Safeguarding Archives - NLD RFU

News Archive

Category: Safeguarding

Celebration Event Success

February 2nd, 2018 by

On Sunday 28th January over 50 Club Volunteer Coordinators (CVCs) and Safeguarding Officers attended a Celebration event at Nottingham Rugby.

The CVCs and Safeguarding Officers were served lunch in the Nottingham Corsairs clubhouse, then were engaged in a presentation by Clare Scott from Safeguarding Deptartment at Twickenham and another presentation by Gareth Short (Lincolnshire Rugby Development Office) and Darren Dolby (NLD CBVC) on volunteering within clubs.

After the presentations everyone had the opportunity to watch Nottingham Rugby play Doncaster Knights in the Greene King IPA Championship.

NLD Honorary Secretary Tracy Edmundson commented on the event saying ‘It was fantastic to see so many volunteers and a great opportunity to celebrate the good work they do in clubs. The event has doubled in size within the last 12 months and we’re excited to see what we can do next year’.

Report: Abigail Tolson

First Aid 4 All Success!

January 11th, 2018 by

In partnership with the Area 4 Legacy Group, NLD RFU are delighted to announce the brand new ‘First Aid 4 All’ initiative has been a huge success since it’s launch in September.  This £10,000 investment offered the opportunity for EVERY team in NLD to access a FREE, comprehensive pitch side first aid kit to help to ensure that all of the 14,000 players within NLD have access to the best possible care at all times.

As we are all too aware First Aid is a hugely important part of our game and Player Welfare is at the heart of the RFU’s Core Values.  Over the last couple of seasons NLD have already invested heavily in First Aid & Medical Support in order to ensure there is the best possible care available for players in clubs and those playing in representative squads, but this was very much the next step to make sure the playing environment is as safe as possible.

NLD are working closely with the local RFU delivery team to ensure that there are appropriate training opportunities throughout the Three Counties for clubs to be able to utilise these First Aid kits correctly and there has also been significant funding on offer to clubs to help with the running of these.

NLD Honorary Secretary Tracy Edmundson commented; ‘Ensuring that there is appropriate first aid throughout rugby clubs in NLD is really high on our priorities and we are delighted that the Area 4 Legacy Group have been so supportive of this project.  In total a huge 524 first aid kits have been distributed to clubs within NLD’.

First Aid 4 Sport are also offering all NLD clubs a discounted rate on refill packs for their clubs.  Visit www.firstaid4sport.co.uk.  

Pictured:  Above – Nottingham Moderns Minis Below – University of Nottingham Womens XV

 

 

In Touch Safeguarding Courses

November 23rd, 2017 by

There are still places available on two upcoming England Rugby ‘In Touch’ courses being held throughout NLD.  In Touch can be attended by any club officials, but is specifically targeted at Club Safeguarding Officers.  Every Club Safeguarding Officer must attend an In Touch course.

You can search for & book on each of the courses by clicking here.

Lincoln RFC – 04th December, 18.30 – 21.30

Mansfield RUFC -11th December, 18.30 – 21.30

By the end of the workshop participants will be able to:

  • Define and explain the role and responsibility of an RFU Club Safeguarding Officer
  • Identify the roles of club members and officers to promote best safeguarding practice
  • Identify best practice when recruiting in the club
  • Apply the RFU Safeguarding Children Policy Guidance & Procedures and Safeguarding Toolkit
  • Manage concerns and disclosures
  • Provide an opportunity to share best safeguarding practice

 

Colts Rugby – Safeguarding Tips

September 20th, 2017 by

The Colts structure is proving a great success in retaining young players and transitioning them into the adult game and is to be applauded.

The first few weeks of the season have brought into focus a few issues which we need to clarify to ensure the success of this structure and to manage the risk to players, coaches and clubs. This is not placing barriers in the way of Colts rugby, it is the opposite – ensuring that barriers imposed by existing criminal laws and RFU regulations are properly managed so they do not impact adversely on this important transition.

  1. Age Grades

Colts rugby is Age Grade Rugby, and has to adhere to RFU Regulation 15. http://www.englandrugby.com/mm/Document/General/General/01/31/97/52/RFURegulation152016-2017_English.pdf

Age Grade Rugby is played by players in the Under 18 age grade and below. That is, by players who are not yet 18 on the 31st August of the preceding season.

