risks, we will:

  • always ask for written permission from a child and their parent/guardian before taking and sharing any image of them

  • ensure that a child and their parent/guardian are properly informed how an image will be used and shared

  • ensure that a child’s identity is protected as far as is possible in any published material

  • ask that parents, guardians, children and any other person connected to them who may wish to share any of our published images which feature other children refrain from doing so unless they have the permission of the other children and their parent/guardian

  • always store photographs in accordance with our data-protection policy

Members of the Public
We ask that any members of the public attending our premises, events or activities do not take photographs of children without prior permission and without ensuring safeguarding protection in place.

DECLARATION

This policy shall be reviewed every 12 months or sooner if national guidance changes, and a copy of this policy can be downloaded here.