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HomeSafeguarding
Club Policy

Safeguarding Policy

The club's safeguarding policy and commitment to the welfare of players, families, volunteers and staff.

Last edited: 11th August 2026 @ 03:47
LITHERLAND ATHLETIC JFC
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS AT RISK POLICY
Litherland Athletic JFC is committed to providing a football environment in which children, young people and adults at risk can participate safely, positively and with dignity.

1. OUR SAFEGUARDING COMMITMENT

Litherland Athletic JFC believes that football should be safe, enjoyable and inclusive.

The welfare of children and adults at risk is a priority.

Everyone involved with the Club has a responsibility to contribute to a safe environment and to raise concerns where somebody may be at risk of harm.

We aim to:
  • put the welfare and best interests of children first;
  • provide a safe and inclusive football environment;
  • take concerns seriously;
  • respond appropriately to disclosures;
  • promote appropriate adult behaviour;
  • reduce opportunities for abuse or misconduct;
  • support those who raise genuine concerns; and
  • work with appropriate football and statutory safeguarding organisations when necessary.

2. SCOPE

This Policy applies to safeguarding matters connected with Litherland Athletic JFC and may apply to:
  • players;
  • parents and guardians;
  • managers;
  • coaches;
  • trainers;
  • Club officials;
  • committee members;
  • volunteers;
  • staff;
  • spectators;
  • contractors;
  • visitors; and
  • any other person participating in or connected with Club activities.

For the purpose of this Policy, a child means a person under the age of 18.

The Club also recognises safeguarding responsibilities towards adults who may be at risk of abuse, neglect or exploitation.

3. FOOTBALL SAFEGUARDING FRAMEWORK

The Club seeks to operate in line with applicable safeguarding requirements, football regulations and recognised grassroots-football safeguarding practice.

Where applicable, this includes relevant policies, procedures and requirements issued by:
  • The Football Association;
  • the relevant County Football Association;
  • the relevant league or competition; and
  • statutory safeguarding organisations.

Where a governing-body safeguarding rule imposes a higher or more specific requirement than this website summary, the applicable governing-body requirement should be followed.

4. EQUALITY AND INCLUSION

Safeguarding applies to every child.

No child should receive less protection because of:
  • age;
  • sex;
  • gender;
  • disability;
  • race;
  • ethnic background;
  • religion or belief;
  • sexual orientation;
  • family circumstances;
  • football ability;
  • economic circumstances; or
  • any other protected or personal characteristic.

Children with disabilities or additional communication needs may require additional support to ensure that safeguarding arrangements are accessible to them.

5. CLUB WELFARE / SAFEGUARDING CONTACT

The Club's designated safeguarding contact is:

[INSERT CLUB WELFARE OFFICER NAME]

Email:

[INSERT SAFEGUARDING EMAIL]

Additional contact information:

[INSERT SAFEGUARDING CONTACT DETAILS]

The Club should ensure that players, parents, guardians, coaches and volunteers know how to contact the Club Welfare/Safeguarding Officer.

6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF CLUB LEADERSHIP

The Club's leadership should seek to:
  • promote this Policy;
  • support the Club Welfare/Safeguarding Officer;
  • ensure appropriate safeguarding processes are available;
  • support safer recruitment;
  • respond appropriately to concerns;
  • ensure relevant staff understand expected conduct;
  • maintain appropriate safeguarding records; and
  • refer concerns to the appropriate organisation where required.

7. RESPONSIBILITIES OF MANAGERS, COACHES AND VOLUNTEERS

Adults working with players must:
  • place player welfare before winning or personal interests;
  • maintain appropriate professional boundaries;
  • follow Club and governing-body safeguarding requirements;
  • avoid favouritism or inappropriate relationships;
  • challenge bullying, abuse, discrimination and inappropriate behaviour;
  • report safeguarding concerns promptly;
  • avoid being under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs while responsible for children;
  • use appropriate language;
  • avoid humiliating or degrading coaching practices; and
  • act as positive role models.

8. SAFER RECRUITMENT

The Club should apply appropriate safer-recruitment measures to roles involving children or adults at risk.

Depending on the role and applicable rules, this may include:
  • application or registration information;
  • identity checks;
  • references;
  • role suitability assessment;
  • qualification checks;
  • safeguarding training;
  • appropriate football qualifications; and
  • Disclosure and Barring Service checks where the role is legally eligible and applicable football rules require or permit them.

No individual should be treated as suitable to work with children solely because they are well known to the Club or are related to an existing member.

9. POSITIONS OF TRUST AND PROFESSIONAL BOUNDARIES

Adults working with children must recognise the power and trust attached to their role.

They must not:
  • use their position to exploit a child;
  • seek an inappropriate personal, emotional or sexual relationship with a player;
  • encourage secrecy between an adult and child;
  • use private communication to create an inappropriate relationship;
  • give inappropriate gifts or special treatment; or
  • behave in a way that could reasonably be considered grooming, coercive or exploitative.

Concerns about inappropriate boundaries should be reported.

