RKC Safeguarding

Royal Kennel Club licensed events offer positive, enjoyable experiences for many children and vulnerable adults. They promote healthy lifestyles, build confidence, and teach valuable life skills like teamwork and resilience as well as developing loving bonds with their dogs. 

Whether as handlers, volunteers, spectators or competitors, every child and vulnerable adult deserves to feel safe and supported. Our safeguarding framework promotes good practice and to ensure that concerns are handled properly at all levels.

The safeguarding framework for dog activities includes requirements that must be met at every level from local training groups to large national competitions to help protect children and vulnerable individuals involved in these environments. This includes the events and activities run directly by the Royal Kennel Club, as well licensed by the Royal Kennel Club and run by affiliated and registered clubs, societies, or volunteers.

As the governing body overseeing these dog-related activities, we not only set these standards but also have a regulatory framework in place to investigate safeguarding concerns and take action where necessary.  Organisations and individuals hosting dog events on behalf of the Royal Kennel Club must follow these standards and take any concerns seriously and act on them quickly and make sure they are reported.

This framework includes:

·       Clear Safeguarding Policy: A written policy outlining the organisation’s commitment to safeguarding and how concerns will be managed.

·       Parental Responsibility: Children must always be accompanied and supervised by a parent or legal guardian during all activities.

·       Safe Environment Standards: Venues must be safe, accessible, and suitable for children and families, with clear risk assessments in place.

·       Code of Conduct: Clear behavioural expectations for staff, volunteers, parents, and participants, promoting respect and inclusion.

·       Safe Recruitment: All staff and volunteers undergo appropriate checks relevant to their role(s).

·       Safeguarding Lead: The Royal Kennel Club designated safeguarding officer or lead is responsible for managing concerns and providing guidance.

·       Clear Reporting Process: Simple steps for reporting safeguarding concerns in confidence.

·       Online Safety: Guidelines in place for online activities or communication, ensuring respectful and secure digital engagement.

·       Training and Awareness: Staff and volunteers receive Safeguarding Training along with Safer Working Practices relevant to their role(s).

·       External Independent Support: We work with appropriate agencies to ensure our safeguarding framework meets legal standards, follows best practice, and benefits from impartial guidance when handling concerns.

·       Regular Policy Reviews: The safeguarding policy and procedures are reviewed regularly to remain up to date with best practice.

For the purposes of this policy, a child is defined as any person under the age of 18. This definition applies to all safeguarding and child protection matters within the  Royal Kennel Club’s licensed activities.

The Royal Kennel Club recognises and is committed to its collective and individual responsibilities to help safeguard children, across all aspects of dog activities. This applies to everyone connected with the Royal Kennel Club and includes Directors and Trustees, employees, and volunteers, as well as judges, competitors, and exhibitors taking part in licensed and regulated events. It also extends to all individuals attending our events, activities, and competitions. Everyone has a role to play in creating a safe and respectful environment.

The welfare of children who participate in our activities and volunteer is paramount.

•      We are committed to treating everyone with respect and creating an inclusive, safe, and welcoming environment. We actively prevent discrimination and challenging behaviour that may harm or upset a child, young person, or adult at risk.

•      We aim to build trust and respect, so children and young people feel safe to speak up and be involved in decisions. We give positive and helpful feedback, avoiding anything that might seem harsh or unkind. Most importantly, we always put the wellbeing of children over competitive goals or achievements.

•      We expect everyone to create a fun, inclusive environment that supports fair play and growth. Use respectful language and offer positive, constructive feedback that builds confidence and supports all skill levels without putting undue pressure on anyone.

•      We must ensure we set a high standard of behaviour by acting with integrity, fairness, and professionalism.

•      It is the responsibility of everyone to report any behaviour that goes against safeguarding policies or could put a child at risk.

Everyone has a responsibility to consistently and continuously apply the procedures and guidance to ensure that children and adults at risk are safe when involved in Royal Kennel Club activities. This includes:

·        Taking proactive steps to prevent harm, including ensuring robust training, risk assessments, and safeguarding policies and procedures are in place.

·        Recognising the additional vulnerabilities of certain groups, including disabled children, children with special educational needs (SEN), looked-after children, adults at risk.

