Next Pro Elites recognises its responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of every child and young person who participates in our football programmes.
We are committed to providing a safe, supportive, inclusive and enjoyable environment in which every child and young person can participate in football free from abuse, neglect, bullying, discrimination and poor practice.
For the purposes of this policy, a child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 participating in a Next Pro Elites football activity.
The welfare of children and young people is at the heart of everything we do. All coaches, staff, volunteers and adults involved with Next Pro Elites have a responsibility to contribute to a safe environment.
Next Pro Elites will follow applicable safeguarding requirements, legislation and recognised football safeguarding guidance, including relevant guidance issued by The Football Association (The FA) where applicable.
Before booking or attending an initial taster session, parents or guardians must provide Next Pro Elites with details of any relevant pre-existing medical conditions, allergies, injuries, disabilities, additional needs or medication that their child may have.
It is the responsibility of the parent or guardian to ensure that all medical information provided to Next Pro Elites is accurate and kept up to date.
Parents and guardians should consider whether their child is medically and physically suitable to participate in the relevant football session and must inform the coaching team of any information that could affect the child’s safety or participation.
Where necessary, Next Pro Elites may request additional information or clarification before allowing a player to participate.
Next Pro Elites is committed to the following safeguarding principles:
Next Pro Elites is committed to protecting children and young people from all forms of abuse and inappropriate behaviour, including:
Any concern regarding the welfare or safety of a child will be treated seriously and handled in accordance with our safeguarding procedures.
Next Pro Elites is committed to using responsible recruitment practices when appointing coaches, staff and volunteers who may work with children and young people.
Depending on the role, our recruitment procedures may include:
All appointments will be subject to the appropriate checks and suitability requirements for the role.
Next Pro Elites reserves the right to prevent an individual from working with children where safeguarding concerns or suitability issues arise.
Where a role is eligible for a DBS check, Next Pro Elites will follow the applicable DBS requirements and relevant safeguarding guidance.
Where appropriate, individuals working directly with children may be required to hold a suitable and current DBS clearance and relevant safeguarding training.
DBS checks are one part of our safeguarding procedures and do not replace appropriate recruitment, supervision, training and ongoing monitoring.
Where concerns arise regarding the suitability of an individual working with children, Next Pro Elites will take appropriate action and may seek guidance from relevant safeguarding authorities or football governing bodies.
Anyone involved with Next Pro Elites who has a concern about the welfare or safety of a child or young person should report the concern as soon as possible through the appropriate safeguarding channel.
Concerns may relate to:
All concerns will be treated sensitively and confidentially, subject to the need to share information where necessary to protect a child or comply with legal or safeguarding requirements.
Where appropriate, concerns may be referred to children’s social care, the police, the relevant football safeguarding authority or another appropriate safeguarding organisation.
Next Pro Elites will appoint an appropriately responsible person to oversee safeguarding matters within the organisation.
The Safeguarding Lead will act as a key point of contact for safeguarding concerns and will help ensure that appropriate safeguarding procedures are followed.
The Safeguarding Lead will:
The identity and contact details of the current Safeguarding Lead should be made available to parents, guardians, players and staff.
Next Pro Elites has a zero-tolerance approach to bullying.
Bullying may include physical, verbal, emotional, social or online behaviour intended to intimidate, threaten, isolate, humiliate or harm another person.
Bullying based on characteristics such as age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, religion, belief, sexual orientation or background will not be tolerated.
Players and parents/guardians are encouraged to report concerns about bullying to a coach or the Next Pro Elites Safeguarding Lead.
Reports will be taken seriously and investigated appropriately.
Where bullying is found to have occurred, Next Pro Elites may take appropriate action, which could include warnings, meetings with parents/guardians, behavioural measures, suspension or removal from the programme depending on the circumstances.
Next Pro Elites expects players, parents/guardians, coaches, staff and volunteers to follow our relevant Codes of Conduct.
These codes are designed to promote:
Serious or repeated breaches of our Codes of Conduct may result in appropriate action, including suspension or termination of participation.
Adults working with children at Next Pro Elites are expected to maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.
Coaches and staff must:
Any concern regarding an adult in a position of trust will be taken seriously and dealt with in accordance with appropriate safeguarding procedures.
Next Pro Elites supports the principle of whistleblowing.
Any player, parent, guardian, coach, volunteer, staff member or other individual who has a genuine concern about the behaviour of an adult in a position of trust should feel able to report that concern without fear of unfair treatment or retaliation.
Concerns can be raised directly with the Next Pro Elites Safeguarding Lead or, where appropriate, with relevant external safeguarding authorities, children’s social care or the police.
Where there is an immediate risk of harm to a child, the appropriate emergency or statutory services should be contacted without delay
Next Pro Elites recognises the importance of protecting children and young people when using digital communication.
Coaches and staff must maintain appropriate professional boundaries when communicating with players.
Where communication with players is necessary, appropriate channels and safeguarding procedures should be used.
Parents and guardians are encouraged to speak to Next Pro Elites if they have concerns regarding online communication, social media contact or digital behaviour involving a coach, player or other member of the Next Pro Elites community.
Photography and video may be taken during Next Pro Elites activities for coaching, promotional or marketing purposes where appropriate consent and data protection requirements have been satisfied.
Parents and guardians will be informed of the relevant arrangements and may raise concerns regarding the use of images of their child.
Images and recordings must be handled responsibly and must not be used in a manner that compromises the safety, dignity or welfare of a child.
Next Pro Elites will handle safeguarding information sensitively and appropriately.
Information relating to a safeguarding concern will only be shared with those who need to know in order to safeguard a child, support an investigation or comply with legal requirements.
Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where information needs to be shared to protect a child or prevent harm.
Safeguarding records will be maintained securely and handled in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.
Next Pro Elites will regularly review this Health & Safeguarding Policy to ensure that it remains appropriate, effective and consistent with applicable legislation and recognised safeguarding guidance.
Updates may be made where there are changes to legislation, safeguarding standards, football regulations or our internal procedures.
The latest version of this policy will be made available to parents, guardians, players, coaches and staff.
Next Pro Elites is committed to creating a football environment where every child feels safe, respected, included and able to enjoy the game.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
We encourage all players, parents, guardians, coaches, staff and volunteers to speak up if they have a concern about the welfare or safety of a child.
Next Pro Elites will always prioritise the welfare and best interests of children and young people participating in our programmes.
