Keep safe, keep others safe.
Everyone has the right to live without fear of harm or abuse. Oldham Athletic Football Club and Community Trust recognises it has an active role to play in ensuring that everyone involved with the club and trust has that right and as such responsibility for safety and wellbeing. Through creating an environment and culture of trust and inclusion the community trust is committed to:
- Preventing and reducing the risk of significant harm, abuse or exploitation to children and adults at risk (sometimes referred to as vulnerable adults).
- Responding effectively and appropriately to any incidents and concerns.
- Raising awareness of key messages and procedures to those who may be abused and to potential abusers, and;
- Compliance with the rules of safeguarding set out in this policy.
- This policy also links into our equality and diversity policy.
Our policies and procedures are working alongside guidelines and safeguarding policies from affiliated football, The Football Association, EFL and EFL Trust.
Here at Oldham Athletic Football Club and Community Trust we embrace the following principles:
- Safeguarding practices are incorporate throughout the recruitment process.
- All staff working with children and adults deems to be at risk will be need enhanced criminal record check (DBS) which will be carried out through the FA.
- All staff will receive appropriate training and are required to follow safe working practices including adherence to professional boundaries – an essential part of all relationships with customers.
- All people connected with the Community Trust including partner organisations, will be made aware that there is a Safeguarding Team who can be contacted directly.
All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be treated seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately. Work in partnership with Local Authority Safeguarding Team. All safeguarding policies and procedures cover the sessions such as PL Kicks, FFD, Schools Programme, Projects funded by EFL and EFL Trust and other providers.
The Community Trust have a Whistle Blowing Policy, any adult or young person with concerns can whistle blow by contacting our safeguarding officer. Safeguarding Officer is the first point of contact for all participants, parents or guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child, young person or vulnerable adult. They will liaise directly with the County Welfare Officer and LADO. They will also play a proactive role in increasing an awareness of poor practice and abuse. Oldham Athletic Community Trust have policies and procedures in place for the work they do which can be requested from our Safeguarding Manager wendy.noble@oact.org.uk.
Copy of policy is available upon request.