·        Ensuring safeguarding is embedded in all aspects of the Kennel Club's activities, with clear procedures in place for reporting, investigating, and addressing concerns.

Safeguarding children means protecting them from abuse and harm, supporting their development, and ensuring they are cared for in a safe and nurturing environment. It also involves taking action to help all children and young people achieve the best possible outcomes and reach their full potential. It is the responsibility of statutory agencies working with children, and on occasions, the Police Service to investigate, assess and take action to protect children who are at risk of abuse and harm.

Child protection is part of the safeguarding process. This includes child protection procedures which detail how to respond to concerns about a child.

Whatever the situation you find yourself in, it is not your responsibility to investigate a safeguarding incident or concern about a child or young person. What is most important is that you do not keep any such concerns to yourself but report to the appropriate agency and seek help and advice if you are unsure.

5.1 Maintaining appropriate conduct

·        Always ensure training or other activities are carried out in an open environment, ensuring interactions with children and young people are visible and accountable (e.g., avoid private or unobserved situations).

·        Do not engage in any intimate or inappropriate relationships with children, as this constitutes a serious safeguarding breach and may be unlawful.

·        Avoid situations where an adult and a child are alone together unless strictly necessary for the child’s safety or well-being.

·         Do not share personal contact details (e.g., mobile numbers, personal emails, or social media) with children. Use official communication channels for any required interaction.

5.2 Practices to be avoided

To maintain a safe and professional environment avoid one-to-one situations with children: Interactions with children should always be conducted in a group setting or in an open and observable environment.

Avoid transporting children alone: If it is necessary to drive a child to or from an event, another responsible adult should be present in the vehicle. If this is not possible, parental consent must be obtained in writing, and the journey must be logged and reported to a senior club official.

The following practices should always be avoided, except in emergency situations. If any of these situations become unavoidable, they must occur with the full knowledge and consent of:

·        The event or show manager or safeguarding lead and/or as appropriate

·        The child’s parent/guardian.

Examples of unavoidable situations include:

·        Medical emergencies (e.g., transporting a child to hospital).

·        Safeguarding concerns (e.g., a child is left unsupervised due to a parent failing to collect them).

5.3 Practices which must NEVER be sanctioned

The following are prohibited practices and would constitute serious breaches of safeguarding protocols and are strictly forbidden under this policy:

·       Inappropriate Physical Contact.

·       Engaging in rough, physical, or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.

·       Nonfamily member adults sharing a bedroom with a child.

·       Engaging in any form of inappropriate touching, such as hugging, stroking, or holding a child unnecessarily.

·       Carrying out personal tasks for children that they can do for themselves, such as dressing or using the bathroom.

·       Inviting or allowing children to stay at your home unsupervised, for any reason.

·       Verbal and Psychological Harm.

·       Offensive, abusive, or discriminatory language.

·       Making sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in jest.

·       Using intimidation, humiliation, or emotional abuse (e.g., reducing a child to tears as a form of discipline).

·       Friending a child on social media.

5.4 Parental involvement and consent

Obtain written parental/guardian consent for:

·       Emergency first aid and any necessary medical treatment.

·       Transporting children to and from Kennel Club events (if required).

·       Taking and using photographs/videos of children in Kennel Club-related activities.

·       Keep open communication with parents/guardians, ensuring they are informed of any concerns, injuries, or safeguarding issues.

5.5 Abuse of trust

Any violation of Royal Kennel Club safeguarding rules will be taken extremely seriously.

Where appropriate, concerns will be referred to external authorities, such as:

·       Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO).

·       Children’s Social Care Services.

·       Police and law enforcement agencies.

·       The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) for barring consideration.

5.6 Criminal convictions & permanent exclusion

If an individual receives a relevant criminal conviction related to child abuse; under this Royal Kennel Club Safeguarding Policy, the consequences will include:

•    Immediate termination of any employment, volunteer position, or membership with the Kennel Club.

•    Permanent and immediate exclusion from all Royal Kennel Club-licensed activities, events, and affiliated roles.

•    Automatic referral to relevant safeguarding authorities, including the DBS, police, and social services, to prevent further risk to children if appropriate.

This aligns with UK safeguarding laws, ensuring that individuals who pose a risk to children, young people and adults at risk are permanently removed from positions of trust.

