Chipstead 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 this.

Chipstead Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer in line with The FA’s role profile and required completion of the Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officers Workshop. 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 (CFA) Welfare 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.

Chipstead Football Clubs Welfare Officers are :

Heather Armstrong 07525 443 802
Susie Sargent

Reporting your concerns about the welfare of a child or young person. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility, if you are worried about a child it is important that you report your concerns – no action is not an option.

If you are worried about a child then you need to report your concerns to the Club Welfare Officer.

If the issue is one of poor practice the Club Welfare Officer will either: • deal with the matter themselves or • seek advice from the CFA Welfare Officer

If the concern is more serious – possible child abuse, where possible, contact the CFA Welfare Officer first, then immediately contact the Police or Children’s Social Care.

If the child needs immediate medical treatment take them to a hospital or call an ambulance and tell them this is a child protection concern. Let your Club Welfare Officer know what action you have taken, they in turn will inform the CFA Welfare Officer.

If at any time you are not able to contact your Club Welfare Officer or the matter is clearly serious then you can either: • contact your CFA Welfare Officer directly • contact The FA Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863 or Safeguarding@TheFA.com • contact the Police or Children’s Social Care • call the NSPCC 24 hour Helpline for advice on 0808 800 5000 or text 88858 or email help@nspcc.org.uk NB – The FA’s Safeguarding Children Policy and Procedures are available via – www.TheFA.com/football

Whistleblowing

Chipstead Football Club supports The FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about an 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. Football Club encourages everyone to know about The FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy and to utilise it if necessary.

Whistle-blowing can be used as an early warning system or when it’s recognised that appropriate actions have not been taken. This approach or policy is adopted in many different walks of life.

It is about revealing and raising concerns over misconduct or malpractice within an organisation or within an independent structure associated with it.

Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague can also use whistle-blowing by calling 0800 169 1863 and asking for The FA's safeguarding team, or via email on safeguarding@TheFA.com. Alternatively you can go direct the Police or Children’s Social Care and report your concerns there, or to the Child Protection in Sport Unit via cpsu@nspcc.org.uk or the NSPCC Helpline via 0808 800 5000 or by emailing help@nspcc.org.uk

Child Welfare Officers

Heather Armstrong & Susie Sargent

Chipstead FC 07525443802.