Players who are 18 or older before the start of the season cannot play in a Colts game unless they have been suitably risk assessed and have applied for and received NLD CB approval to play down. Details of this process and the application form are set out in the Playing Out Of Age Grade guidance here https://nldrfu.co.uk/resource/playing-age-grade/.

Players in the Under 16 and Under 17 age grades may play up in an Under 18 Colts team if they have been assessed as able to do so and the Playing Out Of Age Grade form has been completed, signed off by the club and submitted to the NLD office. U16 players may not play in the front row of contested scrums if playing up in a Colts game.

If the game is classed as an Under 19 game then this is Adult Rugby. In this circumstance the following apply:

  1. DBS requirements

Anyone coaching or supervising age grade rugby (including Colts rugby) is taking part in regulated activity as defined in the Children’s Act and supporting legislation and MUST have a valid DBS check. The RFU requires that this is an RFU sponsored DBS and that it is registered on the GMS system.

  1. Safeguarding issues when playing on a Saturday.

General

Be careful to ensure that behaviour of adults in and around the changing rooms and clubhouse sets a good example and does not exclude those U18.

Ensure that any involvement of U18 players in post match activities is age appropriate and does not expose the players, adults or club to breaches of the law.

Under 19s

If the game is an Under 19 game, that is there are no players under the age of 17 AND all those not yet 18 have been signed off to play Adult Rugby, then there are no other safeguarding issues to address.

Colts

Colts teams can include players aged 15 to 18. The following apply:

  • All supervising adults must have a current DBS recorded on GMS
  • Age Grade players must not share changing room or showering facilities with adult teams.

There are several simple precautions which can be put in place to ensure the changing and showering requirements are not an issue.

  • Where a club has sufficient changing rooms and dedicated showers for each changing room there are few issues to address. Ensure sufficient supervision is in place to prevent accidental issues such as unauthorised access to changing rooms or showers used by age grade players.
  • If there are not sufficient facilities to allow segregation of adults and colts then you could stagger the games. If shared showers is the issue, why not start the colts game 30 minutes or so before the adult games, giving time for the colts to vacate the showers before the adult game finishes?
  • If there are insufficient changing rooms to avoid sharing, then the game should be played at a different time, either earlier on the same day or another day.

If you have any queries regarding the above please contact NLD Safeguarding Manager Chris Johnson.

NLD Funding Opportunties

September 19th, 2017 by

We are pleased to now invite applications from clubs to access NLD funding for the 2017-18 season.

As some of you may be aware the NLD PFR (Planning, Funding & Reporting) Plan outlines the CB’s budget for each season.  The budget itself is split down into various key areas covering the RFU’s Key Drivers and is available to view in full here.

We are now inviting clubs to submit applications for access to the funding that is available to bid for, all of the details of which are available on the attached information sheet.

Expression of Interest PFR v1

PFR Club Information 2017-18 v1

Please encourage your club to apply for funding by completing the attached application form and returning it to me (with all of the accompanying signatures) but Monday 9th October at the latest.  Applications can be either emailed or posted to NLD RFU, Northgate Business Centre, 38 Northgate, Newark, Notts, NG24 1EZ.

Applications will be considered by each of the budget holders and the relevant committees and decisions will be made as quickly as possible.

If you have any queries regarding the process please do not hesitate to get in touch with either your local Rugby Development Officer, Jeff Mapp or Nicole Brown.

This is a fantastic opportunity for your club to access the funding to develop grassroots rugby within NLD – please make sure you take advantage of it!!

Forthcoming Coaching, Refereeing & Safeguarding Courses

January 19th, 2017 by

Please see below the calendar of upcoming award and non award courses throughout NLD.