All reasonable steps will be taken to ensure that anyone in a position of trust has been properly vetted and trained.

All staff, volunteers, trustees, board members, and committees, receive a safeguarding induction and training appropriate to the level and requirements of their role which are both updated regularly.

7.1 Concerns about a child's welfare

If there is concern about a child or an adult's behaviour towards a child, or a child that is not at immediate risk of harm, please contact the Safeguarding team at (safeguarding@thekennelclub.org.uk) to report the issue as soon as is realistic.

If there is a concern that a child is at risk of immediate harm, direct contact should be made with either the Police or Local Authority Children’s Services or the NSPCC Helpline: 0808 800 5000. The Kennel Club Designated Safeguarding Lead should also be contacted to inform them of the action taken.

7.2 Receiving a disclosure

If a child tells you something that raises a safeguarding concern, make sure you’re both in a safe and private place. Listen carefully without interrupting or asking leading questions and never promise to keep it a secret. Let the child know that you’ll need to share the information with the right people to help keep them safe. Write down exactly what was said, including the date, time, location, who was involved, and any actions you took or people you informed. Do not take photos of any injuries—if needed, use a body map to mark where injuries were seen.

If a child discloses abuse or neglect, this must be reported immediately to the Kennel Club Designated Safeguarding Lead, via e-mail:   , safeguarding@thekennelclub.org.uk

An assessment  will be made whether the matter should be referred to Social Services, the Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO), or the Police.

8.1 Concerns about a child's welfare

If there is concern about a child or an adult's behaviour towards a child, or a child that is not at immediate risk of harm, the Royal Kennel Club Designated Safeguarding Lead should be contacted (safeguarding@thekennelclub.org.uk) with the relevant details.

All disclosures, incidents and allegations will be taken seriously and reported in line with our safeguarding policy and procedures. The Royal Kennel Club will fully support anyone who in good faith reports their concerns about the safety and welfare of children.

8.2 Concerns about a child's welfare

•      Accidental injury to a child during an event, training session, or activity.

•      A child displaying signs of distress (emotionally or physically), where the cause is unclear.

•      Any instance where a child misinterprets or misunderstands an adult’s words or actions, especially if it could be perceived as inappropriate.

•      Any safeguarding concern raised by a child, regardless of whether it appears minor.

•      Observing concerning behaviour from another adult towards a child (e.g., inappropriate physical contact, aggressive behaviour, or verbal abuse).

If any of the above occur, the incident must be reported as soon as practicable to:

•           The Royal Kennel Club Event or Show Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL).

•           The Royal Kennel Club Event or Show Manager overseeing child protection at the event if at an event or show.

•           Parents/guardians of the child involved as appropriate.

8.3 Concerns about a child's welfare

If an individual is concerned about reporting abuse within the Kennel Club or feels their report has not been appropriately addressed, they can contact:

·        Local Authority Children’s Social Care (direct contact information available through the relevant local authority website).

·        Police (Call 999 in emergencies, or 101 for non-urgent concerns).

·        NSPCC Child Protection Helpline (0808 800 5000).

·        Childline (0800 1111) – for children and young people needing direct support.

8.4 Concerns about a child's welfare

In cases where a safeguarding allegation has been made against a staff member, volunteer, or any individual involved with the Royal Kennel Club, an immediate risk assessment must be conducted. The accused individual may be temporarily suspended while an investigation is carried out by social services and/or the police.

Suspension does not imply guilt but is a precautionary measure to protect child or adults at risk and ensure the investigation is fair and unbiased.

The Royal Kennel Club will cooperate fully with external safeguarding investigations.

Following external inquiries:

·        At the outcome of any police or social services findings, the Royal Kennel Club will assess each case internally to determine whether the accused individual can be reinstated.

·        Decisions on reinstatement must prioritise the welfare of the child or children above all else.

·        Any individual found guilty of abuse or serious misconduct will be permanently banned from all Kennel Club activities.

Maintaining strict confidentiality is crucial in all safeguarding matters to protect everyone involved. However, it is important to share safeguarding concerns with the appropriate people to ensure the safety and protection of the child. Confidentiality must be respected for the child and their family, the person raising the concern, and the individual against whom the allegation has been made—until an official outcome is reached. Information should only be shared with relevant authorities, such as social services, the police, and legal professionals, who are responsible for handling the situation appropriately.

