Safeguarding Policy

Last updated: 18 October 2026

Policy Statement

Magic Swim is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive environment for all swimmers, particularly children, young people and adults who may need additional support.

This policy explains how Magic Swim aims to protect swimmers from harm, abuse, neglect, exploitation, bullying and inappropriate behaviour.

Magic Swim is operated by a self-employed swimming coach. The welfare and safety of swimmers are central to the delivery of swimming lessons.

1. Purpose of This Policy

The purpose of this policy is to:

Promote the safety, welfare and dignity of all swimmers.
Protect children, young people and adults who may be at risk of harm.
Establish appropriate professional boundaries during swimming lessons.
Explain how safeguarding concerns should be recognised, recorded and reported.
Encourage parents, guardians and swimmers to raise concerns without fear of unfair treatment.

2. Scope

This policy applies to swimming lessons and related activities delivered by Magic Swim.

It covers the conduct of the coach, interactions with swimmers and communication with parents, guardians and other relevant individuals.

Where lessons take place at a leisure centre, Magic Swim will also respect the venue’s safeguarding procedures, safety rules and reporting arrangements.

3. Definitions

Child: A person under the age of 18.

Adult at risk: An adult who may be at risk of harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation because of their circumstances or support needs.

Safeguarding: Actions taken to promote welfare and help protect individuals from harm, abuse, neglect and exploitation.

Abuse: Behaviour or actions that cause, or may cause, physical, emotional, sexual or other harm. Abuse may also include neglect, exploitation, bullying and inappropriate use of power or trust.

4. Responsibility for Safeguarding

As a self-employed swimming coach, Magic Swim recognises its responsibility to take safeguarding concerns seriously and respond appropriately.

The coach will:

Promote a safe and respectful learning environment.
Maintain appropriate professional boundaries.
Follow relevant safeguarding guidance and the leisure centre’s procedures.
Listen to concerns raised by swimmers, parents and guardians.
Record relevant safeguarding concerns accurately and securely.
Seek advice or report concerns to the appropriate safeguarding service or authority when necessary.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to share relevant information that may affect a swimmer’s welfare or safety and to raise any concerns promptly.

5. Code of Conduct

All interactions with swimmers should be respectful, professional and appropriate to their age, abilities and individual needs.

Magic Swim aims to:

Treat every swimmer with dignity, fairness and respect.
Use inclusive language and adapt communication where appropriate.
Respect personal boundaries and privacy.
Avoid inappropriate personal relationships or private arrangements with child swimmers.
Ensure physical contact is appropriate, necessary for the lesson and explained wherever possible.
Respect a swimmer’s wishes and concerns, while maintaining essential safety requirements.
Avoid situations that could expose a swimmer or coach to unnecessary risk or misunderstanding.

Where possible, interactions with children should take place in visible areas and in accordance with the leisure centre’s safeguarding arrangements.

6. Working with Children and Adults Who Need Additional Support

Magic Swim aims to provide an inclusive learning environment for swimmers with different abilities, communication styles and support requirements.

Parents, guardians and adult swimmers should share relevant information about support needs, communication difficulties, health conditions or other circumstances that may affect safe participation.

The coach will consider reasonable adjustments to teaching methods and communication where appropriate.

Swimmers should be encouraged to express their preferences, ask questions and report anything that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe.

7. Physical Contact, Changing Areas and Personal Care

Swimming instruction may sometimes require appropriate physical guidance to explain a movement or support learning and safety.

Any physical contact should be proportionate, appropriate to the activity and respectful of the swimmer’s dignity and boundaries.

Magic Swim does not undertake personal care or changing-room supervision as part of a standard swimming lesson unless a specific arrangement has been discussed and agreed in advance.

Parents and guardians remain responsible for their child’s changing arrangements and supervision outside the agreed lesson.

The rules and safeguarding procedures of the swimming venue must always be followed.

8. Photography, Video and Social Media

Photographs or recordings of swimmers must not be taken or used for promotional purposes without appropriate permission.

For children, permission should be obtained from a parent or legal guardian, and the child’s wishes should also be respected.

Images and recordings must be handled carefully, stored securely where applicable and used only for the agreed purpose.

Personal information about swimmers must not be shared on social media or with other individuals without an appropriate lawful basis and any required permissions.

9. Recognising and Reporting Concerns

Safeguarding concerns may include:

Signs or disclosures of physical, emotional or sexual abuse.
Neglect or exploitation.
Bullying, harassment or discriminatory behaviour.
Inappropriate conduct or boundary violations.
A swimmer expressing fear, distress or feeling unsafe.
Any other situation that raises a reasonable concern about someone’s welfare.

A concern does not need to be proven before it is reported.

If a swimmer discloses abuse or harm, the coach will listen calmly, take the concern seriously, avoid leading questions, and not promise absolute confidentiality.

Relevant information should be recorded as soon as reasonably possible, using factual and objective language.

Information will be shared only with appropriate people or agencies who need it to help protect the individual, subject to safeguarding and legal requirements.

10. What Happens When a Concern Is Raised?

Magic Swim will take safeguarding concerns seriously and respond promptly.

Depending on the circumstances, this may involve:

Taking immediate steps to protect the swimmer from further harm.
Contacting the leisure centre’s designated safeguarding contact.
Seeking advice from the appropriate safeguarding service.
Reporting the concern to the relevant statutory authority or police.
Keeping an accurate and secure record of the concern and actions taken.

If a child or another person is in immediate danger, call 999.

Concerns about a child’s welfare in Northern Ireland can be reported to the relevant Health and Social Care Trust’s Gateway Service or the police. The NSPCC can also provide advice on 0808 800 5000.

A concern about the conduct of a coach or another person should not be investigated informally in a way that could compromise the safety of the swimmer or an appropriate formal investigation.

11. Confidentiality and Record Keeping

Safeguarding information is sensitive and must be handled carefully.

Magic Swim will take reasonable steps to:

Keep safeguarding records secure.
Limit access to information to those who need it.
Record concerns and actions accurately.
Retain information only as necessary and in accordance with applicable legal requirements.
Share information with appropriate authorities where necessary to protect a child or adult at risk.

Confidentiality will not be used as a reason to withhold information where sharing is necessary and lawful to protect someone from harm.

12. Safe and Professional Practice

Magic Swim is committed to maintaining appropriate professional standards.

Relevant qualifications, safeguarding training and checks will be maintained as required for the coach’s role and the activities undertaken.

Where a role or activity requires an AccessNI check, the applicable eligibility and checking requirements will be followed.

This policy does not replace any safeguarding, recruitment or reporting requirements imposed by a leisure centre, governing body or relevant authority.

13. Review of This Policy

This policy will be reviewed periodically and when necessary to reflect changes in safeguarding guidance, legal requirements or Magic Swim’s activities.

The latest version will be published on the Magic Swim website.

14. Raising a Safeguarding Concern

If you have a safeguarding concern relating to a Magic Swim lesson, please contact:

Magic Swim
Contact: Maciej Zielinski
Phone: 07783538894
Email: magicswim@magicswim.co.uk

If someone is in immediate danger, contact emergency services on 999 rather than waiting for an email response.

Parents, guardians and swimmers are encouraged to raise concerns promptly. All concerns will be treated seriously and handled as appropriately as possible.

Policy owner: Magic Swim
Review date: 18 October 2027