CPD Coaching Half Back Play Paviors RFC 18 Jan 2017 18 Jan 2017  6.30pm – 9.30pm 13 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226331155
Rugby Ready Ilkeston RFC 21 Jan 2017 21 Jan 2017  9.30am – 12.30pm 12 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333741
Play it Safe Ashbourne Ex-Servicemans Club 23 Jan 17 Mon 23 Jan 2017 (18:00 – 21:00) 0 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333574
CPD Coaching Maul & Ruck Stamford RFC 25 Jan 2017 25 Jan 2017  7pm – 10pm 15 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333716
CPD Kids First U8 Tag Melbourne RFC 28 Jan 2017 28 Jan 2017  9.30am – 12.30pm 16 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333207
CPD Managing Contact Nottingham Casuals RFC 30 Jan 2017 30 Jan 2017  6.30pm – 9.30pm 14 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226331173
Play it Safe Paviors RFC 30 Jan 17 Mon 30 Jan 17 (18:30 – 21:30) 16 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333546
L1 Kirk Hallam Community Tech & Sport College 5 Feb 2017 5, 19 Feb, 5 Mar 2017  9am – 5pm 4 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226330366
CPD Coaching Back Attack Long Eaton RFC 13 Feb 2017 13 Feb 2017  7pm – 9.30pm 14 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226332015
CPD Coaching Maul & Ruck Scunthorpe RFC 13 Feb 2017 13 Feb 2017  6.30pm – 9.30pm 18 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333719
Play it Safe Amber Valley 14 Feb 17 Tues 14 Feb 17 (18:00 – 21:00) 24 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333733
CPD Coaching Kicking Nottingham Moderns RFC 15 Feb 2017 15 Feb 2017  6.30pm – 9.30pm 13 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226331175
Rugby Ready Melbourne RFC 15 Feb 2017 15 Feb 2017  1.30pm – 4.30pm 20 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333210
Kids First Refereeing Children Melbourne RFC 15 Feb 2017 15 Feb 2017  9.30am – 12.30pm 18 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333209
Continuous Match Official Development: Tackle Mansfield RFC 16 Feb 2017 NLD YOUNG MATCH OFFICIALS ONLY 16 Feb 2017 9am – 12noon NLD YOUNG MATCH OFFICIALS ONLY 20 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333860
Kids First Refereeing Children Mansfield RFC 16 Feb 2017 NLD YOUNG MATCH OFFICIALS ONLY 16 Feb 2017  9am – 12pm NLD YOUNG MATCH OFFICIALS ONLY 20 http://www.englandrugby.com/my-rugby/courses/search/#/search?id=&c=&eventid=226333859

RFU Safeguarding Notification

November 29th, 2016 by

In order to continue to provide a safe and positive environment for children all club safeguarding officers and all club committee members must read and be familiar with Regulation 21 (Safeguarding) and RFU Safeguarding Policy . Anyone involved in rugby union  must report safeguarding concerns to the RFU Safeguarding Team.

The RFU’s Safeguarding Policy, Toolkit and RFU Regulation 21 sets out our requirements and aims to assist clubs in ensuring that the welfare of children remains of paramount importance. We also offer clubs an effective safeguarding training programme for all members of the game. We would strongly recommend that anyone involved in rugby (specifically those within the under the age 18 game) attend. You will find further information on our training on the England Rugby website.

We have previously communicated to the game our requirements in managing Safeguarding concerns/incidents and the DBS (Disclosure & Barring Service) applications. In order to ensure you are familiar with our requirements, please see the following information –

Safeguarding Children

The RFU believes that the wellbeing of children involved in rugby is of paramount importance and has jurisdiction to deal with any allegation of abuse of a child, any breach of the Safeguarding Policy and or any breach of Regulation 21.

Concerns must be dealt with in accordance with the RFU Policy and Regulations to assess the most appropriate manner of dealing with them.  Some incidents may need referral to Statutory Agencies, such as police or children’s services, while if the child is not in immediate danger the RFU Safeguarding Team will take action. However, even apparently low-level concerns may require the RFU to seek initial advice from Statutory Agencies.

It is essential to refer concerns to the RFU at the earliest opportunity to ensure that children are kept safe.  Concerns may then be delegated back to a club or CB to manage.

It is vitally important that no investigation is carried out by the club, other than gathering information prior to informing the RFU. This is so as not to jeopardise any police investigation or criminal proceedings and also to preserve evidence. This is especially relevant when dealing with cases involving inappropriate use of the internet and social media.

When referring matters to the RFU Safeguarding Team please use the incident report form which can be found here:

http://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding/reporting-an-incident

Disclosure and Barring Service – DBS

The DBS process is a crucial part of an effective recruitment process. Any club operating rugby for those under the age of 18 is deemed a children’s service provider, which means that certain legislation and commitments must be adhered to.

RFU Regulation 21.2 describes the requirements of the RFU DBS process, further information is provided in the RFU Safeguarding Policy of the requirements within a rugby setting.