9.1 Key principles of confidentiality:

·        Information is only shared on a need-to-know basis and in line with UK Data Protection and GDPR laws.

·        Safeguarding reports and records must be stored securely, with access limited to designated safeguarding personnel.

·        Advice should be sought from social services on who should approach the alleged abuser or the parents (if the alleged abuser is a child).

·        Failure to maintain confidentiality, unless required by law or safeguarding protocols, may result in disciplinary action.

9.2 Confidentiality and security of records

All records will be kept in a secure place and passed to relevant agencies by the Designated Safeguarding Lead. Electronic records will be kept secure and where necessary ‘password’ protected.

9.3 Consent for photographs/images

Before any photographs or videos can be taken with the intention of use by the Royal Kennel Club, the consent of the adult, and or the parent/carer of a child, or where appropriate a young person themselves, if over 18, must be obtained. The purpose of using the photograph/video must be explained, and any risk to an adult or child needs to be taken into consideration.

Online communication and social media play an integral role in modern interactions, including those within sports and recreational activities. However, the digital space presents unique safeguarding risks, including cyberbullying, grooming, privacy breaches, and inappropriate communication.

This section sets out clear guidelines for staff, volunteers, and participants on how to use digital communication safely, professionally, and in line with UK safeguarding legislation.

Our safeguarding policies apply to all forms of digital interaction, regardless of the platform, device, or technology used. This includes, but is not limited to, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok; messaging apps like WhatsApp, Snapchat, Facebook Messenger, and Telegram; as well as email correspondence. It also covers online meetings, virtual coaching sessions, gaming platforms, and online forums.

10.1 Online Safety Practices

All Royal Kennel Club staff, volunteers, and members must adhere to the following principles when engaging in online communication with children and young people:

·        Maintain a clear professional boundary between personal and professional online interactions.

·        Ensure all communications are transparent, appropriate, and necessary.

·        Avoid one-to-one online interactions with children.

·        Protect the identity, privacy, and well-being of children and young people online.

·        Comply with UK data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

10.2 Online Conduct Guidelines

The following mandatory guidelines apply to all staff, volunteers, and Royal Kennel Club representatives:

a) Social Media Usage

·         Do not ‘friend,’ ‘follow,’ or connect with children or young people on personal social media accounts.

·         Use only official Royal Kennel Club social media accounts to interact with young participants where necessary.

·         Ensure that all content posted is accurate, professional, and appropriate.

·         Do not share or post identifying personal information about children, including:

§  Home addresses, school names, phone numbers, or personal email addresses.

§  Images/videos of children without parental/guardian consent.

·         Monitor and remove any inappropriate posts on the Royal Kennel Club’s social media pages, explaining the removal to those affected (including parents if necessary).

b) Digital Communication & Messaging

·         Do not communicate with young people via private messages or personal social media accounts.

·         All communication should be conducted through official Royal Kennel Club channels, such as:

§  Royal Kennel Club email addresses.

§  Official Kennel Club social media pages (where applicable).

§  Formal letters or notices.

·         Avoid emailing or messaging children outside normal office hours unless in urgent safeguarding situations.

·         All emails must be signed off professionally and should avoid the use of:

§  Emojis or informal symbols (e.g., ‘x’ for kisses).

§  Language that could be misinterpreted as overly personal or inappropriate.

·         Do not request or store young people’s personal mobile numbers. Instead, communicate through parents/guardians where possible.

·         Text messages should only be used for Club-related notifications (e.g., reminders about events) and not for casual conversation.

c) Online Meetings & Virtual Communication

·         Virtual meetings involving children must be pre-approved by the Royal Kennel Club and conducted in a group setting whenever possible.

·         Ensure parental consent is obtained before engaging in virtual coaching or mentorship.

·         All online meetings must be recorded or attended by at least two responsible adults (Royal Kennel Club staff / volunteers or parent/guardians) to ensure accountability.

·         Do not use private chat features in online meetings to message children individually.

10.3 Inappropriate Online Behaviour & Prohibited Activities

The following online activities are strictly prohibited and may result in disciplinary action, suspension, or referral to law enforcement:

•       Engaging in ‘sexting’ or sending obscene, indecent, or menacing messages to children or young people.

