Resources & Guidance / Safeguarding and child protection

SAFEGUARDING AND CHILD PROTECTION

If you want to report a concern or you need help or advice, please contact our Lead Safeguarding & Equality Officer, Kerry Skidmore:


Phone: 07908 683984  Email: childprotection@canoewales.com


Canoe Wales believes all children and young people have a right to participate in our sport in a safe and supportive environment - and we take our duty of care very seriously. 


We work closely with British Canoeing, the other National Associations and the NSPCC's Child Protection in Sport Unit to implement policies and procedures to promote safeguarding and to investigate and act upon any incidents or concerns that are reported to us. 


FIND OUT MORE

How to report a concern

You should follow this procedure whether a concern or allegation has been disclosed to you by someone else, something you have witnessed or something that has been worrying you.


If you or someone else needs immediate medical attention or you or someone else is at risk of immediate harm or danger, call emergency services for the police or ambulance (999 or 112) immediately!


If the concern is about you:

 

  • Report your concern to your Club Safeguarding Officer

 

OR

 

  • Tell someone you trust
  • Call (24-hour helpline) Childline 0800 1111 or NSPCC 0808 800 5000 (keep trying if you can’t get through straight away)
  • Call the Canoe Wales Safeguarding Lead on 07908 683984* or email childprotection@canoewales.com

 

*(If calling out of office hours, leave a message and your call will be responded to as soon as possible the next working day.)


If you are a Club Safeguarding Officer, or if you have a concern about someone else:


Remember : It is not your responsibility to investigate a concern or allegation, or to decide whether someone is being abused. It is your responsibility to pass the information you have on to the appropriate person or organisation.

 

 

ENSURE YOU KEEP A RECORD OF YOUR CONCERN AND HOW YOU REPORTED IT. Try to include the date, time and place, what happened, the name of anyone who may have seen what happened and who you reported it to and when. Try to note as much detail as you remember.


*If calling out of office hours, leave a message and your call will be responded to as soon as possible the next working day.

** How to make a referral if the Canoe Wales Safeguarding Lead is unavailable to make the referral for you:

 

  • For all referrals, it is important that you complete the Reporting Concerns Form and send this to the Canoe Wales Safeguarding Lead because the agency you have contacted may not immediately contact Canoe Wales.
  • Children's Social Care:  Do a Google search for the name of your local authority and the phrase 'concerned about a child'. This should bring up the council's website for children's social care with a phone number and email address for their office. Call the number and ask the social worker for instructions on how they would like you to make a referral (this is different in each local authority).
  • Adult Social Care:  As above for Children' Social Care, but search for the phrase 'concerned about an adult' instead. This should bring up the council's website for adult social care.
  • Police : Call 101. You will be automatically redirected to your local police force.

 

Policies, Guidance and Templates

Safeguarding Training

A range of safeguarding training courses and learning opportunities are available, from basic awareness to specialist training. These courses are designed to enable staff, coaches and volunteers in various roles to increase their knowledge and skills in order to safeguard children effectively.

You can find all our Safeguarding policies, guidance and key templates here. Please note that many of our policies and guidance notes have been developed jointly with British Canoeing and the other National Associations to ensure consistency in safeguarding practice across the UK.


Policies


Guidance


Templates


Posters and flyers


Additional Resources


Introductory Training

Incidental or no contact with children


British Canoeing Introduction to Safeguarding eLearning



 

  • Duration: 30 minutes
  • Cost: £20





Suitable for coaches, volunteers and staff who do not work regularly or alone with children.


This eLearning covers a basic understanding of safeguarding in paddlesport. It is designed only as an introduction and is suitable for those who have limited interaction with children and vulnerable adults.


CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE COURSE

Basic Training

Regular contact with children


UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children (SPC)



  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Cost: £42
  • Pre-requisite for TTL training

 


Suitable for coaches, volunteers, staff and safeguarding officers who work regularly or alone with children.


This workshop will help raise your awareness of the tell-tale signs of abuse and poor practice, and give you the tools you need to deal with any issues sensitively, appropriately and effectively should the need arise




CLICK HERE TO FIND A WORKSHOP


Refresher Training

Regular contact with children


Safeguarding and Protecting Children (SPC) Renewal

(refreshers are available as eLearning)



  • Duration: 2 hours
  • Cost: £25
  • Pre-requisite for TTL training
  • Renewal due every 3 years

 

Suitable if you're aged 18 or over and have already attended the Safeguarding and Protecting Children workshop.


This eLearning course is a convenient way for you to refresh, consolidate and update your understanding of safeguarding at a time to suit you.


CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE COURSE

Specialist Training

Designated Safeguarding Officer


NSPCC Time to Listen (TTL)

(no accepted equivalent)



  • Duration: 3 hours
  • Cost: £42

 


Specifically designed for safeguarding officers who have already attended a basic training.


This workshop will help you understand the role and responsibilities of a Safeguarding Officer (aka Welfare Officer) and of statutory agencies, and what this means in practice.


CLICK HERE TO FIND A WORKSHOP



Which level of training do you need?


Depending on your role and the frequency of work you do with children and young people, you will be required to complete different levels of safeguarding training. Our Training Requirements Table will help you identify which level of course you need to complete.


Already completed training through your workplace or different setting?


