1. Commitment to safeguarding 

McKinstry Family Karate believes everyone has the right to live free from abuse or neglect regardless of age, ability or disability, sex, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital or gender status.). 

This policy applies to how we ensure that adults who have (a) dependency upon others in the performance of, or a requirement for assistance in the performance of, basic physical functions; (b)severe impairment in the ability to communicate with others; or. (c)impairment in a person's ability to protect him/herself from assault, abuse, or neglect. 

Can participate in Martial Arts Training with us and to do so in a safe and properly regulated environment 

2. Principles 

● ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to children and young people. 

● ensure appropriate action is taken in the event of incidents/concerns of abuse and support is provided to the individual/s who raise or disclose the concern. 

● ensure that confidential, detailed, and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored. 

● prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals. 

● ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation. 3

The policy and procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone involved in McKinstry Family Karate. Failure to comply with the policy and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal/exclusion from the organisation. 

3. Legislation & statutory guidance 

● Sexual Offences Act 2003 

The Sexual Offences Act introduced a number of new offences concerning adults at risk and children. 

● Mental Capacity Act 2005 

Its general principle is that everybody has capacity unless it is proved otherwise, that they should be supported to make their own decisions, that anything done for or on behalf of people without capacity must be in their best interests and should be the least restrictive intervention. 

● Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 

Introduced the new Vetting and Barring Scheme and the role of the Independent Safeguarding Authority. The Act places a statutory duty on all those working with vulnerable groups to register and undergo an advanced vetting process with criminal sanctions for non-compliance. 

● Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 

Introduced into the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and came into force in April 2009. Designed to provide appropriate safeguards for vulnerable people who have a mental disorder and lack the capacity to consent to the arrangements made or their care or treatment, and who may be deprived of their liberty in their best interests in order to protect them from harm. 

● Disclosure & Barring Service 2013 

Criminal record checks: guidance for employers – How employers or organisations can request criminal records checks on potential employees from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). 

● The Care Act 2014 – statutory guidance 

The Care Act introduces new responsibilities for local authorities. It also has major implications for adult care and support providers, people who use services, carers and advocates. It replaces No Secrets and puts adult safeguarding on a statutory footing. 

● Making Safeguarding Personal Guide 2014 

This guide is intended to support councils and their partners to develop outcome-focused, person-centred safeguarding practice. 

Making Safeguarding Personal Guide 2014 

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4. Definitions 

In the UK, a vulnerable adult is someone who is 18 years or older and may be unable to protect themselves from harm, abuse, or exploitation: 

● Due to age 

● Due to illness 

● Due to mental illness 

● Due to disability 

● Due to other types of physical or mental impairment 

● Due to a learning disability 

● Due to sensory impairment 

● Due to mental health problems 

● Vulnerability can be influenced by many factors, including: 

● Experiences of vulnerability in childhood 

● Having fewer protective factors, such as a supportive family or a stable household income ● Cognitive impairment such as Down syndrome 

● Aging 

● Lack of money 

● Abuse 

5. Types of abuse and neglect (according to No Secrets Guidance) 

All school/club staff and volunteers should be aware that abuse, neglect and safeguarding issues are rarely standalone events that can be covered by one definition or label. In most cases, multiple issues will overlap with one another. 

Physical abuse – including assault, hitting, slapping, pushing, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate physical sanctions. 

Domestic abuse – including psychological, physical, sexual, financial, emotional abuse; so called ‘honour’ based violence. Here is a video about Hidden Harms, focusing on Domestic Abuse and Older People. 

Sexual abuse – including rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting. 

Psychological abuse – including emotional abuse, threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, cyber bullying, isolation or unreasonable and unjustified withdrawal of services or supportive networks. 

Financial or material abuse – including theft, fraud, internet scamming, coercion in relation to an adult’s financial affairs or arrangements, including in connection with wills, property, inheritance or financial transactions, or the misuse or misappropriation of property, possessions or benefits. 

Modern slavery – slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. People are bought and sold for sexual exploitation, forced labour, street crime, cannabis cultivation, grooming and pimping, domestic servitude, forced marriage or even the sale of organs and human sacrifice. 

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Discriminatory abuse – including forms of harassment, slurs or similar treatment; because of race, gender and gender identity, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. 

Organisational abuse – including neglect and poor care practice within an institution or specific care setting such as a hospital or care home, for example, or in relation to care provided in one’s own home. This may range from one off incidents to on-going ill-treatment. It can be through neglect or poor professional practice as a result of the structure, policies, processes and practices within an organisation. 

Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical, emotional or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, care and support or educational services, the withholding of the necessities of life, such as medication, adequate nutrition and heating 

Self-neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings and includes behaviour such as hoarding. It involves no other perpetrator. 

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Related issues 

In addition to the above categories, there are other forms of harm or abuse that should involve the police and other organisations working together to protect children. These include: 

●Bullying 

●Hate crimes 

●Abuse in domestic settings 

●Honour based violence 

●Forced marriage 

●Human trafficking 

●Exploitation by radicalizers who promote violence 

●Membership of gangs inclined to use violence. 

Many of these areas are addressed in local multi-agency child or vulnerable adult safeguarding procedures. You may feel that these situations are so unlikely to arise that you would never be required to respond. However, it is best to be aware of these other related areas, just in case your suspicions are raised. 

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6. Signs and Indicators of Abuse and Neglect 

Indicators that a young person may be being abused may include the following: ● Low self-esteem. 

● Feeling that the abuse is their fault when it is not. 

● Physical evidence of violence such as bruising, cuts, broken bones. 

● Verbal abuse and humiliation in front of others. 

● Fear of outside intervention. 

● Damage to home or property. 

● Isolation – not seeing friends and family 

It is not the responsibility of McKinstry Family Karate to decide if abuse is occurring, but it is their responsibility to act on any concerns by reporting them. 

7. What to do if you have a concern or someone raises concerns with you 

McKinstry Family Karate recognises ‘everyone who works with vulnerable adults has a responsibility for keeping them safe. 

Whilst accepting this duty, it is recognised McKinstry Family Karate is not responsible for deciding if abuse has occurred. It does however have a duty to respond and report concerns. 

McKinstry Family Karate will have an appropriately trained Designated Welfare Officer (DWO) and Deputy. 

All safeguarding concerns and poor practice occurrences, except if the issue concerns those individuals, must be reported to the DWO / Deputy. This includes issues raised concerning the activities of instructors or volunteers or, where there are concerns outside of McKinstry Family Karate (for example at home, school or in the wider community). Where there is an allegation against an instructor or volunteer who works at McKinstry Family Karate the DWO/Deputy must report the matter to the Local Authority Designated Officer. 

●inviting or allowing vulnerable adults into your home where they will be alone with you. ●engaging in rough, physical or sexually provocative activity. 

●making sexually suggestive comments even in fun. 

●reducing a person to tears as a form of control. 

● allowing allegations made to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon. ●doing things of a personal nature that they can do for themselves 

Some participants may require assistance with personal care due to being disabled. If a person needs this level of support, it should be made clear that this can only be carried out by a designated carer and not by the instructor. Even if the instructor is trained in carrying out personal care tasks, this compromises their role as trainer and places them and that person in a vulnerable position. These support arrangements should clearly be in place and agreed to by all parties prior to the 

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Instructors and volunteers must also report the following to the DSL/Deputy and make a written record of what they have done, seen, or heard: 

● Disclosure of abuse made by a vulnerable adult, whether it is about themselves or another person. 

● Suspicions or concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a vulnerable adult, including unexplained injuries, significant changes in behaviour, or signs of neglect. 

● Allegations or concerns regarding inappropriate behaviour or abuse by another individual, including other staff, volunteers, or participants. 

● Incidents where a vulnerable adult appears distressed, withdrawn, or unusually aggressive, and there is reason to believe it could be linked to a safeguarding issue. 

● Concerns about radicalisation or exposure to harmful ideologies that may put the individual or others at risk. 

● Disclosure of illegal activities involving or impacting a vulnerable adult. 

● Breaches of safeguarding protocols or policies within the organisation. 

● Any other situation where the welfare of a vulnerable adult may be compromised or at risk. All reports must be made as soon as possible to ensure timely and appropriate action is taken. 

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Related issues 

In addition to the above categories, there are other forms of harm or abuse that should involve the police and other organisations working together to protect children. These include: 

●Bullying 

●Hate crimes 

●Abuse in domestic settings 

●Honour based violence 

●Forced marriage 

●Human trafficking 

●Exploitation by radicalizers who promote violence 

●Membership of gangs inclined to use violence. 

Many of these areas are addressed in local multi-agency child or vulnerable adult safeguarding procedures. You may feel that these situations are so unlikely to arise that you would never be required to respond. However, it is best to be aware of these other related areas, just in case your suspicions are raised. 

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Poor practice 

Sometimes, your concerns may relate to poor practice, where an adult or another young person’s behaviour is inappropriate and may be causing distress to another. In the application of this policy, poor practice includes any behaviour which contravenes the principles of this document or the relevant Code of Conduct or brings Martial Arts into disrepute, or which infringes an individual’s rights. Where poor practice is serious or repeated this could also constitute abuse and should be reported immediately. Examples of poor practice towards students, which should never be sanctioned include: 

●use of excessive, physical or humiliating punishments. 