10. ONE-TO-ONE SITUATIONS

Where possible, adults should avoid unnecessary isolated one-to-one situations with children.

Where one-to-one contact is legitimate and necessary, it should be:
  • observable where reasonably possible;
  • appropriate to the activity;
  • time limited;
  • conducted in a suitable location; and
  • consistent with applicable safeguarding guidance.

One-to-one coaching or welfare conversations should not be used as an opportunity for secrecy or inappropriate contact.

11. PHYSICAL CONTACT

Football may involve legitimate physical contact.

Any contact between an adult and child should be:
  • appropriate to the football activity;
  • necessary;
  • reasonable;
  • not sexualised;
  • not punitive; and
  • sensitive to the child's comfort and individual needs.

Coaches should explain physical coaching interventions where appropriate.

A child should never be forced to accept unnecessary physical contact.

12. CHANGING ROOMS AND TOILETS

Changing-room arrangements involving children require particular care.

Adults should follow applicable Club, facility and FA guidance relating to:
  • adult supervision;
  • privacy;
  • mixed-age groups;
  • mixed-gender teams;
  • photography and mobile devices;
  • adults changing at the same time as children; and
  • children requiring additional assistance.

Photography or video must not take place in changing areas.

13. TRANSPORT

Parents or guardians are normally responsible for making appropriate transport arrangements unless the Club has expressly organised transport.

Where a Club representative transports a child, reasonable safeguarding measures should be applied.

Where possible:
  • journeys should be known to the parent or guardian;
  • unnecessary isolated travel should be avoided;
  • appropriate insurance and vehicle requirements should be satisfied; and
  • arrangements should follow applicable safeguarding guidance.

14. TRIPS, TOURNAMENTS AND OVERNIGHT STAYS

Where the Club organises travel, tournaments or overnight activities involving children, appropriate arrangements should cover:
  • parental information and consent;
  • supervision;
  • emergency contacts;
  • medical information;
  • rooming arrangements;
  • transport;
  • risk assessment;
  • codes of conduct; and
  • safeguarding responsibilities.

Adults should not share sleeping accommodation with children except in exceptional circumstances that are lawful, necessary, properly risk-assessed and consistent with applicable safeguarding guidance.

15. COMMUNICATION WITH CHILDREN

Communication should be football-related, appropriate and transparent.

Where reasonably possible, communication with younger players should take place through or with the knowledge of their parent or guardian.

Adults must not use Club-related communication to:
  • develop secret relationships;
  • send sexual or inappropriate content;
  • bully or intimidate;
  • send excessive private messages unrelated to football; or
  • encourage children to hide communication from parents, guardians or the Club.

Group communication should be used where appropriate.

16. SOCIAL MEDIA AND ONLINE SAFETY

Club-related social media must be used responsibly.

Managers, coaches and staff should maintain appropriate boundaries between personal and Club communication.

Adults should not use social media to:
  • target or groom a child;
  • share confidential safeguarding information;
  • publish humiliating material;
  • engage in discriminatory behaviour;
  • send inappropriate private content; or
  • publicly discuss confidential disciplinary or welfare matters.

The Club may take action in relation to online conduct that creates a safeguarding or welfare risk.

17. PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO

Photography and video can be a positive part of grassroots football.

However, the Club must consider safeguarding, privacy and consent.

We aim to:
  • use appropriate images;
  • avoid images that unnecessarily expose personal information;
  • respect reasonable safeguarding restrictions;
  • avoid identifying private information such as a child's home address;
  • respond appropriately where a child must not be photographed for safeguarding reasons; and
  • follow applicable FA/County FA guidance.

Images must never be taken in toilets, showers or changing rooms.

18. BULLYING

Bullying is not acceptable.

Bullying may be:
  • physical;
  • verbal;
  • emotional;
  • sexual;
  • discriminatory;
  • online;
  • based on exclusion; or
  • connected with football ability, appearance or personal circumstances.

Reports of bullying should be taken seriously and addressed appropriately.

Repeated conduct should not be dismissed as "banter" where it causes harm, humiliation, fear or exclusion.

19. ABUSE AND HARM

Safeguarding concerns may relate to many forms of harm, including:
  • physical abuse;
  • sexual abuse;
  • emotional abuse;
  • neglect;
  • bullying;
  • grooming;
  • online abuse;
  • exploitation;
  • domestic abuse affecting a child;
  • discrimination;
  • self-harm or serious welfare concerns;
  • peer-on-peer abuse;
  • abuse by an adult in a position of trust; or
  • other circumstances creating a risk of significant harm.

A person does not need proof of abuse before raising a genuine safeguarding concern.

20. IF A CHILD MAKES A DISCLOSURE

If a child tells you that they have been harmed or are afraid:
  1. Stay calm.
  2. Listen carefully.
  3. Take the child seriously.
  4. Do not interrogate or repeatedly question them.
  5. Do not promise complete confidentiality.
  6. Explain that you may need to tell somebody whose job is to help keep them safe.
  7. Record the important facts as soon as possible using the child's own words where possible.
  8. Report the concern promptly through the appropriate safeguarding route.

