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Middlesex Cricket provides cricket opportunities across Middlesex Cricket Region to Adults with intellectual disabilities will hereafter for the purpose of this policy be referred AWID.
Middlesex Cricket is fully committed to safeguarding the wellbeing and protection of all AWID in its care. Middlesex CRICKET recognises the responsibility to promote safe practice and to protect AWID from harm, abuse and exploitation.
Cricket has a positive influence on people, especially AWID. Not only can Cricket provide opportunities for enjoyment, develop skills, increase confidence, increase self-esteem, health/wellbeing and achievement it can also nurture safe positive activities for all, regardless of disability, age, gender, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation or socio-economic status and reinforce that everyone has the right to protection from all forms of harm and abuse. Protecting AWID from abuse and harm of any kind is a high priority for everyone involved in any capacity
This policy sets out how all staff (paid or unpaid), volunteers, AWID and unified partners should recognise and respond to allegations or concerns of abuse, exploitation, or neglect of AWID in Middlesex Cricket.
Everyone at Middlesex CRICKET has a role to play in protecting AWID from harm.
Policy Statement
Middlesex Cricket will:
Recognising Abuse
To ensure that all AWID are protected from harm, staff and volunteers at Middlesex CRICKET need to understand what types of behaviour constitute abuse and neglect. Abuse may be committed by adult men or women or by other AWID recognises that abuse can take many different forms and staff and volunteers will receive training and information in regard to safeguarding issues and procedures.
Abuse in Sport
Abuse of Children and adults at risk can occur in any environment, including the home, at school or in a sports club although, children and adults at risk are more likely to be abused by people they know and trust. Sport is Middlesex CRICKET acknowledges that it provides access to people and AWIDs which can present opportunities for individuals who want to harm them. Therefore, it is vital that those who have regular contact with an AWID to recognise the signs and indicators that they may be being abused and know the appropriate steps to take to report these concerns. Coaches and instructors may be best placed to help in identifying concerns, and indicators of possible abuse or neglect at an early stage and referring those concerns to their Safeguarding Officer and the appropriate statutory organisation.
Abuse can take many forms including:
Child and Adult Types of Abuse
Sexual Abuse - involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing, and touching outside of clothing.
This can also be non-physical, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse.
Emotional/Psychological Abuse – the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child or adult at risk such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the person’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to the person that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.
Neglect – this is the persistent failure to meet a person’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the athlete’s health or development. Neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); protect a person from physical and emotional harm or danger; ensure adequate supervision, or ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.
Physical Abuse – a form of abuse which involves hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child or adult at risk.
Adult Specific Types of Abuse
Financial or Material Abuse - Which includes taking another person's money or possessions - for example, having money or property stolen, being pressured into giving people money or changing a will, misuse of benefits, not being allowed access to money.
Organisational Abuse - Not offering flexibility and choice for AWID having poor standards of care, lack of inadequate procedures. Poor record keeping or lack of management overview and support. Insufficient staffing, abusive or disrespectful attitudes towards AWIDs. Not offering choice or promoting independence, misuse of medication. Failure to respond to abuse properly.
Self-Neglect - ‘Self-neglect’ is the inability (intentional or non-intentional) to maintain a socially and culturally accepted standard of self-care with the potential for serious consequences to the health and well-being of the individual and potentially to their neighbours and the community.
Discriminatory Abuse - Discriminating abuse includes any type of abuse aimed at a child or adult at risk because of disability, age, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity. For example, ignoring spiritual or religious beliefs, comments or jokes about a person's disability, age, race, sexual orientation, or gender/gender identity, ignoring cultural needs, for example diet or clothing.
Modern Slavery - Modern slavery, which encompasses: slavery; human trafficking; forced labour; domestic servitude; and where traffickers and slave masters use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.
Domestic Abuse/Domestic Violence
Domestic Abuse/Domestic Violence - Any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence, or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are or have been intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass but is not limited to the following types of abuse: psychological; physical, sexual, financial, and emotional.
Prevent
Middlesex CRICKET staff and volunteers need to be aware of the Governments Prevent Agenda: The Prevent Agenda counter-terrorism strategy called CONTEST. It is a UK-wide strategy that aims to stop people becoming terrorists or supporting terrorism.
The strategy’s three objectives are:
Online safety
Responding to Concerns
Set procedure for responding to a safeguarding and welfare concern about AWID makes sure that
everyone is clear on what action to take in the event of a concern being raised. The procedure is based on where the concern about an individual’s wellbeing suggests that they are in need of protection, the information must be passed on to Safeguarding Officer police/social care with or without the individuals consent for the purposes of their protection. Allegations of abuse must always be taken seriously.
Club volunteers and staff may be informed in different ways with regards to details of a concern. This may be:
Responding to a Disclosure/concern
When there is an allegation or suspicion of abuse, everyone must be clear about their role. All staff and volunteers (paid or unpaid) need to act impartially, not as “friends” of the (AWID) or if applicable, their parents. It is essential that all staff and volunteers follow these procedures.
RECORD
Make a written record of the information as soon as possible using the Middlesex Cricket / ECB Safeguarding Incident Report Form, completing as much of the form as possible.
Sharing Concerns with Parents/Carers
Where there are concerns that the parents/carers may be responsible for, or have knowledge of, the abuse, sharing concerns with the parents/carers may place the individual at further risk. In such cases advice must always firstly be sought from the local Safeguarding and Welfare Officer, National Office, police, or social care services as to when and who should inform the parents/carers. through their work, Middlesex Cricket and ECB will seek advice from the (LADO) for the most appropriate course of action.
Suspension of a member of staff or volunteer is a neutral act and is not the default option; alternatives to suspension will always be considered.
Where relevant conditions are met a referral may also be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Relevant conduct towards adults is:
Created 22nd November 2022
To be Reviewed: November 2023
