Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults Policy

Protecting everyone in our care.

Entity: School Of Fish

Jurisdiction: United Kingdom

Date of Review: 01/01/2026

Next Review Date: 01/01/2027

Last Amended: 04/07/2026 (Sections 10 and 11 added; Incident Report Form linked; Adults at Risk Policy cross-referenced)

1. Policy Statement

School Of Fish acknowledges its duty of care to safeguard the welfare of all children and young people (under 18) and adults at risk involved in our angling coaching and training activities.

We are committed to ensuring that every participant, regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation, or identity, has the right to protection from all forms of harm, abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Adults at risk are covered in greater depth by our Adults at Risk Policy.

2. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to:

• All Staff: Paid coaches, freelance coaches, and administrators.
• Trainee Coaches: Adults undergoing professional development with us.
• Volunteers: Anyone assisting on the bankside.
• External Contractors: Guest speakers or specialist demonstrators.

3. Key Roles and Responsibilities

3.1 The Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)

School Of Fish has a nominated person responsible for safeguarding issues.

• Name: Ulvis Strokss
• Phone: 07713 177685
• Email: safeguarding@schooloffish.co.uk

The DSL is responsible for:

• Receiving and recording information from staff, parents, or participants regarding safeguarding concerns.
• Assessing information promptly and carefully.
• Referring cases to the Local Authority Children's Social Care or the Police when necessary.

3.2 Staff and Volunteers

All staff must read this policy and are responsible for reporting any concerns about a child's welfare to the DSL immediately.

4. Safer Recruitment

To prevent unsuitable people from working with children, School Of Fish enforces a strict recruitment procedure:

• DBS Checks: All coaches and volunteers with regular access to children must undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• References: At least two professional references will be sought and verified for all new staff and trainee coaches.
• Qualifications: Verification of coaching qualifications and First Aid certification.

5. Code of Conduct: Bankside & Coaching Practice

Due to the nature of angling (remote locations, use of equipment, physical guidance), specific rules apply:

5.1 Physical Contact

• Principle: Physical contact should be minimal, appropriate, and open.
• Permitted Contact: Guiding a child's hand on the rod handle for casting, or assisting with holding a fish safely.
• Procedure: Coaches must ask permission before touching a participant (for example, "Is it okay if I guide your arm for this cast?").
• Prohibited: Any contact that is invasive, secretive, or unnecessary.

5.2 One-to-One Situations

• Coaches must avoid being alone with a child in a secluded area.
• All coaching should take place within sight or hearing of others (parents, other coaches, or the main group).
• If a child requires assistance away from the group (for example, a tangled line in bushes), two adults should ideally be present.

5.3 Transport

School Of Fish staff must never transport a child in their private vehicle unless in a specific emergency and accompanied by another adult, or with explicit written parental consent.

6. Recognising and Responding to Concerns

6.1 Signs of Abuse

Staff are trained to look for signs of:

• Physical Abuse: Unexplained bruises, injuries, or fear of physical contact.
• Emotional Abuse: Withdrawn behaviour, fear of making mistakes, or aggression.
• Neglect: Inadequate clothing for the weather, consistent hunger, or poor hygiene.

6.2 Reporting Procedure (The 3 Rs)

If a staff member or trainee coach has a concern:

1. Recognise: Accept the concern is real. Do not investigate or ask leading questions.
2. Record: Write down exactly what was seen or heard (using the child's own words where possible) on an Incident Report Form. Include the date, time, and witnesses.
3. Report: Pass the information to the DSL immediately. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

7. Allegations Against Staff

If an allegation is made against a School Of Fish staff member or trainee coach:

1. The accused will be suspended from duties immediately pending investigation, without prejudice.
2. The DSL will contact the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) for advice within 24 hours.
3. We will cooperate fully with any police or social care investigation.

8. Photography and Digital Safety

• Consent: No image of a child is taken, used, or published without the written consent of a parent or guardian. For catch submissions, this consent is captured on the submission form, and it can be withdrawn at any time.
• Purpose: Images are used only for School Of Fish purposes, including coaching records, the Diploma, and School Of Fish's own channels and materials. They are not for personal use.
• Handling: Images are submitted through official School Of Fish channels. Once submitted, they should not be retained on personal devices, and must not be shared, copied, or forwarded privately.
• Publication: Any image of a child published by School Of Fish carries a visible watermark.
• Suitability: No image is taken or used that could embarrass or place a child at risk, or that shows a child inappropriately dressed.
• Social media: Staff and trainee coaches must not post images of junior participants on personal social media, and must not accept friend requests from or follow junior participants on personal accounts. All communication goes through official channels or via parents.

9. Whistleblowing

School Of Fish encourages a culture of openness. If a staff member or trainee feels unable to report a concern to the DSL (for example, if the concern is about the DSL), they should contact the NSPCC Whistleblowing Helpline on 0800 028 0285 or the Angling Trust Safeguarding Officer.

10. Positions of Trust

Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, as amended in 2022, sports coaches are in a position of trust in law towards 16 and 17 year olds they coach, supervise or train. Any sexual activity between an adult in a School Of Fish coaching, assisting or supervisory role and a 16 or 17 year old in their care is a criminal offence. Consent is no defence.

Beyond the legal threshold, School Of Fish prohibits romantic or sexual relationships between anyone in a coaching or supervisory role and any learner under 18, whatever the ages involved. A breach is reported to the police and the LADO where the law applies, and is gross misconduct in every case.

11. Late Collection and Missing Children

Parents and carers collect juniors promptly at the end of a session. If a child is not collected: two DBS-checked adults stay with the child at the meeting point. We ring the parent or carer, then the emergency contact from the booking. After 30 minutes without contact, the lead coach informs the DSL and considers ringing the police on 101 for advice. A coach never takes an uncollected child home or anywhere else, and never waits alone with them.

Heads are counted at fixed points: arrival, any move between swims, and the close of the session. If a child is unaccounted for beside open water, we call 999 immediately. There is no search-first period near water. One coach coordinates from the meeting point while the others keep the remaining children together and supervised. The DSL and the parent or carer are contacted at once, and the incident is recorded on the Incident Report Form the same day.

Safeguarding Concern?

Contact our Designated Safeguarding Lead, Ulvis Strokss.

07713 177685 · safeguarding@schooloffish.co.uk