Welfare Regulations

1. The Football Association of Wales (“FAW”) shall have a Welfare Policy and enforceable procedures included but not limited to the Procedures Appertaining to the FAW Safeguarding Panel (“Procedures”), that are appropriate to ensure that all its members, officials and workers and all participants in any of its activities at whatever age, level, race or gender are protected from abuse, exploitation, harassment or harm from inside and outside the Association.

2. In particular, the FAW shall have any procedures that are deemed to be necessary by the Chief Executive Officer following consultation with the National Safeguarding Manager in order to ensure the protection of children under the age of 18, adults at risk, any weaker party in a relationship of trust and female participants in the sport of football in Wales. 

3. The FAW recognises that "Positions of Trust" exist within football. A Position of Trust is any position in which one individual has power or influence (actual or perceived) over another including, but not limited to, any individual who has contact with children, young persons or adults at risk through football irrespective of their role within football. 

4. When working with children, young persons and adults at risk in football any individual who is in a Position of Trust or a Regulated Position must adhere to the FAW’s requirement to undergo any appropriate measures to ensure the safety of those persons. This includes, but is not limited to, a background check utilising an external agency of the FAW’s choosing.

5. The FAW shall appoint a National Safeguarding Manager and any other Safeguarding Officers that are thought necessary.

6. The Chief Executive Officer or his nominees shall have powers to:

6.1 impose an interim suspension on anyone in a Regulated Position, Position of Trust or affiliated directly or indirectly to the FAW who fails to comply with an instruction issued by the FAW in accordance with these Regulations;

6.2 impose an interim suspension order in accordance with any subsequent procedures or regulations including but not limited to the Procedures;

6.3 withdraw any FAW qualifications and remove from any Regulated Position, Position of Trust or affiliation anyone who has received a caution for or been convicted of any offence; and

6.4 require that any written and signed suspicion or allegation of abuse, exploitation, harassment or harm made against an individual within the FAW is reported to the social services or police.

7. Before using his powers under Regulation 6.4 the Chief Executive Officer or his nominee shall give due consideration to the seriousness of the case and the views and opinions of any adult suffering from abuse, exploitation, harassment or harm, or the views and opinions of parents or guardians of any children that may be involved.

8. It shall be a condition of membership, affiliation or work that all Members of the FAW, Subordinates or any other organisation or individual with involvement in association football must comply with the FAW Welfare Regulations, the Welfare Policy and Procedures, appropriate codes of conduct and all other subsisting regulations. Failure to comply may be deemed misconduct as laid out in Section E of the FAW Rules and may be subject to disciplinary procedures as laid out in the Rules.

9. The FAW shall have procedures that are deemed necessary by the Chief Executive Officer following advice from the National Safeguarding Manager in order to be able to ensure that anyone who formally discloses any information regarding abuse, exploitation, harassment or harm is not discriminated against.

10. The FAW shall have enforceable codes of conduct appropriate to anyone falling within the definition of ‘Regulated Position’ as provided for in Part II Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000, its amendments and revisions; and to anyone else deemed necessary by the Chief Executive Officer following consultation with the National Safeguarding Manager.

11. The FAW shall have enforceable codes of conduct appropriate to anyone in a Position of Trust to anyone else within the FAW.

12. The FAW shall regularly monitor and review its Policy and Procedures and shall revise them as necessary to comply with the law or changing circumstances.

13. For the purposes of this Regulation:

13.1 ‘Regulated Position’ is as provided for in Part II Criminal Justice and Courts Services Act 2000, its revisions and amendments;

13.2 ‘adult at risk’ is someone aged 18 years or over who is or may be in need of community care services by reason of mental or other disability, age or illness; and who is or may be unable to take care of him or herself, or unable to protect him or herself against significant harm or exploitation.

13.3 ‘vulnerable person’ is any adult at risk or the weaker party in a relationship of trust;

13.4 ‘work’ includes work of any kind, whether paid or unpaid, or under a contract of service or apprenticeship, or a contract for services, or otherwise than under a contract, or established by or by virtue of an enactment;

13.5 ‘abuse’ includes neglect, physical, sexual and emotional abuse, bullying and incorrect training;

13.6 ‘exploitation’ is a course of action designed to enhance the furtherance of one person’s career or standing in football at the expense of another/others;

13.7 ‘harassment’ is a course of conduct likely to cause distress or harm which a reasonable person in possession of the same information would think amounted to harassment of another;

13.8 ‘harm’ shall include sexual abuse and forms of ill treatment which are not physical; and

13.9 ‘Subordinate’ shall mean any director, member, representative, official, employee, referee or other playing official or Player of a Member of the FAW together with every spectator and any person purporting to be its supporter or follower together also with all other organisations, clubs, bodies, entities or persons who are members of, or affiliated to, or over whom a Member of the FAW exercises, or purports to exercise control.