FPW Safeguarding Policy 2023
FPW: Future Pro Wrestling ADULT SAFEGUARDING POLICY
1. Statement of Purpose
FPW: Future Pro Wrestling acknowledge the duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of its talent and crew members. We are also committed to ensuring safeguarding practice reflects per mitted responsibilities and government guidance. To make sure we are covering our workers in the best possible manner, we will be using the guidance of the Ann Craft Trust to develop our policies. Another factor that will have to be recognised is that professional wrestling does not have any regulatory body, so it is more important than ever to adapt and comply to the best practices and requirements legally possible.
We aim to ensure that regardless of age, ability or disability, identity, race, belief, pronouns, sexual orientation or social-economic background, that everyone involved in our company:
• Has a positive and enjoyable experience anytime they are at FPW: Future Pro Wrestling. • Are protected from abuse whilst working at FPW: Future Pro Wrestling and be educated on the matters of safeguarding so they can bring up safeguarding issues outside of any planned shows.
FPW: Future Pro Wrestling also acknowledges that there are members of our community, especially marginalised people, who can be particularly vulnerable to abuse and we accept the responsibility to take appropriate steps to guarantee their welfare.
As part of our safeguarding policy, FPW: Future Pro Wrestling will:
• Promote and prioritise the safety and wellbeing of talent, crew, referees and fans.
• Ensure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and is provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect and other safeguarding concerns relating to adults. We will also make sure that appropriate action is taken in the event of any incidents or concerns of abuse and provide support to the individual(s) who speak out.
• ensure that confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored (in line with The Data Protection Act 1998)
• prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals.
• ensure robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation.
FPW: Future Pro Wrestling will make sure the policies are widely promoted. All policies will be mandatory for everyone involved in the company and failure to adhere will involve immediate suspension and pending an investigation, permanent ban from working in the promotion.
Monitoring
The policy will be reviewed a year after development or in the following circumstances: • Professional Wrestling comes under a National Governing Body (NGB)
• Change of Government legalisations.
• In the event of significant change or event happening in the industry.
2. Legislation
The practices and procedures within this policy are based on the principles contained within UK legislation and Government Guidance and have been developed to complement the Safeguarding Adults Boards policy and procedures. They take the following into consideration:
• The Care Act 2014
• 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 1998
3. Definitions
To help with the understanding of FPW: Future Pro Wrestling’s safeguarding standards and procedures we will need to define the following:
Adult is anyone aged 18 or over.
Adult at Risk is a person aged 18 or over who has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect and 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 is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by another person or persons. See section 4 for further explanations.
Adult safeguarding is protecting a person’s right to live in safety, free from abuse and neglect
Capacity refers to the ability to decide 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).
4. Types of Abuse and Neglect
The Care Act 2014 identifies the following 10 behaviours as signs of abuse. This list is only a guide and is not intended to be a definitive list of what counts as reporting a safeguarding matter:
Self-neglect – this covers a wide range of behaviour: from neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings.
Modern Slavery – covers slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and domestic servitude. Ab users use whatever means they have at their disposal to coerce, deceive and force individuals into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment.
Domestic Abuse and coercive control – including psychological, physical, sexual, financial and emotional abuse. Domestic is not specific to spousal abuse and can involve family members (where so called ‘honour’ killings would be covered).
Discriminatory Abuse – discrimination is abuse which centres on a difference or perceived difference particularly with respect to race, gender or disability or any of the protected characteristics of the Equality Act.
Organisational Abuse – is very prevalent in professional wrestling and due to no regulatory body in the industry it is important to know the signs. Organisational Abuse may range from one off incidents to on-going ill treatment. You may see this type of poor practice as a result of the lack of structure, policies, processes and practices within a promotion. Organisational abuse can involve more than one abuser, a culture that does not recognise or respond to the actions of a lone abuser can be just as harmful to an adult at risk.
Physical Abuse – Out of wrestling this includes hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking. Overall physic al abuse can also entail misuse of medication, restraint or inappropriate sanctions (this includes “giving receipts” for mistakes in the ring, intentionally “stiffing” your opponent or any other wrestling related hazing)
Sexual Abuse – this includes, but is not limited to: rape, indecent exposure, sexual harassment, inappropriate looking or touching, sexual teasing or innuendo, sexual photography, subjection to pornography or witnessing sexual acts, indecent exposure and sexual assault, or sexual acts to which the adult has not consented or was pressured into consenting.
Financial or Material Abuse – including theft, fraud, internet scamming, or the misuse or mis appropriation of property, possessions or benefits.
Neglect – 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.
Emotional or Psychological Abuse – this includes threats of harm or abandonment, deprivation of contact, humiliation, blaming, controlling, intimidation, coercion, harassment, verbal abuse, isolation or withdrawal from services or supportive networks.
Not included in the Care Act 2014 but also relevant:
Cyber Bullying – cyber bulling occurs when somebody repeatedly sends abuse to another per son. This may also include emails or text messages or online forums or any other ways of using social media with the intention to harm, damage, humiliate or isolate another person. This can be used to carry out many types of bullying (such as racist, homophobic or identity bullying) but instead of the offender carrying out the bullying face-to-face, they will use technology instead.
Cyber Crime - cyber-crime continues to rise worldwide and affects businesses and individuals a like. Cyber Crime can include: Hacking (especially with social media accounts and emails), Phishing (fake emails that ask for passwords and personal information), Malicious Software (including ransomware which criminals hijack files and hold them to ransom) and Distributed Denial of Ser vice Attacks (DDoS) against websites. Please see the Social Media Guidance document on how these can affect you.
Mate Crime – defined by the Safety Net Project as ‘when vulnerable people are befriended by members of the community who go on to exploit and take advantage of them. It may not be an illegal act but still has a negative effect on the individual.’ Mate Crime is carried out by someone the adult knows and often happens in private.
Radicalisation – the aim of radicalisation is to attract people to their reasoning, recruit people and embed their extreme views and persuade vulnerable individuals of the legitimacy of their cause. This may be direct through a relationship, or through social media.
5. Principles
FPW: Future Pro Wrestling will make sure of the following:
• All adults, regardless of age, ability or disability, gender, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital or gender status have the right to be protected from abuse and poor practice and to work in a safe environment.
• FPW: Future Pro Wrestling will seek to ensure that our promotion is inclusive and make rea sonable adjustments for any ability, disability or impairment. We will also commit to continuous development, monitoring and review.
• We recognise that ability, disability and identity can change over time, such that some adults may be additionally vulnerable to abuse.
• We all have a shared responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of all adults in our industry and will act appropriately and report concerns whether these concerns arise in FPW: Future Pro Wrestling. For example, inappropriate behaviour, or anything affecting the wider community.
• All allegations will be taken seriously and responded to in line FPW: Future Pro Wrestling policies and procedures.
• FPW: Future Pro Wrestling recognises the role and responsibilities of the statutory agencies in safeguarding and is committed to complying with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Boards and safeguarding organisations such as the Ann Craft Trust.
The six principles of adult safeguarding:
In accordance with The Care Act 2014 - FPW: Future Pro Wrestling will follow the six following principles:
EMPOWERMENT
FPW: Future Pro Wrestling will have an appropriate whistleblowing policy when it comes to talent and crew. We will make sure that, no matter what happens, people are supported and encouraged to give consent in telling their story.
PREVENTION
It is better to act before harm occurs. FPW: Future Pro Wrestling will continue to commit to our education in safeguarding to make sure that as an organisation we can understand the signs of someone at risk.
PROPORTIONALITY
We will make sure to take the least intrusive response with any safeguarding risks to limit the dangers to anyone making the reports. Safeguarding is in place to protect people from any harm
and we will work with them to make sure you have the right resources, right advice and right plans.
PROTECTION
As mentioned, FPW: Future Pro Wrestling have been developing procedures to make sure we are up to date on standards and procedures with safeguarding. We will make sure that our staff members fully understand laws and rules in the UK.
