Safeguarding / Welfare Officer Team Contact: phoenixsportsacademyuk+
Phoenix Sports Academy acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person entrusted to its care, across all the sports we run. A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 taking part in any Academy activity.
Where a specific sport we run has its own National Governing Body (such as The FA for football, the RFU for rugby, or the ECB for cricket), we also subscribe to and endorse that body's own safeguarding policy and procedures for sessions in that sport. This policy sets out our own Academy-wide commitment, which applies whatever sport a child is taking part in.
1. Key Principles
Our safeguarding practice is built on the following principles:
- A child's welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration.
- All children and young people have the 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, young people and their parents/carers.
- Every child who takes part in a Phoenix Sports Academy activity should be able to do so in an enjoyable and safe environment, protected from poor practice and abuse.
- Safeguarding is the responsibility of every adult involved with the Academy — coach, volunteer, helper or trustee — whether paid or unpaid.
- Phoenix Sports Academy has a role in protecting children from physical, sexual or emotional harm, and from neglect or bullying.
2. Medical Conditions
By registering a child with Phoenix Sports Academy, or booking a taster session, a parent or guardian agrees to tell us about any pre-existing medical conditions and any medication their child takes. It is the parent or guardian's responsibility to keep this information up to date, and to assess whether a session is suitable for their child on any given day. Full detail on how we use and protect this medical information is set out in our Privacy Notice.
3. Responsible Recruitment
Anyone joining Phoenix Sports Academy in a coaching, staffing or volunteer capacity that involves contact with children goes through a responsible recruitment process, which includes:
- A clear description of the role and what it involves
- A request for identification documents
- A meeting or interview with the applicant
- At least two references, followed up before appointment
- Where eligible for the role, a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check with barring list check, in line with the relevant National Governing Body's requirements
- Confirmation that coaching staff hold an in-date safeguarding certificate
All Academy staff and volunteers working directly with children in an eligible role are required to hold an in-date DBS check with barring list check. If a concern is ever raised about the appropriateness of someone already involved with, or applying to join, the Academy, we will seek guidance from the relevant National Governing Body and/or statutory safeguarding agencies, and suitability decisions will always be made in the best interests of children and young people.
4. Our Welfare Officer
Phoenix Sports Academy has a designated Welfare Officer, who is the first point of contact for any player, parent or Academy member with a concern about the welfare of a child or young person. Our Welfare Officer has completed relevant safeguarding training and will liaise with the appropriate National Governing Body's welfare team and statutory agencies where needed.
You can reach our Welfare Officer at: phoenixsportsacademyuk+
5. Recognising and Reporting a Concern
If you're worried about a child's welfare — whether it involves someone connected with the Academy or not — please don't wait, and please don't investigate it yourself. You can:
- Speak to our Welfare Officer directly, using the contact details above
- Speak to any coach or member of Academy staff you trust, who will pass the concern on
- Contact the NSPCC Helpline, or the police, if you believe a child is in immediate danger
- Contact your Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) if the concern relates to an adult working with children
Every concern, however small it seems, will be taken seriously, recorded, and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
6. Whistleblowing
Phoenix Sports Academy supports the principle of whistleblowing. Any adult, young person or child with a concern about an adult in a position of trust within the Academy can raise it confidentially with our Welfare Officer, with the relevant National Governing Body's safeguarding team, or directly with the police, children's social care or the NSPCC. No one will be penalised for raising a genuine concern in good faith.
7. Bullying
We recognise bullying — including online bullying — as a form of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at Phoenix Sports Academy. Where it does occur, players and parents should feel confident that telling us will lead to it being dealt with promptly, in line with our Code of Conduct.
8. Photography and Video
We take care over how images and video of children are captured and used, in line with the consent parents and guardians give us at registration. Full detail is set out in our Privacy Notice, including how to withdraw consent at any time.
9. Codes of Conduct
To support this policy, we have Codes of Conduct for players, parents/spectators, and coaches/staff, which set clear expectations for behaviour and the actions we may take — including sanctions — where these are not followed. See our Code of Conduct for full details.
10. Training and Review
We are committed to making sure our coaches and volunteers receive appropriate safeguarding training and refresh it regularly. This policy will be reviewed at least annually, and sooner if there is a change in law, guidance, or our own practice.