Responding To Suspicions Or Allegations
Please remember it is not your responsibility to decide whether a child or vulnerable adult is being abused, but we are asking you to act on your concerns. It is your responsibility to ensure that concerns raised are passed on appropriately.
ACTIONS TO TAKE IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS
Always:
- Ensure that the child or vulnerable adult is in a safe place.
- Stay calm.
- Take seriously what you see or what you are told.
- Don’t promise to keep it to yourself.
- Make a note of what you see and don’t delay in passing on the information to the relevant person within your club.
- Maintain confidentiality and only tell those that need to know, but do so as soon as is reasonably possible.
- Only ask questions to clarify what they are telling you and do not ask for any explicit details.
Never:
- Rush into inappropriate action.
- Make promises you cannot keep.
Take sole responsibility – Pass the information on or consult with somebody else as advised above.
Next - Dealing With Alleged Abuse
- Introduction
- The Principles of Safeguarding
- The ‘FIVE STEP’ Plan for Clubs
- Guide on Club Policy – Generic Template
- Selection Of Club Members Working Directly With Children Or Vulnerable Adults
- Role Of The Club Welfare Officer
- Instructors’ Responsibilities
- Code Of Ethics And Conduct
- A Guide To Good Safeguarding Practice
- Guidelines for Parents, Guardians and Carers
- The Use Of Photographs And Images Of Children
- Responding To Suspicions Or Allegations
- Dealing With Alleged Abuse
- Dealing With Poor Practice
- Useful Contacts For Clubs
- Appendix A – Generic Template For Club Rules
- Appendix B – What Is Abuse?
- Appendix C – BMFA Incident Reporting Form