Do not confront the alleged person responsible where doing so could create additional risk, compromise evidence or interfere with a safeguarding investigation.

Club personnel should not conduct their own investigation unless specifically authorised and competent to do so.

21. REPORTING A SAFEGUARDING CONCERN

Safeguarding concerns should be reported to the Club Welfare/Safeguarding Officer as soon as reasonably possible.

The website also provides an Incident Report facility under the Club menu.

The Incident Report facility is an additional reporting route and does not replace urgent safeguarding action.

If somebody is in immediate danger, contact the appropriate emergency or statutory services immediately rather than waiting for a response from the Club.

Depending on the concern, information may need to be referred to:
  • the relevant County FA;
  • The Football Association;
  • children's social care;
  • the police;
  • the Disclosure and Barring Service where applicable;
  • another statutory safeguarding organisation; or
  • another body with a legitimate safeguarding role.

22. CONCERNS ABOUT A MANAGER, COACH, VOLUNTEER OR CLUB OFFICIAL

Any allegation or concern involving an adult working with children must be treated seriously.

The matter should be referred through the appropriate safeguarding process.

The Club should not attempt to resolve a potentially serious safeguarding allegation simply as an internal disagreement.

Where appropriate, an adult may be temporarily removed or restricted from duties while a concern is assessed.

A temporary safeguarding measure is not, by itself, a finding that an allegation is proven.

23. LOW-LEVEL CONCERNS

Behaviour does not have to amount to an allegation of abuse before it can be concerning.

Examples may include:
  • repeated boundary issues;
  • inappropriate private messaging;
  • favouritism;
  • inappropriate jokes;
  • unnecessary physical contact;
  • poor changing-room practice; or
  • behaviour inconsistent with expected coaching standards.

Low-level concerns should be recorded and considered rather than ignored, because patterns of behaviour may be significant.

24. MEDICAL AND WELFARE INFORMATION

The Club may need relevant medical or welfare information to help a player participate safely.

Only information reasonably necessary for the football activity should be collected.

Medical information should be treated as confidential and shared only with people who reasonably need it.

Where urgent medical treatment is required, the welfare of the player takes priority.

25. CONFIDENTIALITY

Safeguarding information is confidential, but confidentiality is not absolute.

Information may need to be shared where necessary to:
  • protect a child or adult at risk;
  • make an appropriate safeguarding referral;
  • comply with the law;
  • cooperate with The FA or County FA safeguarding process;
  • cooperate with statutory authorities; or
  • establish, exercise or defend legal rights.

Information should only be shared with people who have a legitimate reason to receive it.

Safeguarding information must not be discussed as gossip or circulated unnecessarily.

26. SAFEGUARDING RECORDS

Safeguarding records should be:
  • accurate;
  • factual;
  • dated where appropriate;
  • stored securely;
  • available only to authorised people; and
  • retained in accordance with applicable safeguarding and data-protection requirements.

Original wording used by a child or person making a disclosure should be recorded where possible rather than being replaced by assumptions.

27. PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

Parents and guardians play an important role in safeguarding.

They are encouraged to:
  • understand the Club's expectations;
  • provide accurate emergency and medical information;
  • raise welfare concerns;
  • support appropriate behaviour;
  • respect coaches, officials and other children; and
  • tell the Club about relevant safeguarding restrictions or risks where appropriate.

28. LISTENING TO CHILDREN

Children should feel able to speak about worries without fear of punishment for raising a genuine concern.

Where appropriate to age and understanding, the Club should:
  • listen to children's views;
  • explain decisions affecting their welfare;
  • use understandable language; and
  • help children understand who they can speak to if they feel unsafe.

29. WHISTLEBLOWING AND RAISING CONCERNS

A person who genuinely believes safeguarding practice is unsafe should be able to raise that concern.

No person should be victimised for making a genuine safeguarding report in good faith.

Knowingly malicious or deliberately false allegations may be dealt with separately, but uncertainty or inability to prove a genuine concern must not be treated as malicious reporting.

30. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THIS POLICY

Failure to follow safeguarding requirements may result in action including:
  • additional training;
  • formal warning;
  • restriction of duties;
  • temporary suspension from Club activity;
  • removal from a role;
  • termination of volunteering or other Club involvement;
  • referral to a football authority; or
  • referral to a statutory authority.

The action taken will depend on the circumstances and applicable rules.

31. POLICY REVIEW

This Policy should be reviewed regularly and whenever:
  • safeguarding guidance changes;
  • Club arrangements materially change;
  • a serious incident identifies a need for improvement; or
  • The FA, County FA or another relevant authority introduces new requirements.

32. SAFEGUARDING CONTACT

Club Welfare / Safeguarding Officer

Name: [INSERT CLUB WELFARE OFFICER NAME]

Email: [INSERT SAFEGUARDING EMAIL]

Additional contact: [INSERT SAFEGUARDING CONTACT DETAILS]

For non-emergency online reporting, the Club's Incident Report facility can also be found under the Club section of the website.
Every child has the right to enjoy football in a safe environment.

Litherland Athletic JFC · Community Club. Est. 2019
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