•       Taking, sharing, or distributing images/videos of children without written parental/guardian consent.

•       Sharing personal contact details with young participants or requesting their private contact details.

•       Engaging in any form of online harassment, cyberbullying, or grooming.

•       Failing to challenge inappropriate online language or behaviour when witnessed on Royal Kennel Club-affiliated platforms.

•       Disrespecting the privacy of others by taking or distributing images without consent, even in non-safeguarding situations.

Any violation of these policies may result in:

•       Formal disciplinary action by the Royal Kennel Club.

•       Suspension or permanent removal from Royal Kennel Club activities.

•       Referral to the police or relevant safeguarding authorities for investigation.

11.1 Jurisdiction

This Policy is designed to provide a framework for safeguarding practice within the Kennel Club in Britain & Ireland. It is acknowledged that whilst England and Wales adhere to the same judicial processes and legislation in relation to safeguarding children, there are differences in the jurisdictions of Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic) and Scotland. Such differences in process and legislation, should not however distract from the need to adhere to the fundamental principles embedded in this Policy concerning the safeguarding of the children and adults with whom we work and engage. It is expected that this Safeguarding Policy will be accepted and adopted as an across-the-board document, whilst taking account of the statutory procedures and legislative framework in place in England, Wales, Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic) and Scotland as may be applicable.

11.2 Review

This policy will be updated every three years or sooner where there is significant change within dog activities or where there are legislative or statutory guidance changes. The next scheduled review will be in time to publish in July 2028.

This Safeguarding policy is linked to the following Royal Kennel Club policies:

·       Royal Kennel Club Regulations and Codes governing licensed activities (Participants Staff & volunteers)

APPENDIX 1 - DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE

1. Types of abuse

1.1 This Policy is designed to provide a framework for safeguarding practice within the Kennel Club in Britain & Ireland. It is acknowledged that whilst England and Wales adhere to the same judicial processes and legislation in relation to safeguarding children, there are differences in the jurisdictions of Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic) and Scotland. Such differences in process and legislation, should not however distract from the need to adhere to the fundamental principles embedded in this Policy concerning the safeguarding of the children and adults with whom we work and engage. It is expected that this Safeguarding Policy will be accepted and adopted as an across-the-board document, whilst taking account of the statutory procedures and legislative framework in place in England, Wales, Ireland (Northern Ireland and the Republic) and Scotland as may be applicable.

1.2 Abuse: a form of maltreatment of a child. Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm or by failing to act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others. Abuse can take place wholly online, or technology may be used to facilitate offline abuse. They may be abused by an adult or adults or by another child or children

1.3 Physical abuse: a form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

1.4 Emotional abuse: the persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and adverse effects on the child's emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or "making fun" of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child's developmental capability as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning or preventing the child from participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyberbullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, although it may occur alone.

1.5 Sexual abuse: involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse. Sexual abuse can take place online, and technology can be used to facilitate offline abuse. Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

1.6 Neglect: the persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and / or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy, for example, because of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to: provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment); protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger; ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate caregivers); or ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child's basic emotional needs.

APPENDIX 2 - LEGISLATION AND STATUTORY GUIDANCE

This policy aligns with UK safeguarding laws and statutory guidance, including:

·       The Children Act 1989 & 2004 – Establishes the legal framework for child protection.

·       The Care Act 2014 – Sets out safeguarding duties for adults at risk.

·       Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) – Defines multi-agency safeguarding responsibilities.

·       Keeping Children Safe in Education (2024) – Provides statutory guidance for safeguarding children in educational settings.

·       The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 – Regulates DBS checks and barred lists.

·       The Equality Act 2010 – Protects individuals from discrimination, ensuring inclusivity.

·       The Mental Capacity Act 2005 – Provides guidance on supporting adults who may lack decision-making capacity.

·       The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 – Protects whistleblowers who report safeguarding concerns in good faith.

·       The Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 - Primary legislation governing workplace health and safety in Great Britain.