PARTNERSHIP
No matter where we are, FPW: Future Pro Wrestling will make sure that we are in contact with local services to make sure talent and crew are safe. Not only as a company, but as citizens in com munities, we have the right to report any concerns we may have to local organisations that will give you advice.
ACCOUNTABILITY
We will be transparent in delivering safeguarding at FPW: Future Pro Wrestling and will notify everyone when a change has been made in our Code of Conduct.
Making Safeguarding personal
‘Making safeguarding personal’ is “Person led and outcome focused. It engages the person in a conversation about how best to respond to their safeguarding situation in a way that enhances involvement, choice and control. As well as improving quality of life, well-being and safety.”
Wherever possible discuss safeguarding concerns with the adult to get their view of what they would like to happen and keep them involved in the safeguarding process, seeking their consent to share information outside of the organisation where necessary.
Wellbeing Principle
The concept of wellbeing is threaded throughout the Care Act and it is one that is relevant to adult safeguarding in sport only. While we all have our own definition of wellbeing, this Act lists certain standards wellbeing should include. By keeping these themes in mind, we can all ensure that adult talent working in FPW: Future Pro Wrestling are doing so safely:
· Personal dignity (including treatment of the individual with respect)
· Physical and mental health and emotional wellbeing
· Protection from abuse and neglect
· Control by the individual over their day-to-day life (including over care and support provided and the way they are provided)
· Participants in work, education, training or recreation
· Social economic wellbeing
· Domestic, family and personal domains
· Suitability of the individuals living accommodation
· The individual’s contribution to society.
6. Roles and responsibilities of those within FPW: Future Pro Wrestling is committed to having the following in place:
• A Lead Safeguarding Officer to produce and provide guidance and resources to support the policy and procedures.
• A clear line of accountability within FPW: Future Pro Wrestling on promoting the welfare of all adults.
• Procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse or poor practice against members of the roster, staff or fans within FPW: Future Pro Wrestling.
• Arrangements to work effectively with other promotions to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults, including arrangements for sharing planned show dates.
• Appropriate whistle blowing procedures and an open and inclusive culture that enables safeguarding and equality and diversity issues to be addressed.
• Clear codes of conduct are in place for talent, referees, production, ring crew and fans.
7. Good Practice, Bad Practice and Abuse.
It can be difficult to tell the difference of poor practice to abuse, whether intentional or accidental.
It is not the responsibility of any individual involved in FPW: Future Pro Wrestling to make judgements regarding whether or not abuse is taking place. However, we all have the responsibility to recognise and identify poor practice and potential abuse, and act on this if we have concerns.
Good practice
FPW: Future Pro Wrestling expects all staff will:
• Adopt and endorse the FPW: Future Pro Wrestling Code of Conduct.
• Have completed a course in basic awareness in working with Adults at Risk.
Everyone should:
• Aim to make the experience of FPW: Future Pro Wrestling fun and enjoyable for everyone working or attending.
• Report any concerns you may have to the Lead Safeguarding Officer.
• Not tolerate the use of prohibited or illegal substances.
• Treat everyone equally and preserve their dignity.
This policy should be read in conjunction with the following policies:
· Talent/Referee/Crew code of conduct
· Social media guidance
· Disciplinary
8. Safeguarding Flowchart
All dealings of concerns, suspicions or disclosures will go through these processes:
Remember to involve and encourage the adult at risk throughout the process wherever possible. It is very important to gain consent for any referrals if the person has capacity to do so.
9. Further Information
Any other policies and procedures are available on request.
Lead Safeguarding Officer: Matt Burden – Lead safeguarding officer: safeguarding@futureprowrestling.com
Review date
This policy will be reviewed one year after its creation (11th January 2023) or sooner in the event of legislative changes or revised policies and best practice.
I confirm that I have read the FPW: Future Pro Wrestling Adult Safeguarding Procedure and understand these procedures. I understand that any violations of these procedures will lead into sus pension or a ban from the promotion.
Signature: ________________________
Name: _________________________
Date: __________________________