We will only accept Level 3 Designated Safeguarding Officer Training as an alternative to these courses.


Safeguarding Adults Training


Following publication of The Care Act 2014, there is an increasing number of Safeguarding Adult training courses available. The Ann Craft Trust is the leading authority on safeguarding disabled children and adults at risk and can provide sport-specific safeguarding training. This includes the "Safeguarding Adults at Risk – An Introduction" eLearning:

  • Bilingual eLearning course in Welsh and English
  • Duration: 40 mins
  • Cost: £25
  • Suitable for coaches, volunteers, staff and safeguarding officers who work in an environment with adults or where adults are present
  • Consists of two modules designed for individuals looking to begin learning about safeguarding adult and covers how to recognise safeguarding concerns and how to respond and report appropriately when a concern is raised.

For more information - including how to pay for and access the eLearning - click here.


Course Calendar

Use our course calendar to find upcoming courses organised by Canoe Wales, local authorities, Welsh Sports Association and other organisations. Click on the course you want to find information about how to book - if it's not organised by Canoe Wales you'll need to book directly with the organisers. 

DBS Checks

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check must be completed by anyone who meets the government’s definition of ‘Regulated Activity’ or the Canoe Wales/British Canoeing definition of ‘Regular Activity’ as detailed in our Disclosure Policy with further information available in our DBS Disclosure Guidance and Disclosure Eligibility Flowchart. You may also wish to read our DBS FAQs.
READ THE DBS GUIDANCE CHECK THE FLOW CHART

A deployer or employer is legally responsible for ensuring their volunteer or member of staff has completed the appropriate DBS check before being deployed in their role.


Remember that a disclosure check is only one part of the recruitment and vetting process and no system is fool proof. Ideally you should not rely on just this one system to help create a safe environment. See Recruitment and Selection of Individuals Working with Children for more information.


Information for Coaches

Coaches do not require a DBS Certificate to meet the British Canoeing Coach Update requirements, or to complete any coaching qualifications. The DBS eligibility requirement is linked to an individual’s specific role and the frequency and intensity in which they carry out that role. Therefore, coaches may be required to undertake a DBS check by their deployer or employer in line with the type of activities or role they are carrying out.


How to apply for a DBS check

A DBS application should be requested through your club, centre or employer as it is your employer or deployer who is responsible for ensuring the appropriate checks are in place before you carry out your role.


If you think you may need to complete a DBS check and you have not been asked to, check with your Club or Centre Safeguarding Officer or employer. 


As part of our commitment to safeguarding in sport, Canoe Wales uses the Welsh Sports Association (WSA) DBS Checking Service for Sport & Leisure. The service is run through its trading arm Vibrant Nation, and provides bilingual, online DBS checks (Disclosure and Barring Service, formally CRB). The WSA is the only provider of a fully bilingual system and service in Wales, and even offer a free DBS bilingual helpline should you have any questions.


If you have any problems or questions whilst using the online system contact Vibrant Nation directly at  admin@vibrantnation.co.uk or 029 2033 4995


There are two routes to apply for a DBS application:


Option 1. Via Club Safeguarding Officer – available to Clubs whose Safeguarding Officer has registered an ID Verifier with Vibrant Nation through Canoe Wales. This service is free for volunteers in all affiliated clubs.

 

  • Step 1 – Contact your Club ID Verifier (in most cases this is your Club Safeguarding Officer)
  • Step 2 – The ID Verifier will confirm if you are eligible to apply for a DBS Check and what level of check you require
  • Step 3 – The ID Verifier will register your name and email address on the online DBS check system
  • Step 4 – Once your details have been registered, you will receive an email containing your login information and a link to the online DBS service

 

The online DBS system will take you through your application with prompts to help as you go. 


Option 2. Directly through Vibrant Nation (or another DBS service) – for centres and self-employed coaches 

Contact Vibrant Nation: admin@vibrantnation.co.uk or 029 2033 4995. There is a cost for this service which is payable directly to Vibrant Nation.


DBS Application Information for Club Safeguarding Officers

If you are a Club Safeguarding Officer, you can register to submit and verify DBS applications for your volunteers or staff. The Club committee must agree for you to carry out this role and you will need to complete the following online form.


Register to verify DBS Applications for your Club


DBS Update Service

The DBS Update Service is an online government service which, once subscribed to, allows your DBS Certificate to be kept up to date for as long as you are subscribed to the service or until any new information is added to your Certificate (continuous annual subscription is required).


This means that it may be possible to take it from role to role across different organisations. However, this is not guaranteed as not all organisations accept the Update Service system.


You only have 30 days to join the DBS Update Service once you have received your DBS Certificate. Join the DBS Update Service here.


Canoe Wales may accept the use of the DBS Update Service for portability of a DBS Certificate completed with another organisation when certain requirements have been met in full. See our Portability of DBS Certificate guidance.


If you have subscribed to the DBS Update service and your original DBS Certificate was processed through Canoe Wales via Vibrant Nation it may be possible to use the DBS Update Service to replace the need to complete a new application at the time of renewal. This will be dependent upon your continual subscription to the Update Service, your certificate remaining current and your role and workforce remaining the same. If so, you will need to inform Canoe Wales by completing a DBS Status Check Authorisation Form.

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