Policies

Court De Padel Safeguarding Policy

Children, Young People and Adults at Risk

2 single Super Panoramic Courts | 6 double Super Panoramic Courts | Toilets and changing facilities

Policy owner: Court De Padel
Version: 1.0
Effective date: 7 September 2026
Review date: 7 September 2027

1. Purpose and Scope

Court De Padel is committed to providing a safe, welcoming, inclusive and enjoyable environment for everyone using the club. This policy sets out how the club prevents, identifies and responds to safeguarding concerns involving children and young people under 18 and adults at risk.

The policy applies to directors, managers, employees, coaches, contractors, volunteers, members, visitors, parents and carers, and anyone else involved in activities at or representing Court De Padel.

Court De Padel will work in line with applicable UK law and recognised sport safeguarding practice, including the principles used by the LTA for tennis and padel venues and relevant statutory safeguarding guidance.

2. Our Safeguarding Commitment

– Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
– The welfare and best interests of children are paramount.
– Everyone has an equal right to protection from abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying and discrimination.
– Concerns will be taken seriously, acted upon promptly and shared only where necessary and lawful.
– Court De Padel will maintain an environment in which people feel safe to speak up.
– Staff and coaches will be expected to model appropriate, respectful behaviour at all times.
– Safeguarding arrangements will be reviewed regularly and after significant incidents or changes to the club.

3. Safeguarding Roles and Responsibilities

Court De Padel will appoint a designated Welfare and Safeguarding Officer responsible for coordinating safeguarding arrangements. The club will display the Welfare Officer’s name and contact details prominently at the venue and ensure staff know how to report concerns.

– The Welfare and Safeguarding Officer receives and records concerns, provides advice, makes referrals where appropriate and maintains safeguarding records.
– Club management is responsible for ensuring safeguarding policies, risk assessments, training and safer recruitment arrangements are implemented.
– Coaches and staff must report concerns immediately and must never promise a child or adult at risk complete confidentiality.
– All members and visitors are expected to report behaviour that causes concern.
– Where a concern involves the Welfare and Safeguarding Officer, it must be reported to another senior manager or director, or directly to the appropriate external safeguarding authority.

4. Recognising Safeguarding Concerns

Safeguarding concerns may relate to abuse or neglect occurring at the club, elsewhere, online, or historically. Possible concerns include:

– Physical abuse or inappropriate physical contact.
– Emotional or psychological abuse, intimidation or humiliation.
– Sexual abuse, sexualised behaviour, grooming or exploitation.
– Neglect or failure to meet basic care or safety needs.
– Bullying, cyberbullying, harassment or discriminatory behaviour.
– Domestic abuse, exploitation, radicalisation or other forms of harm affecting a participant.
– Self-harm or serious wellbeing concerns where safeguarding intervention may be required.
– Abuse or neglect of an adult at risk, including financial, discriminatory, organisational or self-neglect concerns.

5. Children and Young People

For safeguarding purposes, a child means anyone under 18. Court De Padel will take additional care where children attend coaching, camps, competitions, social sessions or other club activities.

– Parents and carers should receive clear information about junior activities, collection arrangements and emergency contacts.
– Coaches should avoid being alone with a child wherever reasonably possible and should use observable, interruptible spaces.
– One-to-one coaching with a child should only take place where appropriate safeguards are in place and the arrangement is known to the parent or carer and the club.
– Physical contact must be appropriate, necessary, explained where possible and never used as punishment.
– Children should be encouraged to speak to a trusted adult if something makes them uncomfortable or unsafe.
– A child should never be transported by a staff member or volunteer unless the arrangement has been authorised and appropriate consent and safeguarding controls are in place.
– Parents and carers remain responsible for the supervision and safety of children under 16 outside organised activities for which Court De Padel has accepted responsibility. Court De Padel cannot accept responsibility for an incident arising from a child being left unattended where the club has not agreed to provide supervision. If a child is found unattended, staff may take reasonable steps to safeguard them and contact the parent or carer, or emergency services where necessary.
– Children under 16 must not be left unattended at the club by a parent or carer unless they are participating in an organised activity where Court De Padel has expressly accepted responsibility for their supervision.

