RLSS UK Branches Compliance

 

Compliance can often seem like an extremely intimidating word, but for Branches all it really means is, are you following all the right rules and regulations that keeps both yourselves, your events and activities, your volunteers and members safe?

 

These documents, chosen especially to support you in your RLSS UK branch activities, provide you with some valuable information on some of the different things you may need to consider and comply with when running your branch.

 

Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Vulnerable Adult's policy

 

The Royal Life Saving Society UK is committed to ensuring that all those who participate in Lifesaving and Lifeguarding within their affiliated organisations have a safe and positive experience and is committed to developing and implementing policies and procedures which ensure that everyone understands and accepts their responsibility in relation to their duty of care for young people and vulnerable adults. It is committed to ensuring that there are correct and comprehensive reporting procedures, and promoting good practice and sound recruitment procedures for all individuals working within lifesaving. This policy sets out a framework to fulfil the Royal Life Saving Society's commitment to good practice and the protection of young people and vulnerable adults in the care of RLSS UK volunteers and affiliated organisations.

RLSS UK Safeguarding & Protecting Children And Vulnerable Adults Policy (2.35 MB)

 

Volunteers and the Law

 

Many organisations are unclear about the legal status of their volunteers and the responsibilities they have towards them. Worries around issues such as benefits and the reimbursement of expenses are perennial concerns. Eighteen million people make a gift of their time each year to volunteer. There is increasing government attention on volunteering, with growing numbers of people being encouraged to volunteer. It is therefore vital that organisations understand both the good practice and the legal implications of volunteer involvement, in order to ensure that volunteering remains a valuable experience for all. This leaflet is a summary of the recently published book, Volunteers and the Law. It is a signposting document, leading you to sources of further information. Legal advice should always be sought. Much will be relevant to readers in the rest of the UK, but guidance should be sought from Volunteer Development Scotland (www.vds.org.uk) or, in Northern Ireland, from the Volunteer Development Agency (www.volunteering-ni.org). Recent legislation referred to in the text can be found at www.hmso.gov.uk.

Volunteers And The Law (298.45 kB) 

 

RLSS UK Code of Practice

 

All aspects of Lifesaving and Lifeguarding can and do have a powerful and positive influence on people; not only providing opportunities for enjoyment and achievement, but also developing valuable qualities such as confidence, self esteem, leadership and team work. These positive effects can only take place if Lifesaving is in the right hands and it is the duty of all those associated in leading activity whether it be as a Trainer, Assessor, Coach, Official Region, Branch or Club Officer or Volunteer to provide the correct environment.

 

The RLSS UK is committed to ensuring that everyone who participates in Lifesaving has a safe, positive and enriching experience. To achieve this, the Society is dedicated to developing and implementing policies and procedures which ensures everyone understands and accepts their responsibility in relation to their duty of care, behaviours and attitudes to others.

 

For all those taking part in, running or attending RLSS UK activities, this vital document outlines all our policies and guidance on areas such as health and safety, insurance, training, equal opportunities and many other vital areas of our activities.

RLSS UK Code Of Practice May (1.81 MB)

 

RLSS UK Data Protection

 

As you know, the lifeblood of any membership organisation, including ours, is the information we hold on our members. Recently we have registered with the Information Commissioners Office as a data controller, meaning we are responsible for the data we hold on both our members and our volunteers.

 

We have done this to ensure we are compliant with the regulations (Data Protection Act 1998) and to give our present and future members confidence in us as a trustworthy organisation which will look after their personal details in a safe and repsonsible manner.

 

The spirit of the regulations is that to store and use personal data, we need express permission from the person whose data this is. If we use their data for anything other than the uses we have permission for, we are in breach of the regulations and, if they complain, we are legally liable to claims for damages. Individuals are also legally entitled to ask for a copy of all the data we hold on them.

 

To help clarify the guidance and regulations, please download and read the three documents below.

 

Data Protection Policy - This is a simple two-page document covering our responsibilities in regards to Data Protection, and should be read by everyone who handles the personal data of members.

 

Staff Guide - This is a longer document, and has been enclosed for reference purposes. It covers most questions that could be asked in relation to Data Protection on an everyday basis. It also includes a leaflet that can be printed and given to your members, which outlines their rights and how to request a copy of their data. If you receive one of these forms, please forward it on to River House with a copy of all the data you hold on the individual.

 

8 Principles Poster - This is a poster that was devised as a memory aid showing the principles of the regulations. If you put this poster over your desk or PC you can be confident you will be following best practices.

 

We have a duty to our present and future members to guard their details, and so if you do have any questions or suggestions that aren't covered in the enclosed guidance please contact the Data Protection Officer at RiverHouse.

 

 Data Protection Policy (54.81 kB)

 Data Protection Statement (422.83 kB)

 Data Protection Poster (217.17 kB)