One significant aspect of providing a children’s service is ensuring that a thorough recruitment process is followed, including interviewing potential volunteers, seeking references, checking qualifications are valid, on-going monitoring and carrying out DBS checks via the RFU.

All DBS applications must be obtained through the RFU Safeguarding Department and DBS disclosures issued through other Registered Bodies are not accepted.

The DBS issue a certificate for ALL DBS applications – therefore, simply having a DBS certificate does not mean applicants have been approved by the RFU. The certificate is sent directly from the DBS to the applicant’s home address and the RFU does not receive a copy of the DBS disclosure. All applications and results are, however,  actively monitored by the RFU Safeguarding Team.

Only when an individual appears on GMS with a “current” DBS status are they deemed “approved/cleared” to work unsupervised with U18s, so it is crucial that clubs monitor GMS, have an up-to-date Child Workforce list and manage those engaged in the youth game.

If a DBS returns containing information, the RFU will instigate the DBS Case Management Process and failure to comply with this process will result in the individual being removed from coaching U18s.

On occasion, the RFU will contact a club requesting a reference for an individual. It is imperative that written communication is supplied upon request so that the RFU can carry out a thorough risk assessment when managing a DBS disclosure.

Applicants (and clubs where necessary) will be informed of the outcome of the DBS Case Management Process in writing. Additionally the GMS site will be updated to reflect a Current or Rejected DBS status.

Only when a “current” status appears against an individual on GMS are they deemed “DBS cleared” by the RFU.

N-Pro Headgear – Important Notice

November 16th, 2016 by

Some of you may be aware of a new headgear product called N-Pro which has just launched and has received some media coverage.

We have been advised that the head guard currently does not meet World Rugby specifications and is being evaluated by the developers. Until this process is complete, World Rugby has requested that the headgear is not worn in any rugby match and this information is communicated to any players who may wish to wear the product.

The England Rugby RugbySafe online Essential Guides and FAQs provide useful information and guidelines on a number of player welfare issues including the use of head guards and other protective equipment.  For more information, click HERE.

Don’t be a HEADCASE is the RFUs concussion awareness programme. For key information and guidance on concussion, click HERE  

For any queries regarding the above, please email [email protected].

NLD Game Development Conference

June 15th, 2016 by

Last Saturday, June 11th, the first Game Development Conference took place at Samworth Church Academy in Mansfield. This has replaced what used to be known as the Coaching Conference with the aim of being more inclusive and drawing in Match Officials , Volunteers, Coaches and Medical support as integral parts of the “Rugby Family”.

NLD Head of Game Development, Dave Andrews said, “I was really pleased that we had over 70 people attend, particularly as the weather forecast was unpromising and Australia v England was on the TV.”

gamedevelopconf2

Among the guest speakers were Darren Gourley the RFU Area Training Manager, John Widdowson the RFU Midlands Match Official Development Officer, Paul Carrol the NLD Referee Society Chairman, and Marcus Caton a highly respected and successful locally based Referee who entertained and informed us with tales from his journey from a small town in Australia to refereeing at Twickenham.

Simon Worsnop, the RFU National Fitness Manager, skilfully aided by local CRC Calvin Beech, then entertainingly delivered the new CPD “ Managing Contact” which he himself had written for the RFU.  It emphasised the importance of “specificity” in designing games to develop “Fitness” and demonstrated games, drills and exercises which could be delivered with this in mind.

Feedback on the day has been positive and appreciative and planning has already begun for next year’s conference.

Special thanks must go to those players from the NLD U17/18 squad who turned up and took part in the delivery of some of the more strenuous activities, thus enabling some of the attendees to wake up on Sunday morning and be able to get out of bed without additional help!

Play it Safe Courses

January 15th, 2016 by

There are still spaces available on Play it Safe courses running in the next few weeks.

Paviors on 25th January 6:30 pm
Matlock on 1st February at 6:30 pm
Chesterfield on 3rd February at 6:30 pm

This course is for any volunteer or coach at a club who is working with or has responsibility for children and vulnerable adults within rugby.

By the end of the course participants will be able to –

  • Identify best practice and apply this within rugby
  • Know where to find support and guidance within the RFU
  • Identify signs and indicators of possible abuse and poor practice
  • State action to take if there is a concern or disclosure
  • Recognise their role in safeguarding and protecting children and vulnerable adults

For more information on Play it Safe courses please click here.

To make a booking please click here.

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