6. Adults at Risk

Court De Padel recognises that adults may be at increased risk of harm because of care and support needs, disability, illness, age, mental capacity or other circumstances. The club will promote dignity, choice, independence and participation while taking concerns seriously.

– Respect an adult’s wishes and autonomy wherever possible.
– Take action where there is an immediate risk of serious harm.
– Consider capacity and communication needs when responding to concerns.
– Do not tolerate abuse, coercion, exploitation or discriminatory treatment.

7. Safer Recruitment, Coaches and Staff

– Roles involving regulated activity with children will be assessed for the appropriate criminal record and DBS checks.
– References and relevant qualifications will be checked for appropriate roles.
– Coaches working with juniors should hold appropriate qualifications or accreditation and safeguarding training.
– New staff and volunteers will receive safeguarding induction before undertaking relevant duties.
– Safeguarding training and checks will be renewed or reviewed in accordance with applicable requirements.
– Any allegation concerning a member of staff, coach or volunteer will be handled fairly but will prioritise the safety of participants.

8. Courts, Coaching and Club Activities

Court De Padel operates two single Super Panoramic Courts and six double Super Panoramic Courts. The open nature and visibility of the courts should be used to support safe practice.

– Court access, coaching sessions and organised activities must be supervised appropriately for the age and needs of participants.
– Coaches must follow venue risk assessments and emergency procedures.
– Participants must be instructed to follow court rules and report hazards or injuries.
– Staff should remain alert to inappropriate behaviour, intimidation, unsafe physical contact or signs of distress.
– No participant should be pressured to continue playing when they feel unsafe, unwell or distressed.
– Alcohol or other impairment must never affect a staff member’s ability to safeguard participants.

9. Toilets and Changing Facilities

Court De Padel provides toilets and changing facilities. Privacy and dignity must be protected, particularly for children and adults at risk.

– Staff and coaches should not enter changing rooms or toilet areas occupied by children except where there is a genuine safeguarding, medical or emergency reason.
– Where entry is necessary, staff should announce themselves, use the least intrusive approach possible and, where practicable, have another adult present.
– Photography or filming is strictly prohibited in toilets and changing areas.
– No member of staff should change or shower in a way that compromises the privacy of children using the facilities.
– Children should not be left unsupervised in circumstances where the club has accepted responsibility for their supervision.
– Any allegation, suspicion or report of inappropriate behaviour in changing facilities must be reported immediately.

10. Photography, Filming and Social Media

– Photography and filming of children will only take place in accordance with appropriate parental or carer consent and club procedures.
– Images must be respectful and suitable for the activity. Changing rooms and toilets are strictly off-limits.
– Personal devices should not be used by staff to privately communicate with children unless there is a legitimate, authorised club purpose and appropriate safeguards.
– Staff should not accept inappropriate private social media contact from children or use disappearing-message services for safeguarding-related communication.
– Concerns about online grooming, sexual content, harassment or inappropriate contact must be reported as safeguarding concerns.

11. Equality, Inclusion, Bullying and Harassment

Court De Padel is committed to an inclusive environment. Bullying, harassment and discriminatory conduct will not be accepted, whether on court, in the clubhouse, online or during club events.

– Concerns will be addressed promptly and proportionately.
– Reasonable adjustments will be considered for disabled participants.
– Staff will challenge discriminatory or abusive language and behaviour.
– The club will consider safeguarding implications where bullying or harassment causes significant distress or risk of harm.

12. Responding to a Safeguarding Concern

If someone tells you they are being harmed, or you observe something that concerns you:

1. Listen calmly and take the concern seriously.
2. Do not investigate, interrogate or ask leading questions. Clarify only what is necessary to understand immediate safety.
3. Reassure the person that they have done the right thing by speaking up.
4. Do not promise secrecy. Explain that information may need to be shared to keep them safe.
5. Record the facts as soon as possible, using the person’s own words where appropriate, with the date, time and names of those involved.
6. Report the concern immediately to the Court De Padel Welfare and Safeguarding Officer or senior manager.
7. If there is immediate danger or a crime may be in progress, contact emergency services on 999.
8. Where appropriate, the Welfare Officer or management will contact the relevant local safeguarding authority, police, LTA safeguarding team or other specialist agency.