●failure to act when you witness possible abuse or bullying. 

●being unaware of, or breaching, any relevant policy such as the Code of Ethics and Conduct. ●spending excessive amounts of time alone with vulnerable adults away from others. ●inviting or allowing vulnerable adults into your home where they will be alone with you. ●engaging in rough, physical or sexually provocative activity. 

●making sexually suggestive comments even in fun. 

●reducing a person to tears as a form of control. 

● allowing allegations made to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon. ●doing things of a personal nature that they can do for themselves 

Some participants may require assistance with personal care due to being disabled. If a person needs this level of support, it should be made clear that this can only be carried out by a designated carer and not by the instructor. Even if the instructor is trained in carrying out personal care tasks, this compromises their role as trainer and places them and that person in a vulnerable position. These support arrangements should clearly be in place and agreed to by all parties prior to the activities commencing. 

It is not the responsibility of McKinstry Family Karate to decide if abuse is occurring, but it is their responsibility to act on any concerns by reporting them. 

8. How to respond to a concern 

McKinstry Family Karate recognises ‘everyone who works with vulnerable adults has a responsibility for keeping them safe. 

Whilst accepting this duty, it is recognised McKinstry Family Karate is not responsible for deciding if abuse has occurred. It does however have a duty to respond and report concerns. 

McKinstry Family Karate will have an appropriately trained Designated Welfare Officer (DWO) and Deputy. 

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All safeguarding concerns and poor practice occurrences, except if the issue concerns those individuals, must be reported to the DWO / Deputy. This includes issues raised concerning the activities of instructors or volunteers or, where there are concerns outside of McKinstry Family Karate (for example at home, school or in the wider community). Where there is an allegation against an instructor or volunteer who works at McKinstry Family Karate the DWO/Deputy must report the matter to the Local Authority Designated Officer. 

Instructors and volunteers must also report the following to the DSL/Deputy and make a written record of what they have done, seen, or heard: 

● Disclosure of abuse made by a vulnerable adult, whether it is about themselves or another person. 

● Suspicions or concerns about the safety or wellbeing of a vulnerable adult, including unexplained injuries, significant changes in behaviour, or signs of neglect. 

● Allegations or concerns regarding inappropriate behaviour or abuse by another individual, including other staff, volunteers, or participants. 

● Incidents where a vulnerable adult appears distressed, withdrawn, or unusually aggressive, and there is reason to believe it could be linked to a safeguarding issue. 

● Concerns about radicalisation or exposure to harmful ideologies that may put the individual or others at risk. 

● Disclosure of illegal activities involving or impacting a vulnerable adult. 

● Breaches of safeguarding protocols or policies within the organisation. 

● Any other situation where the welfare of a vulnerable adult may be compromised or at risk. All reports must be made as soon as possible to ensure timely and appropriate action is taken 

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immediate risks. This is an immediate responsibility and will take priority over informing the Designated Safeguard Lead or Deputy. 

How to respond to a concern 

It is always difficult to hear about or witness harm or abuse experienced by a child or young person. The following points will be helpful for both you and the child should they choose to disclose abuse to you: 

● Stay calm. 

● Listen carefully to what is said and try not to interrupt. 

● Find an appropriate point early on to explain that it is likely that the information will need to be shared with others – do not promise to keep secrets. 

● Allow them to continue at their own pace. 

● Ask questions for clarification only and avoid asking questions that suggest an answer (leading questions). 

● Reassure them that they are not to blame and have done the right thing in telling you. If the concern is serious, explain that you will need to get support from other trained people to help keep the child safe. This must be shared even if the child doesn’t want you to tell anyone else. 

● Tell them what you will do next and with whom the information will be shared. If they are adamant that they do not wish the information to be shared, explain that you will have to tell your Designated Safeguarding Lead and that it will be discussed further with them. 

● Be aware of the possibility of forensic evidence if the disclosure relates to a recent incident of physical harm or injury and try to protect any supporting materials e.g. bedding or clothing. 

● Contact your Designated Safeguarding Lead. 

● Where you are unable to contact your Designated Person, advice can be sought from statutory agencies or the NSPCC Helpline. 

● All serious concerns must be referred to statutory agencies. 

● Where the concern or allegation is about a member of staff or a volunteer, this must like all other concerns be reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) or Deputy. The DSL if they consider the concern to be serious, for example potentially child abuse or a crime they must report the incident to the Local Authority Designated Officer or the Police. 

