This policy outlines the club’s commitment to supporting members struggling with issues that may be impacting negatively on their welfare and wellbeing.
Introduction
We understand the positive impact that healthy and engaged members make to the success of our club and that welfare and wellbeing play a significant role in ensuring that members can positively contribute to the club and club community.
We appreciate that individuals can experience periods – sometimes prolonged periods – of poor mental health in the same way as with physical health. Equally, we understand that members wider circumstances, family, financial, work, etc. can change, often due to circumstances beyond members’ control. We commit to providing support for members going through welfare/wellbeing problems because we recognise such members can provide a substantial contribution to the success of this club. Equally, we understand that we have a moral responsibility to our members to offer them support to help them through challenging circumstances.
Definition
For the purposes of this policy, the term ‘welfare concern’ includes
- Mental health conditions that have been diagnosed by a medical professional
- Signs of stress and anxiety
- Changes in an individual’s circumstances (financial, family, social, professional)
- Changes in an individual’s behaviour or demeanour
Legal obligations
We understand that, as an organisation, we must comply with health and safety legislation. We undertake to create a safe club in which we will actively take measures to limit risks to welfare, mental health and wellbeing.
We also acknowledge our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 in respect of making reasonable adjustments for members suffering from a disability.
Management responsibilities
Where necessary, team managers will invite members to regular private meetings and ask them to talk openly about their welfare problems. The manager will not make presumptions about how the welfare problem is impacting on the member personally and professionally. Initial action will include checking how the member is getting on at the club and home, in the same manner as if the member was suffering from a known physical health problem.
In a more general sense, managers will strive to create an environment in which members feel capable of approaching their manager to discuss their welfare concerns.
Member responsibilities
Any support required by the member is likely to be known by the member themselves. We actively encourage members to be open and honest about their welfare and mental health and to inform their club manager(s) of any issues at an early opportunity to allow these to be addressed/supported. There is also an expectation on all members to conduct themselves in a helpful and open-minded manner towards teammates who have welfare or mental health concerns.
Behaviour which is deemed by us as being harassing or bullying in nature which is either a contributory factor to a member’s poor mental health or is in reaction to the member’s current welfare situation, is unacceptable and will be dealt with under our disciplinary procedure.
Welfare plan
- Manager action plan
If a manager identifies a welfare or mental health issue, they will work alongside the member to create a personal action plan that provides for proactive management of their situation or mental health. This will support ongoing open communication between the manager and the member and will result in mutually agreed steps being set in place that can be monitored on an ongoing basis.
The manager will ask the member to draft the plan to ensure it meets their requirements, with medical support as necessary, and then it will be set in place with their manager. Any information in the plan, and the plan itself, will be kept confidential and reviewed on an ongoing basis by both the member and their manager.
An action plan can be as simple as directing the member to appropriate external support or encouraging dialogue with wider family members or friends. The key it to ensure that the member receives necessary support in a timely manner.
- Adjustments
We will endeavour to consider all reasonable adjustments for any member who is suffering from a welfare or mental health problem to ensure their situation does not create a barrier to actively contributing to the club or taking part in sessions. Once the adjustments are agreed, they will be reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure they are having the required effect.
- Family or health referral
With the member’s consent, a referral will be made, or the member supported to make a self-referral, to an external health expert, or suitable agency who will undertake an assessment on the member’s current condition/situation in order to ascertain how they/we may provide appropriate support to the member.
- Managing absence and return to club activities
Where the member is absent by reason of their welfare or mental health concerns, their team manager, or designated teammate, will communicate with the member at regular intervals during their absence as agreed with the member. This is to ensure that the member remains supported by the club.
Upon the member’s return from absence, a return-to-activity meeting/discussion will take place and any return-to-activity plan agreed between the manager and the member to ensure necessary steps can be taken to support the member to remain active and mitigate against any potential relapse/recurrence.
Confidentiality
Information concerning a member’s welfare/mental health is defined as sensitive personal information. This information will only be disclosed to others where necessary.
Training
In order to be able to provide valuable support to a member suffering from welfare concerns or poor mental health, managers and other relevant members of the club will complete the FA’s online training in how to support positive mental health/welfare and how to deal with poor mental health in members, including how to identify the signs of poor mental health/welfare in members and how to take appropriate measures to proactively deal with it. Training will also include the taking of swift and appropriate action to discover whether the cause of the concern is directly related to the club and its activities.
The welfare and wellbeing of our club members is the responsibility of all club members. A culture of proactive and transparent discussion/action should be adopted to support all.
Club welfare officer – Andy Patel
