RFU Safeguarding Policy, Guidance and Procedures
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
Everyone shares the responsibility for safeguarding and creating safe environments in rugby union whether as a parent, coach, spectator or club official.
All should operate within an accepted ethical framework and demonstrate exemplary behaviour to both safeguard children and protect all personnel from allegations of abuse or poor practice.
Children, who are anyone under the age of 18, must be cared for in the correct manner, as set out in the RFU Safeguarding Children Policy.
SAFEGUARDING POLICY
- RFU Safeguarding Policy https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding#:~:text=RFU%20Safeguarding%20Children%20Policy%C2%A0
- Club Safeguarding Children Policy Template
IMPORTANT FOR ALL
Regulation 21 should be read by everyone involved in providing a safe environment within the game. Please refer to Regulation 21 for RFU procedures on dealing with abuse allegations and breaches of the Safeguarding Policy.
SAFER RECRUITMENT
All children and adults at risk are entitled to protection from harm and be able to take part in sport in a safe, positive and enjoyable environment. When recruiting employees or volunteers all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure only suitable people are selected.
For more information on safer recruitment, please go to the Safer Recruitment section of the website. We would also recommend you use the Volunteer application form when recruiting for new volunteers.
- Volunteer application form
CLUB SAFEGUARDING OFFICERS
The RFU is extremely proud of its dedicated network of Club Safeguarding Officers who all play a vital role in creating safe and inclusive environments for children and adults at risk in the game. To help ensure that all Club Safeguarding Officers are given the support they need from their clubs, we have written a standardised role description template for clubs to use when recruiting new Club Safeguarding Officers. By using this, clubs can ensure that both the club and the Safeguarding Officer are clear on what their role entails, their responsibilities, accountabilities, and what support is available to them.
- Club safeguarding officer – Role description template
Every club running mini/midi/youth rugby must have a Club Safeguarding Officer. To help people in your club know who your Club Safeguarding Officer is, we would strongly recommend printing the below poster and putting it up around your club.
- Safeguarding Officer Poster
https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding#:~:text=Safeguarding%20Officer%20Poster%C2%A0
Club Safeguarding Officers can also download and print one of the four “Know your rights” posters, to help empower children to understand what behaviour they can expect from adults at their club. We would suggest putting posters where children are likely to see them, i.e. in the toilets, changing rooms or communal areas.
- Know your rights poster
https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding#:~:text=Know%20your%20rights%20poster%C2%A0
More resources supporting Club Safeguarding Officers can be found in the Information for Club Safeguarding Officers section of the website.
GOING ON TOUR
Clubs should read our Touring with Children Guidance when planning a tour, to ensure they are following best practice and putting the safety of the children above all else.
- Touring with children guidance
SAFEGUARDING ADULTS
The RFU is committed to creating and maintaining a safe and positive environment for everyone to play and enjoy rugby union and to safeguard the welfare of all adults involved in the game, particularly those deemed to be at risk. The policy below applies to everyone over the age of 18 involved in rugby.
- RFU Safeguarding Adults in Rugby Union Policy and Procedures
SAFEGUARDING SELF-AUDIT
Each Club with an age grade section, or which has 17-year olds playing adult rugby must complete the annual RFU safeguarding self-audit through GMS each year. Information on the audit can be found in Regulation 21, point 21.1.6.
The safeguarding self-audit consists of a set of questions and should be completed by the CSO, the assistant CSO or another officer with level two permission or above. Level two permission is required to access the GMS questionnaire tab, which is under the Organisation Profile Module. To find out how to complete the annual safeguarding audit, please see the GMS how-to guide.
