Wivenhoe Bowls Club affiliates to the National Governing Body and the Club recognises the policies of their Governing Body, as set in out in the “Safeguarding Bowls Guidelines”.
Policy Aims
The purpose of this policy is to outline the duty and responsibility of those working on behalf of the Wivenhoe Bowls Club in relation to Safeguarding Adults at risk.
All adults have the right to be safe from harm and must be able to live free from fear 
of abuse, neglect and exploitation.
Objectives
Everyone who participates in bowls is entitled to do so in a safe and enjoyable environment.
* The Club is committed to helping everyone in bowls accept their responsibility to safeguard adults at risk from harm and abuse.
* All suspicions and allegations of abuse and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
* Those working with adults at risk in bowls have a responsibility to report concerns
to their Club Safeguarding Officer.
Definition of an Adult at Risk
* Adult at Risk is a person aged 18 or over who is in need of care and support regardless of
whether they are receiving it, and because of those needs are unable to protect
themselves against abuse or neglect.
* Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by another person or persons
* Adult is anyone aged 18 or over
* Adult safeguarding is protecting a person’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect.
* Capacity refers to the ability to make a decision at a particular time, for example when under
considerable stress. The starting assumption must always be that a person has the
capacity to make a decision unless it can be established that they lack capacity (MCA 2005).
Types of Abuse
The Department of Health in its “No Secrets” 2000 report suggests the following as the main types of abuse:
* Physical abuse – including hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate sanctions.
* Sexual abuse – including rape and sexual assault or sexual acts to which the vulnerable adult has not consented, or could not consent 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, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.
* Financial or material abuse – including theft, fraud, exploitation, pressure in connection with wills, property or inheritance or financial transactions or the misuse or misappropriation of  property, possessions or benefits.
* Neglect and acts of omission – including ignoring medical or physical care needs, failure to provide access to appropriate health, social care or educational services, the withholding
of the necessities of life such as medication adequate nutrition and heating.
* Discriminatory abuse – including race, sex, culture, religion, politics, that is based on a person’s disability, age or sexuality and other forms of harassment, slurs or similar
treatment,  hate crime.
Approved Jan 2021
Responsibilities and Communication
* The Wivenhoe Bowls Club Safeguarding Policy will be available to all members, volunteers and participants. It is important that adults at risk are protected from abuse. All complaints, allegations or suspicions must be taken seriously with the Club Safeguarding Officer passing    information to the appropriate national governing body Safeguarding Officer and informing
the appropriate club staff where relevant.
* The Club has responsibility for ensuring that the policy and procedures are implemented, including referring any appropriate disciplinary action to the national governing body
as appropriate.
The Role of Key Individual Agencies
* Adult Social Services – The Department of Health’s recent ‘No secrets’ guidance document requires that authorities develop a local framework within which all responsible agencies
work together to ensure a coherent policy for the protection of vulnerable adults at
risk of abuse.
* The Police – The Police play a vital role in Safeguarding Adults with cases involving alleged  criminal acts. It becomes the responsibility of the police to investigate allegations of crime
by preserving and gathering evidence. Where a crime is identified, the police will be the lead agency and they will direct investigations in line with legal and other procedural protocols.
Legal Framework
* The Care Act 2014 sets out a legal framework for safeguarding adults. Each local authority must have a Safeguarding Adults Board (SAB) that includes the local authority, NHS and the    police. The Act also introduces a responsibility for Local Authorities to make enquiries and take any necessary action if an adult with care and support needs could be at risk, even if that adult isn’t receiving local authority care and support.
* The Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
* Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims (Amendment) Act 2012
* The Equality Act 2010
* The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006
* Mental Capacity Act 2005
* Sexual Offences Act 2003
* The Human Rights Act 1998
* The Data Protection Act 2018
Monitoring and Review
* This policy will be reviewed one year after being introduced and then every three years or in response to significant new legislation by the Management Committee and amended as    appropriate. Guidance from Bowls National Governing Bodies will be sought as part of the review process.
* The policy will be monitored in partnership with the Bowls National Governing Bodies and Bowls Development Alliance procedures.