The Data Protection Act, 2018 (General Data Protection Regulation GDPR), England, Wales and Scotland

The Data Protection Act, 2018/GDPR EU 2016/679 requires that everyone responsible for using personal data must follow strict rules called data protection principles. They must make sure the information is:

·       Used fairly, lawfully and transparently,

·       Used for specified, explicit purposes,

·       Used in a way that is adequate, relevant and limited to only what is necessary,

·       Accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date,

·       Kept for no longer than is necessary,

·       Handled in a way that ensures appropriate security, including protection against unlawful or unauthorised processing, access, loss, destruction or damage.

Organisations generally are required to inform users their data is processed but in cases of safeguarding children and adults at risk, organisations do not have to tell the subject that they are processing their data, for instance if it will cause them harm or prevent a referral, nor give them access to their data, nor delete their data if requested to. [Schedule 3, Parts 1 and 5 of the Data Protection Act 2018].

Any concerns please contact the Royal  Kennel Club Data Protection team at
dataprotectionteam@thekennelclub.org.uk

APPENDIX 3 - SAFEGUARDING AT RISK (VULNERABLE) ADULTS POLICY

Definitions

Safeguarding Adults: What does the term Safeguarding an Adult at Risk mean?

An Adult at risk is:

An individual aged 18 years and over who:

1. 1. has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and,
   2. is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect and,
   3. as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect.

Abuse can link to the mistreatment of an adult at risk by someone with whom they have a relationship, such as a family member, friend, carer (either formal or informal) or may be by a stranger. It may also encompass self-neglect.

Various legislation is in place in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and Scotland, the basic premise of which is the protection of adults from risk of harm and abuse.

The following offers an indication of the different kinds of adult abuse, which is helpful to consider in the context of this policy and procedures:

• • Physical abuse.
  • Domestic violence or abuse.
  • Sexual abuse.
  • Psychological or emotional abuse.
  • Financial or material abuse.
  • Modern slavery.
  • Discriminatory abuse.
  • Organisational or institutional abuse.
  • Neglect or acts of omission.
  • Self-neglect.

Safeguarding concerns about an adult who may be vulnerable and at risk of harm

If you witness inappropriate behaviour concerning an adult or if you receive a disclosure of abuse concerning an adult who may be vulnerable, please ensure that you take the following action:

·       If you have information of a safeguarding nature where an adult at risk is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention call emergency services: 999/

·       Ensure the adult is in a safe place.

·       Ask if they wish to speak about the incident. Do not promise to keep what is disclosed confidential but explain that you will need to share the information ‘on a need to know’ basis.

·       Explain that you will need to share information with the Designated Safeguarding Lead, who may decide it is necessary to make a referral to Adult Social Care Services and/or Children’s Services (if a child is also involved, e.g. a domestic abuse situation), and the police if any other person may be at risk of harm from the alleged perpetrator.

·       Whilst the person disclosing the information may not wish to speak with statutory agencies and/or the police, it is important to consider that the Royal Kennel Club has a duty to refer safeguarding concerns to the appropriate authorities if a person is at risk of harm.

·       It is the decision of the adult concerned as to whether they wish to speak with statutory agencies, and it is their right not to do so.

·       Allow the person time to talk and listen to what they have to say.

·       Explain that you have to make a careful, factual note of what is being disclosed.

·       Read back to the person making the disclosure what you have noted, so that it can be agreed for accuracy purposes.

·       Send the note to the Royal Kennel Club Designated Safeguarding Lead, within 24 hours via the Confidential Email:  safeguarding@thekennelclub.org.uk  

·       If you are affected by what you have witnessed do not keep this to yourself, speak to the activity lead.

Witnessing abusive behaviour towards an adult who is vulnerable:

If you see an adult who is being abused your first concern must be for their safety,

but also, for your own, act as follows:

·       If the adult is in immediate danger, call Police/ /112

·       Try and ensure the adult gets to a safe place.

·       Try to stay calm and do not engage in confrontational behaviour.

·       Speak to a colleague (if appropriate).

·       Contact the Royal Kennel Club’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) to inform them of the situation and seek advice.

·       Complete a factual report of what you have witnessed and send it to your Designated Safeguarding Lead via the confidential email: safeguarding@thekennelclub.org.uk        

 Directly contact social care or emergency services if there is an immediate danger:

·       Adult Social Care – Report concerns to the local adult safeguarding board.

·       Police (999) – If a child or adult is in immediate danger.