13. Safeguarding Reporting Flow

Immediate danger, serious injury or crime in progress
Call 999. Then inform the Welfare and Safeguarding Officer or senior management as soon as it is safe to do so.

Concern about a child or adult at risk
Report immediately to the Welfare and Safeguarding Officer. Record factual details.

Concern about a coach, staff member or volunteer
Report to the Welfare and Safeguarding Officer or a senior manager. Do not confront the person or investigate yourself.

Concern involves the Welfare and Safeguarding Officer
Report to another senior manager or director, and/or the relevant external safeguarding authority.

Concern is not immediately urgent
Still report it promptly. Do not assume someone else will do so.

14. Allegations Against Staff, Coaches or Volunteers

Any allegation that a staff member, coach or volunteer has harmed, abused, neglected or behaved inappropriately towards a child or adult at risk will be treated seriously.

– The priority is the safety and wellbeing of the participant.
– The individual concerned will not normally conduct the investigation into the allegation.
– The club will seek advice from the appropriate safeguarding authority and the LTA where relevant.
– Suspension or temporary changes to duties may be considered where necessary to manage risk. This is not a finding of guilt.
– Confidentiality will be maintained as far as possible, subject to safeguarding and legal requirements.

15. Confidentiality, Information Sharing and Records

– Safeguarding information will be stored securely with access restricted to those who need it.
– Records should be factual, dated and contemporaneous wherever possible.
– Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis and where necessary to protect a person from harm.
– The club will comply with applicable data protection requirements.
– Records will be retained securely for an appropriate period in accordance with legal, regulatory and organisational requirements.

16. Visitors, Contractors and Events

– Contractors and external providers must follow relevant venue safeguarding requirements while on site.
– Event organisers are responsible for ensuring appropriate safeguarding arrangements for their activities.
– External coaches or providers working with children must meet the club’s safeguarding and safer recruitment requirements.
– Visitors should not be given unsupervised access to children participating in organised junior activities.

17. Whistleblowing

Anyone who has a genuine concern that safeguarding practice at Court De Padel is inadequate, or that a concern is being ignored, is encouraged to raise it. No person should be victimised for raising a genuine safeguarding concern in good faith.

18. Emergency and Lost Child Response

– If a child is missing during an organised activity, inform the session lead or manager immediately and activate the club’s lost-child procedure.
– Do not leave other children unsupervised while searching unless adequate supervision has been arranged.
– Contact the parent or carer promptly where appropriate.
– If there is reason to believe the child is at immediate risk or has been abducted, contact 999 without delay.
– Record the incident and notify the Welfare and Safeguarding Officer.

19. Staff and Coach Code of Conduct

– Treat everyone with dignity, fairness and respect.
– Maintain professional boundaries at all times.
– Never use humiliating, threatening, sexualised or discriminatory language.
– Never use physical punishment.
– Avoid unnecessary one-to-one situations with children and keep interactions observable and interruptible.
– Do not engage in inappropriate private messaging or social media contact with children.
– Never photograph or film children in toilets or changing areas.
– Report concerns promptly rather than attempting to deal with them alone.
– Follow all club health, safety, safeguarding and emergency procedures.

20. Safeguarding Concern Record: Minimum Information

– Date and time of concern
– Name and age of the person at risk, if known
– Name of the person reporting
– What was seen, heard or disclosed
– Exact words used, where relevant
– Who was present and any witnesses
– Immediate action taken
– Who the concern was reported to, and when
– External agencies contacted, if applicable
– Follow-up actions and outcome

21. Policy Review and Governance

This policy will be reviewed at least annually, and sooner if there is a significant incident, a change in law, a change to the club’s activities or facilities, or updated safeguarding guidance. Court De Padel will seek to keep its procedures aligned with current LTA safeguarding expectations and applicable UK statutory guidance.

22. Key External Safeguarding References

– LTA Safeguarding Policy and Procedures: tennis and padel safeguarding guidance.
– LTA Venue Safeguarding Standards: safeguarding expectations for registered venues.
– Working Together to Safeguard Children: statutory safeguarding guidance in England.
– Local authority children’s social care and adult safeguarding services.
– Police and emergency services where immediate protection or criminal investigation is required.

Court De Padel | Safeguarding Policy | Version 1.0