Where the DSL/Deputy has reported the incident to the statutory authorities, advice should be sought from them regarding this duty before notifying the carers. 

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9. Safeguarding Children Flowchart 

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10.Recording 

Should someone make a disclosure a record in writing must be made as soon as possible, using their words as closely as possible and where relevant, using the school/club report form. Note the date, time, any names mentioned, names and addresses to whom the information was given and who else is aware of the allegation. Note or describe clearly any visible injury. 

Take care to distinguish between fact, observation, allegation, and opinion. It is important that the information you have is accurate. 

Recording of any incident, including possible abuse or poor practice incidents, should also follow this procedure. In all situations, including those in which the cause of concern arises either from a disclosure of abuse or from suspicion of abuse, it is vitally important to record the details, regardless of whether they are shared with a statutory agency, as soon as possible using the incident reporting form. 

The record should be clear and factual as it may be needed by protection agencies and may, in the future, be used as evidence in court. Records should be kept securely and shared only with those who need to know about the incident. 

Throughout the process of any safeguarding cases, accurate records should be made and maintained. 11.Codes of Conduct and Ethics 

The codes of conduct and ethics for all those involved at McKinstry Family Karate can be found as a separate guidance sheet. It is essential these are followed so the highest possible standards of behaviour and conduct in Martial Arts activities are maintained. The principles must be adhered to at all times so that Martial Arts can be enjoyed by all. All those involved at McKinstry Family Karate will show their understanding and commitment to the codes of conduct and ethics by signing a copy of the relevant guidance sheet. 

12. Safer Recruiting 

At McKinstry Family Karate we take all reasonable steps to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. Whilst there may be some reservations that volunteers could be put off by having to go through a recruitment process, it is important to ensure reasonable steps have been taken to identify unsuitable individuals. A guidance sheet can be found which outlines safer recruiting in further detail. 

13. Supervision, support, and training 

Once recruited, all staff and volunteers at McKinstry Family Karate will be well informed, trained, supervised, and supported to ensure that they effectively safeguard children and know how to respond to any concerns. 

McKinstry Family Karate will ensure that training and resources are available to encourage the development of staff and volunteers. This will include: 

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● an induction to the work and the school/club 

● a trial period in which to develop skills whilst supervised 

● ongoing support and monitoring 

Training developed by the BMABA is available to strengthen the skills and knowledge of the coaching team and as a minimum all volunteers/instructors should complete the safeguarding, first aid and level 1 coaching qualifications on the myBMABA portal . Training plays an important role in equipping staff and volunteers to do their job safely and effectively. Different safeguarding training is available depending on the person's role. 

14.Whistleblowing 

It's important that people within McKinstry Family Karate have the confidence to come forward to speak or act if they're unhappy with anything. 

Whistleblowing occurs when a person raises a concern about dangerous or illegal activity, or any wrongdoing within their sports organisation. The NSPCC has a whistleblowing advice line to support professionals who have concerns about how child protection issues are being handled in their own or another organisation. 

More detail can be found on the Whistleblowing Policy. 

15.Complaints 

To ensure we develop an open culture where children and staff feel able to express any concerns, we have a procedure for dealing with complaints from a child, worker, volunteer, parent or carer. 

This should be linked to the organisation's complaints procedures, ensuring the provision of support and advocacy for the people involved. 

16.Useful contacts 

Designated Welfare Officer (DWO) 

● Name: Chris Allen 

● Email: [email protected] 

● Telephone: 07785 922110 

Deputy Designated Welfare Officer (DDWO) 

● Name: Iain McKinstry 

● Email: [email protected] 

● Telephone: 07971 561021 

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Safeguarding 

We have designated our Governing Body, British Martial Arts & Boxing Association (BMABA) to act as our club’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). BMABA can provide an impartial and expert response to safeguarding concerns if you do not feel you can raise it with our club directly. You should still contact our club first with concerns, if you feel you can. 

If you need to contact BMABA, you can do so by visiting bmaba.org.uk/safeguarding or by emailing [email protected]. Our assigned Lead Officer is Aimee Little. In her absence, another suitably trained deputy will be available from BMABA’s dedicated safeguarding team. 

17.Review Record 

Version Change Description Review Date Published V1.0/08052019 First Issue 08/05/2019 Yes V1.0/08052019 Review Date Added 10/10/2020 Yes V1.0/08052019 Review Date Added 02/10/2021 Yes V1.0/08052019 Review Date Added 08/10/2022 Yes 

V2.0/14092023 Section 16 updated - DWO changed to Chris Allen DDWO changed to Iain 

McKinstry contact details added 

V3.0/09122024 Section 16 updated - DSL is now Aimee Little of BMABA - contact 

process added 

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