Safeguarding Policy

 Our Safeguarding is fully compliant with the FA's values and policies. below is the standard we adhere too with the procedures and measures used to maintain the safety and well being of our players and coaches.

1.  Maestros Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care and is committed to working to provide a safe environment for all members. A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club football activity. We subscribe to The Football Association’s (The FA) Safeguarding Children – Policy and Procedures and endorse and adopt the Policy Statement contained in that document.
2. The key principles of The FA Safeguarding Children Policy are that: • the child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration; • all children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, race, sexual orientation, faith or belief; • all suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately; • working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents/carers  is essential. We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse. 
 
Maestros Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult  involved in our club.
3.  Maestros Football Club has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that The Football Association’s Safeguarding Children Regulations (see The FA Handbook) applies to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This means whether you are a volunteer, match official, helper on club tours, football coach, club official or medical staff.
4. We endorse and adopt The FA’s Responsible Recruitment guidelines for recruiting volunteers and we will: • specify what the role is and what tasks it involves; • request identification documents; • as a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible interview people before appointing them ask for and follow up with two references before appointing someone; • where eligible require an FA accepted Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check in line with current FA policy and regulations.

All current   
 
Maestros Football Club members working in eligible roles, with children and young people – such as managers and coaches are required to hold an in-date FA accepted Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check as part of responsible recruitment practice1. If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of  
 
Maestros Football Club guidance will be sought from The Football Association. It is noted and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via the DBS Check process and that all suitability decisions will be made in accordance with legislation and in the best interests of children and young people.
It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football. 5.  Football Club supports The FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about a adult in a position of trust with football can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting The FA Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863, by writing to The FA Case Manager at The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London SW1P 9EQ, by emailing Safeguarding@TheFA. com or alternatively by going direct to the Police, Children’s Social Care or the NSPCC.
 
Maestros Football Club encourages everyone to know about The FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy and to utilise it if necessary.
6. Maestros Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer in line with The FA’srole profile and required completion of the Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officers Workshop. The post holder will be involved with Welfare Officer training provided by The FA and/or County FA. The Club Welfare Officer is the first point of contact for all club members regarding concerns about the welfare of any child or young person. The Club Welfare Officer will liaise directly with the County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. They will also play a proactive role in increasing awareness of Respect, poor practice and abuse amongst club members. 7. We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. If bullying does occur, all players or parents/carers should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the Club Welfare Officer in cases of serious bullying the County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer may be contacted.
8. Respect codes of conduct for players, parents/carers, spectators, officials and coaches have been implemented by  
 
Maestros Football Club. In order to validate these Respect codes of conduct the club has clear actions it will take regarding repeated or serious misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented by the County FA in more serious circumstances.
1 The FA’s policy on DBS Checks is subject to change. DBS Check information and guidance can be found at TheFA.com/ football-rules-governance/safeguarding/ section-3-safer-recruitment-and-dbschecks
FOOTBALL CLUB SAFEGUARDING  CHILDREN POLICY cont’d



Anti Bullying Policy

STATEMENT OF INTENT We are committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all our members, so they can participate in football in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable a Maestros Football Club. If bullying does occur, all club members and parents/carers should be able to tell their club about this and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively by the club.  We are a TELLING club. This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the Club Welfare Office or any committee member. Maestros Football Club is committed to playing its part to teach players to treat each other with respect. WHAT IS BULLYING? Bullying is the repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. It can happen face-to-face or through cyberspace, and comes in many different forms: Verbal: Name calling, persistent teasing, mocking, taunting and threats. Physical: Any form of physical violence, intimidating behaviour, theft or the intentional damage of possessions. This includes hitting, kicking and pushing. Emotional: Excluding, tormenting, ridiculing, humiliation, setting people up and spreading rumours. Cyberbullying: The misuse of digital technologies or communications to bully a person or a group, typically through messages or actions that are threatening and/or intended to cause offence, anxiety or humiliation. Examples of cyberbullying include: • Abusive comments, rumours, gossip and threats made using digital communications and/ or technologies - this includes internet trolling. • Sharing pictures, videos or personal information without the consent of the owner and with the intent to cause harm or humiliation. 

• Hacking into someone's email, phone or online profiles to extract and share personal information, or to send hurtful content while posing as that person. • Creating dedicated websites that intend to harm, make fun of someone or spread malicious rumours. • Pressurising someone to do something they do not want to such as sending a sexually explicit image. Maestros Football Club commits to ensure are being used appropriately and any online bullying will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately in line with procedures detailed in this policy. People can be targeted for any reason, but people who bully others often target 'difference' and bullying can be a form of wider discrimination. For example, bullying behaviour may be: • Racist: Targeted at ethnicity, skin colour, and language, religious or cultural practices. • Homophobic, biphobic and/or transphobic: Targeted at actual or perceived sexuality and/or gender. • Sexual and/or sexist: Sexual and/or sexist behaviour that is intended to cause offence, humiliation or intimidation. • Disablist: Targeted at an impairment or special educational need. • Targeting any 'difference': Bullying behaviour can also be targeted at 'looks', weight and height, colour of hair, wearing glasses or braces, acne, psoriasis and eczema, scars, marks or conditions of the face or body, body odour, poverty, gifts and talents or family situation (e.g. divorce, bereavement, homelessness). Everybody has the right to be treated with respect and no one deserves to be a victim  of bullying. Individuals who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving.                                                                   Football Club recognises its responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying.
                                    FOOTBALL CLUB’S ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

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