Safeguarding
Policy

Last updated: January 2025

Angelica Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of every child who participates in our football sessions, camps and programmes.
We provide a safe, positive and inclusive environment where children can learn, play and develop.

Designated Safeguarding Lead:

Angelica FC has a designated safeguarding lead responsible for overseeing all safeguarding and child protection matters

DSL:

Name: Wade Charles

Role: Chairman & Lead Coach

Email:info@angelicafootballclub.com

Deputy Safeguarding Lead:

Name: Senior Coach on Duty

If the DSL is unavailable, concerns must be reported to the Deputy DSL or escalated directly to the local authority.

1. Our Commitment

Angelica FC will:

Protect children from harm, abuse or neglect
Create a safe and supportive culture
Respond quickly and effectively to concerns
Ensure staff understand safeguarding responsibilities
Promote respect, fairness and equality

Safeguarding is the responsibility of every coach, volunteer and adult associated with Angelica FC.

2. Responsibilities of Staff

All Angelica FC staff and coaches:

Hold an Enhanced DBS check, or are appropriately supervised at all times where checks are pending, in line with safgaurding guidance.
Are trained in child protection and how to act in an incident where first aid is required.
Follow Angelica FC safeguarding procedures
Maintain professional boundaries
Report concerns immediately
Prioritise children’s welfare at all times

Coaches supervise children only within the context of sports coaching and do not act as teachers, caregivers or legal guardians.

2.1 Safer recruitment

Angelica FC is committed to safe recruitment practices to ensure that all individuals working with children are suitable and appropriately vetted.

Al staff and volunteers:

Are subject to an Enhanced DBS check or are appropriately supervised at all times while checks are pending
Receive a safeguarding induction before working with children
Are informed of Angelica FC's safeguarding procedures and code of conduct
Are only deployed in roles appropriate to their experience and qualifications

Safer recruitment practices are reviewed regularly to ensure ongoing compliance with safeguarding standards

3. Parental Responsibilities

Parents/guardians must:

Provide accurate medical/SEND information
Ensure children are collected promptly
Communicate welfare concerns directly to the club
Support a positive, respectful environment
Provide suitable clothing, footwear and hydration

For Foundation Stage football, parents remain fully responsible for their child's welfare and medical decisions.

4. In Loco Parentis (Emergency Medical Care)

For all sessions excluding Foundation Stage Football, parents may opt to give consent for Angelica FC staff to act in loco parentis ONLY in the event of a serious injury or medical emergency.

Where consent is given, staff may:

Contact emergency services
Administer basic first aid
Authorise urgent medical treatment if parents cannot be reached

This permission is optional and collected via the booking form.

5. Photography & Media

Angelica FC will only take and use photos/videos of children with clear parental consent.

If consent is not given:

The child will not be photographed or filmed
Coaches will ensure they are not included in group or background footage

Parents may withdraw consent at any time by emailing:
📩 info@angelicafootballclub.com

All imagery is used responsibly and safely.

6. Behaviour, Conduct & Anti-Bullying

Angelica FC does not tolerate:

bullying
discrimination
harassment
physical or verbal abuse
inappropriate or dangerous behaviour

Coaches intervene immediately to ensure safety.

6.1 Significant Behaviour Incident Recording

Angelica FC keeps a secure written record of all significant behaviour incidents, including:

serious unsafe behaviour
repeated disruptive conduct
bullying concerns
incidents requiring removal from an activity
situations that impact safety, welfare or wellbeing
any episode requiring follow-up with parents/guardians

These records are:

stored securely
reviewed by senior staff when necessary
used to identify patterns or recurring issues
shared with parents/guardians when appropriate
retained in accordance with safeguarding and data guidelines

This process protects children, staff and the wider Angelica FC environment.

7. Reporting Concerns

Where there is a concern that a child may be at risk of harm, Angelica FC will follow local authority safeguarding procedures and, where appropriate, make a referral to Children Social Care/Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH).

MASH Phone: 020 8356 5500/

MASH Email:MASH@hackney.co.uk

Angelica FC recognised that safeguarding concerns must never be dealt internally alone and will work in partnership with parents, schools and the local authority.

Any concerns about a child's safety or welfare must be reported immediately.

7.1 Allegations against staff

Any allegation made against a member of staff or volunteer will be taken seriously and handled in line with safeguarding procedures.

The individual concerned may be suspended from duties while the matter is investigated. This is a neutral act and does not imply guilt.

Angelica FC will seek guidance from the local authority &/or Count Welfare Officer and follow their guidance.

Parents/ guardians will be informed as appropriate.

8. Health, Safety & Environment

Angelica FC ensures:

Safe facilities and equipment
Age-appropriate activities
Risk assessments for sessions and camps
Emergency procedures on-site
Adequate coach-to-player ratios

Safety checks are ongoing throughout all sessions.

9. Foundation Stage Supervision

For Foundation Stage football sessions:

Parents/guardians retain full responsibility
Angelica FC does not act in loco parentis for football sessions but will in the case of sessions where parents are not permitted to be on site such as Sports Camps.
Staff provide activity supervision only
Parents must remain contactable at all times