SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Mini Mermaids has a moral and legal obligation to ensure all participations involved in Mini Mermaids activities can do so in an enjoyable and safe environment. This policy has been devised to promotegood practice within tutoring and instructing of MermaidsUK courses, providing children, young people and vulnerable adults with an appropriate and safe learning environment by implementing regulations and policies; ensuring tutors and instructors accept their responsibilities to safeguard those from harm and abuse.

Entry Regulations

Any person who wishes to become a MermaidsUK Instructor must have the following requirements to ensure their safety and the safety of others;

*  Be 16 years of age

*  Hold a Level 2 Swimming Teachers Qualification2

  • *  Have an up to date DBS check
  • *  Be a member of MermaidsUK
  • *  Sign NO to the question asking if the candidate has been convicted, cautioned or 
investigated by the police in relation to any allegation of a sexual offence MermaidsUK also recommend each instructor hold the following:
  • *  Hold a minimum of a pool safety qualification3

*  Hold a Safeguarding Certificate that is no more than 3 years old 
If a person who wishes to become a MermaidsUK Instructor does not have any of the above qualifications or documents, MermaidsUK will happily advise on completion or receiving the requirements. When completing any MermaidsUK Course or CPD, the participant must provide the tutor with a form of photographic identification.

  • *  Providing a safe learning environment for children, young people and vulnerable persons

*  All children, young people and vulnerable persons should be entitled to partake in 
MermaidsUK activities provided they meet the minimum requirements set out in our swim 
test

*  MermaidsUK will ensure safeguarding policies are reviewed and updated every 12 months 
with easy access for any person involved in MermaidsUK activities

*  Tutors and instructors wishing to promote MermaidsUK activities will ensure their pre- 
requisite qualifications are maintained and kept up to date at all times; failure to do so will result in MermaidsUK being unable to support the tutor/instructor in the event of an allegation or opening of a case file

  • *  Reporting any suspicions and allegation of poor practice or abuse

*  Taking care to respond to suspicions and allegations, whilst doing so in an appropriate and 
swift manner to deal with the case in accordance to this safeguarding policy

*  Maintain a safe and appropriate distance between instructor and participant however when 
physical contact or manual handling is required consent must be retained from both parties 
to avoid any inappropriate or wrongful actions

Good Practice

MermaidsUK and all personnel representing MermaidsUK are committed to the following;

* Ensure changing room policies are public knowledge to all those involved in MermaidsUK activities when using any pool facility; any one over the age of 8
years must change in their own sex changing room unless needing extra support from a parent or guardian. If this parent/guardian is not the same sex as the child/young person then arrangements must be made with the instructor to provide an alternative changing area

Responding, Recording and Reporting Allegations and Suspicions

No person has the legal right to assume or decide on an individual basis whether or not abuse has taken place. If any personnel has concerns they must act on them responsibly with the appropriate necessary actions to protect both parties.

In the event of receiving a possible allegation of abuse, the receiver must comply with the following;

  • *  Stay calm to ensure a non-threatening environment for both parties
  • *  Reassure the individual informing them they are not to blame and did the right thing by 
speaking out
  • *  Listen to the individual, showing respect and that they are being taken seriously
  • *  Minimise the questions asked to ensure the individual is disclosing the information on their 
own accord
  • *  Inform the individual that you will have to speak to your safeguarding officer about what 
they have told you to help them
  • *  Safety of the individual is paramount. If the individual needs urgent medical care, call the 
appropriate services, inform those concerned and make them aware that it is a safeguarding 
issue
  • *  Record all information as soon as you can to ensure all is accurate and true to what the 
individual described to you
  • *  Report the concern and information to the safeguarding officer within your workplace 
When recording a safeguarding issue, the following information should be recorded accurately;
  • *  Individuals name and date of birth
  • *  Individuals home address and telephone number
  • *  Is the individual expressing concern for themselves or another person
  • *  The nature of the concern
  • *  Description of any visible injury
  • *  Details of any witness to the incidents
  • *  Has any family member been contacted; parent/guardian when dealing with a child
  • *  Has anyone else been consulted with the issue
  • *  Has anyone been named as the abuser 
Safeguarding complaint 
In the event of a MermaidsUK Tutor or Instructor receiving a safeguarding allegation against themselves, the alleged will be suspended immediately whilst an investigation is undertaken within house. 
MermaidsUK will then report the allegation to their designated safeguarding officer within 1 working day, prior to any investigation.

Mini Mermaids will then seek advice from the necessary areas and report the allegation to the required services up to and including the local safeguarding children’s board, social services and the police.

Mini Mermaids will endeavour to ensure that the accused member of staff is treated fairly and honestly and helped to understand the concerns expressed and processes involved. They will also help to ensure the member of staff is kept informed of the progress and outcome of any investigation and the implications for any disciplinary or related process.

Every effort will be made by Mini Mermaids to keep all information confidential except when required, Mini Mermaids will share the necessary information with all parties and services involved.

Anti-bullying

Mini Mermaids does not condone or accept bullying behaviour of any kind. We endeavour to ensure all MermaidsUK instructors are aware of our safeguarding policy and are able to ensure that any bullying found to be taking place within and activities are dealt with in the correct manner. In the event that bullying is found within any Mini Mermaids activity we will ensure that it is addressed and reported to our designated safeguarding officer when required.

Photography Regulations

As part of Mini Mermaid sessions photographs and videos are offered by Mini Mermaids personnel.

Tutors and instructors of Mini Mermaids wishing to take photographs or films of Mini Mermaids activities must ensure those involved have read and signed the Mini Mermaids photo consent form to allow this. Anyone who refuses to sign must not be photographed. Tutors and instructors of Mini Mermaids wishing to use any photographs or footage taken during Mini Mermaid activities must have gained written consent from the individual beforehand.

Spectators wishing to take their own photographs can only do so if all participants within the session have ticked the box allowing this on the consent forms. If one or more participant chooses not to tick the box then no photographs can be taken by spectators.

1A child/young person is defined as a person under the age of 18 (Children’s Act 1989)

2Swimming Teachers Association (STA) – www.sta.co.uk or Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) – www.swimming.org/asa/

3STA – Safety Award for Teachers (SAT) or Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) – National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC)