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Original poster

Is this a child protection issue

145 replies

Elisheva · 18/01/2022 18:45

My dd is 7. During her swimming lesson today there was a man in swimming trunks sat on the side of the pool watching the swimming lessons. During swimming lesson times the pool is closed to other swimmers. I asked at reception and they said that the man was cooling off after using the sauna, which is in a room off the pool.
The children sit on a ledge during their lessons while waiting for their turn and the man was sat next to them.
Parents are not allowed poolside during lessons, and currently (because of covid) parents of children over 8 are not allowed to watch from the gallery.
The staff member said that there was nowhere else for the man to sit, that him being in trunks was irrelevant, and that it was no different to the parents watching from the gallery.
I am very uneasy about this situation. I know that the man was doing nothing wrong but it seems to be a situation that could be taken advantage of. I’m not sure whether to take it further and email the centre manager.
What do you think?

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 18/01/2022 18:47

I think he was using the poolside as he had paid to do when he paid to use the sauna. There is no child protection issue. He hasn't done anything untoward and the children had adults with them plus their parents watching.

Intothelight123 · 18/01/2022 18:55

As a one off of course he wasn't doing anything wrong. If he's there weekly purposefully watching the kids then you have a point.

Pinkflipflop85 · 18/01/2022 18:57

There is no child protection issue.

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ApolloandDaphne · 18/01/2022 18:59

@Intothelight123

As a one off of course he wasn't doing anything wrong. If he's there weekly purposefully watching the kids then you have a point.
Even if his routine meant he went every week at that time he still wouldn't be doing anything wrong. He would really need to be doing something more overtly concerning rather than just sitting by some kids who are going for lessons.

If he started trying engage the children in conversation to glean names and info, or sat right up to them, or stared and got aroused or followed them when they went to shower etc then there might be an issue.

ImSureISaidNo · 18/01/2022 18:59

I disagree. He could have taken a shower.

LexiTall · 18/01/2022 18:59

If he's sitting next to the children then yes that's a safeguarding issue. Who is actually supervising the children? He could be talking to them? Personally if a parent expresses a reasonable concern like this I, as the manager of a family venue like this, would go out of my way to accommodate the parent. I would challenge.

Original poster
Elisheva · 18/01/2022 19:10

If he started trying engage the children in conversation to glean names and info, or sat right up to them, or stared and got aroused or followed them when they went to shower etc then there might be an issue.

I thought the point of child protection was so that behaviours like this weren’t a possibility, rather than waiting for a person to behave inappropriately and then to react?

OP posts:
CorrBlimeyGG · 18/01/2022 19:19

Behaviours like cooling off after a sauna?

What do you suggest, they ban people from using the sauna for the whole time lessons are taking place?

Original poster
Elisheva · 18/01/2022 19:25

What do you suggest, they ban people from using the sauna for the whole time lessons are taking place?
Or provide a different area for adults to sit after using the sauna?

OP posts:
MajorCarolDanvers · 18/01/2022 19:27

No child protection issues here.

Lemonysnicker · 18/01/2022 19:31

Think you’re mixing up child protection and safeguarding.
But either way there’s no issue from the info given, he’s just a member of the public sharing a public space with children who are having a swimming lesson (and who are accompanied / watched at all times).

Original poster
Elisheva · 18/01/2022 19:35

Think you’re mixing up child protection and safeguarding.
What is the difference?

OP posts:
teaandchocolate1 · 18/01/2022 19:35

It's very hard to judge without knowing the situation. For me it would depend on whether he stares at the children and tries to engage them in conversation.

He's not doing anything wrong by just sitting there.

Not every man is a pedophile and I'd be extremely pissed off as a presumably paying member if a manager approached me about this.

PaddleBoardingMomma · 18/01/2022 19:42

One of my fave things to do is getting into the pool after the sauna, so so refreshing! I'd be miffed if I couldn't after paying for the privilege! Although as a woman, I doubt anyone would give a hoot.

Twonkers · 18/01/2022 19:43

You aren’t accusing this individual of anything, but you are pointing out that the situation has the potential to be unsafe.

Why not email the centre? One outcome might be that staff are reminded during safeguarding training that other adults use the pool during children’s swimming lessons. It wouldn’t do any harm for the centre to assess the risk of this. YANBU

Debroglie · 18/01/2022 19:50

Safeguarding is preventative. Like having a lifeguard present for eg.
Child protection is stepping in when harm is already being done.
Your concerns would fall under safeguarding from what you have said and providing he’s not left alone with the children or trying to befriend them then it’s probably not an issue.
That said, if he seems creepy to you you then you’re probably onto something.

Debroglie · 18/01/2022 19:51

Child protection as a part of safeguarding but the two terms are not interchangeable

Cuck00soup · 18/01/2022 19:53

I would be concerned about him sat next to the children to be honest.

If it's a children's swim lesson and the pool is closed to adults and the wider public, then he doesn't get to cool off from the sauna in the pool.

I think I would email the manager.

blogbunny · 18/01/2022 19:56

@LexiTall

If he's sitting next to the children then yes that's a safeguarding issue. Who is actually supervising the children? He could be talking to them? Personally if a parent expresses a reasonable concern like this I, as the manager of a family venue like this, would go out of my way to accommodate the parent. I would challenge.
I totally agree. OP I would definitely speak to the manager. If he’s sat next to the children in his trunks I would definitely say this needs addressing. You don’t know what he’s saying to the children. It does seem a strange thing for him to do.
Handholding587 · 18/01/2022 19:56

Not an issue.

Handholding587 · 18/01/2022 19:58

The OP didn't say he was talking to the children. He was just sitting there.

Cuck00soup · 18/01/2022 20:06

He was sat next to the children when the pool is closed to adults.

While there is no reason to assume his intentions were bad, safeguarding measures would normally mean he should not be there.

Itstheprinciple · 18/01/2022 20:14

Plenty of pools are open to the public when children's lessons are taking place. Outside of covid times, any old Tom, Dick or Harry could be sitting in the viewing gallery watching. It's just part and parcel of being at a swimming pool. Him sitting there as a one off is not a safeguarding issue.

Cuck00soup · 18/01/2022 20:29

Although plenty of pools are open to the public during children's swimming lessons, this one isn't.

The child safeguarding risk assessment is therefore most likely based upon the pool being closed to adults.

It doesn't mean anything untoward is going on, but it is sensible to ask "is this OK?"

Mo1911 · 18/01/2022 20:34

I worked for social services and I'm trained in child protection. As long as it is as you said it is it wouldn't strike me as a problem. There's also staff around and the area is presumably supervised.

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