ISC Safeguarding Policy | ISC Wellbeing

Inner Strength Group Ltd – Safeguarding Policy 2025/26

1. Purpose and Aims

1.1 Inner Strength Group Ltd is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk engaged in our programmes. This includes football coaching, sports psychology and wellbeing workshops, educational camps, mentoring, and related activities delivered in the UK and overseas.

1.2 Our aim is to ensure every participant experiences a safe, positive and respectful environment and is protected from harm, including neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, exploitation, discrimination, bullying, harassment, radicalisation, and other forms of maltreatment.

1.3 This policy provides clear expectations and direction for all staff, volunteers, coaches, consultants, contractors, partners and participants. It applies to all settings where we deliver activities (UK and internationally), and across all ages, abilities and delivery methods.

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

All staff, associates, consultants, contractors, volunteers and interns engaged by Inner Strength Group Ltd, including UK-based and overseas delivery.
All participants in our programmes (children, young people and adults at risk) across coaching, camps, workshops, education programmes and sports psychology interventions.
All delivery locations and modes including club facilities, school sites, camps overseas (including Europe, Africa and the USA), online provision, and face-to-face sessions.

3. Key Principles

Inner Strength Group Ltd adopts the following safeguarding principles:

Everyone has the right to be protected from abuse and harm regardless of age, gender identity, religion, culture, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, disability, neurodivergence, or level of ability.
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
We recognise additional vulnerability for individuals with learning needs, communication differences, invisible disabilities and those experiencing trauma.
Concerns, allegations or disclosures will be taken seriously and responded to promptly, proportionately and appropriately.
Confidentiality will be respected, however the safety and welfare of the individual is the overriding priority and may require information sharing.
We are committed to listening to participants and supporting them to express their views and concerns.
We will ensure all staff and volunteers receive appropriate induction, training, supervision and support.

4. Roles and Responsibilities

4.1 Board/Management Team

Holds overall accountability for safeguarding arrangements.
Ensures sufficient resources, staffing, training and governance to implement this policy effectively.

4.2 Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

Leads on safeguarding policy implementation, training, reporting procedures and oversight.
Receives and responds to concerns, maintains safeguarding records, and liaises with statutory agencies where required.
Ensures risk assessments are completed for programmes and venues, including overseas delivery.

4.3 All Staff, Volunteers and Associates

Must read and follow this policy, attend required safeguarding training, maintain professional boundaries, and report concerns immediately.
Must record concerns accurately and never promise confidentiality to a child, young person or adult at risk.

4.4 Participants, Parents/Carers and Partners

Are encouraged to raise concerns if they believe someone may be at risk of harm or if safeguarding standards are not being met.

5. Safer Recruitment, Induction and Training

5.1 All staff and volunteers who undertake regulated activity or have significant access to children or adults at risk will be subject to safer recruitment processes. This includes:

Role clarity and safeguarding responsibilities in job descriptions
Identity checks and right-to-work checks (where applicable)
Appropriate references
Interview and safeguarding-based questions
DBS checks at the appropriate level for the role (and overseas equivalents where relevant)
Verification of qualifications and professional memberships where required

5.2 Induction and ongoing training will include:

Recognising signs of abuse and harm
Professional boundaries and code of conduct
Responding to disclosures
Recording and reporting procedures
Data protection, confidentiality and information sharing
Online safety and use of technology
Managing challenging behaviour safely and appropriately

5.3 Refresher training will be provided at regular intervals. The DSL will maintain a record of training completion.

6. Procedures for Reporting and Responding to Concerns

6.1 Immediate action

If a person is at immediate risk of harm, call emergency services (999 in the UK) and then inform the DSL as soon as possible.

6.2 Reporting route

Any safeguarding concern, suspicion, disclosure or allegation must be reported to the DSL immediately (or the Deputy DSL if the DSL is unavailable).
Staff must not investigate concerns themselves.

6.3 Recording
All concerns must be recorded as soon as possible and include:

Date and time
People involved
What was observed, heard or disclosed (in the person’s words where possible)
Actions taken
Outcome and any follow-up required

6.4 Referral to external agencies

The organisation will follow relevant local authority procedures and liaise with statutory agencies such as Children’s Social Care, the Police, the Safeguarding Adults Board or equivalent overseas authorities, when required.
Where appropriate, advice will be sought from the relevant Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) in the UK for allegations involving staff or volunteers.

7. Professional Boundaries and Conduct

7.1 All staff and volunteers must maintain professional boundaries at all times. This includes:

Appropriate language and behaviour
No bullying, humiliation, intimidation, discrimination or inappropriate relationships
Clear boundaries for physical contact, always informed by safety, consent and context
Appropriate use of social media and messaging, in line with organisational guidance

7.2 Concerns about conduct or boundary violations must be reported promptly to the DSL.

8. Online Safety, Photography and Filming

8.1 Online delivery, messaging and remote interventions must be risk assessed and delivered using approved platforms and safeguarding controls.

8.2 Photography/filming of participants will only take place with appropriate consent and must be stored and used securely. Images must never be used in ways that compromise privacy, dignity or safety.

9. Partnerships and Overseas Delivery

9.1 Safeguarding applies equally in international settings. For overseas delivery, Inner Strength Group Ltd will:

Complete safeguarding and venue risk assessments
Identify local safeguarding contacts and reporting routes
Confirm appropriate supervision ratios and emergency procedures
Ensure partners meet or exceed our safeguarding standards
Put written agreements in place that include safeguarding expectations and escalation processes

10. Records and Information Sharing

10.1 Safeguarding records will be stored securely and accessed only by those who need them in order to protect welfare.

10.2 Information sharing decisions will prioritise safety and welfare. Consent will be sought where appropriate unless doing so increases risk or is not in the public interest.

10.3 Record keeping and information sharing will comply with UK GDPR and relevant legislation.

11. Monitoring and Review

11.1 This policy will be reviewed annually, or sooner if there are changes in legislation, best practice, organisational structure, or significant learning from incidents.

11.2 The DSL will monitor implementation including training completion, incident reporting, and outcomes, and will make recommendations for improvement to the Board/Management.

Contact Details

If you have any safeguarding concerns or wish to raise an issue, please contact:

Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Peter Dutton
Email: peter@isc-wellbeing.co.uk
Phone: +44 7956 101 978

If you believe someone is at immediate risk of harm call 999.
For non-emergency police support in the UK call 101.
You may also contact your local authority safeguarding team.

Approval

This policy was approved by Inner Strength Group Ltd on 08/01/2026.
Next review due by 08/01/2027