Download the Full Document Here
Useful Contacts:
HCLFC Safeguarding Champion & Welfare Officer: Sue Altass – 07801 836235 / Hullcityladieswelfare@gmail.com
HCLFC Club Chair: Rachel Gay – 07738 918593 / rachelgay1974@icloud.com
HCLFC Club Secretary: Kirsty Eastwood – 07709 848049 / secretary@hullcityladies.com
East Riding County FA Designated Safeguarding Officer: Steve Lazenby – 07795 690491 / Steve.lazenby@eastridingfa.com
FA Safeguarding: safeguarding@TheFA.com
NSPCC helpline: 0808 800 5000
Police: 999 or 101 / Childline: 0800 1111
Hull City Ladies is committed to conducting business with honesty and integrity and expect all staff to maintain high standards. We expect openness and inclusiveness, accountability, and integrity in line with those commitments. A culture of openness and accountability is essential to prevent negative situations occurring and to address them swiftly when they do.
The purpose of this policy is to:
• Encourage those working or associated with Hull City Ladies, to report suspected wrongdoing as soon as possible, in the knowledge that their concerns will be taken seriously and investigated as appropriate, and that their confidentiality will be respected.
• To provide those working or associated with Hull City Ladies in with guidance as to how to raise those concerns.
• To reassure those working or associated with Hull City Ladies, that they should be able to raise genuine concerns without fear of reprisal, even if they turn out to be mistaken.
What Is ‘Whistleblowing’?
Whistleblowing is defined as ‘raising concerns about misconduct within an organisaion or within as independent structure associated with it’ (Nolan Committee on Standards in Public Life). In the legislation it is called a protected disclosure. The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 protects employees from suffering a detriment in their employment or being dismissed by their employer if they make disclosures in accordance with the legislation. An employee has certain common law confidentiality obligations to their employer. However, in a limited set of circumstances, whistleblowing may override these obligations if an employee reveals information about their employment or the work of Hull City Ladies. This guidance sets out the circumstances under which these disclosures may lawfully be made.
A concern must relate to something which:
• Is a breach of Hull City Ladies policies.
• Fall below established Hull City Ladies. or FAWNL standards and practices; or
• Amounts to improper conduct, including something that may be:
– A breach of the law
– A failure to comply with a legal obligation
– A possible miscarriage of justice
– A Health & Safety risk
– Placing young people and vulnerable adults at risk
– Damaging the environment
– Misuse of Hull City Ladies or public money
– Corruption or unethical conduct
– Abuse of, or suspicion of causing harm to children, employees, casual
workers, or other users – Deliberate concealment of any of these maters
– Any other substantial and relevant concern
These concerns may have arisen in the past, be currently happening, or likely to happen in the future. The law does not protect an employee who would be breaking the law in making the disclosure. Hull City Ladies will provide all reasonable protection for those who raise concerns. Hull City Ladies will be responsible for ensuring that appropriate personal support is offered both to the individual raising a concern and to the person against whom the allegations have been made under this procedure. This policy sets out how individuals can raise concerns about the safety and welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults involved at the club.
Underpinning Legislation • Childrens Act 1989 • Childrens Act 2004 • Children and Families Act 2014 • Criminal Justice Act 1988 • Education Act 2002 • UN Convention on the Rights of the Child AFC Wimbledon Whistleblowing Policy Approved by the PLC Board 18th April 2024 • The Human Rights Act 1998 • Sexual Offences Act 2003 • Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 • Equality Act 2010 • Serious Crime Act 2015 • Counter Terrorism and Security Act 2015 • Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 • Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018 • Keeping Children Safe in Education 2023 • What to do if you’re worried a child is being abused 2015 • Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice 2015 • Rights, Respect and Equality (Wales) 2020
Procedure
In the event that any member of Hull City Ladies feels that he or she has suffered discrimination in any way or that the Club Policies, Rules or Code of Conduct has been broken, they should follow the procedures below:
1. They should report the matter to the Chairperson, Rachel Gay
Please note for separate concerns relating to safeguarding issues please report all concerns and seek advice from the Club Welfare Officer – Sue Altass.
The report detailing the complaint should include the following:
• Details of what, when and where the occurrence took place
• Any witness statement and names, including names of any others who have been treated in a similar way
• Details of any former complaints made about the incident, including date, when and to whom the complaint was made.
2. The Club Director, Rachel Gay and Secretary, Kirsty Eastwood will sit for any hearings that are requested.
3. The Club’s Director, Rachel Gay and Secretary, Kirsty Eastwood will have the power to:
• Warn as to future conduct
• Suspend from membership
• Remove from membership any person found to have broken the Club’s Policies or Codes of Conduct.
Addendum to the Complaints Procedure; Hull City Ladies – Complaints Procedure and Grievance Policy.
It is recognised that in any football club, differences and misunderstandings may arise. Successful resolution of differences depends on the willingness of the parties involved to communicate with one another. Every effort should be made to resolve disputes in an informal manner whatever issues arise. However, there will be occasions where issues cannot be resolved informally. It is the policy of Hull City Ladies to provide an orderly and formal procedure to deal promptly and fairly with any serious differences of opinion.
Informal Procedure
• Discuss the complaint with the aggravator and seek a resolution as soon as practical. Talk directly face to face.
• Avoid emails
• Where no satisfactory solution is possible, initiate a formal Grievance procedure.
• Formal Grievance Procedure
Formal Grievance Procedure
As soon as practical, issue a description of the complaint in writing to the Hull City Ladies Club Chair Rachel Gay or Secretary, Alex Robinson in accordance with the FA Charter Standard Club Programme Complaints Procedure.
• The grievance must state the alleged issue, and in your view a suggested resolution to the grievance.
• A Grievance Panel will be formed consisting of three members of the Hull City Ladies Club Committee.
• The Grievance Panel will formally respond to the grievance and if necessary, request further information.
• A Grievance hearing involving all interested parties will be called, where all sides can put their case forward.
• Having heard all sides of the argument, the Grievance Panel will make a decision on how best to resolve the complaint. This decision will be communicated to all interested parties.
• Decisions on all grievances will be made within two weeks of the formal procedure being initiated.
• The decision of the Grievance Panel is binding and no appeal to the club is allowed.
In the event that the complainant is not satisfied with the outcome, the person with the grievance should be made aware that they are able to escalate and seek guidance from the FA through their case management team and they can email direct to; safeguarding@thefa.com, or local social services safeguarding team ; adultsafeguarding@hullcc.gov.uk/ telephone- 01482 616092 or the person can call The NSPCC 24 hour helpline.
Hull Children Young People and Families Self Service Hub
A place for professionals and members of the public to contact us, make a referral or application.
Hull City Council in during office hours call 01482 448 879 option 4 and out of hours is 01482 300 304
Request Early Help Support: (This referral form can be used for referring children and families for early help and/or social care ) services. https://earlyhelpportallive.hullcc.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/publicehassess#ssa
Safeguarding Concern: (This referral form can be used for referring children and families for early help and/or social care services) https://earlyhelpportallive.hullcc.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/cpconcern#ssa
Signed: Rachel Gay (Chairperson & Director)