Grievance and Disciplinary Policy

 Complaints and Disputes

1. Where complaints relate to allegations or reports of malpractice or abuse relating to the welfare of children or vulnerable adults these will be dealt with in accordance with the Club’s safeguarding policy and procedures which can be found (https://www.barnetadac.com/codes-of-conduct/). A Club Welfare Officer will lead any investigations in this regard. 

2. For all other complaints of misconduct regarding the behaviour of any Club Members or Officers, these will be dealt with by the Club Secretary and must be presented in writing to the Secretary by the complainant. If the complaint relates to the Club Secretary, then it should be submitted to a Club Welfare Officer. 

3. Unless exceptional circumstances apply the Club Secretary (or Club Welfare Officer) will review the complaint within 14 days of receipt and, if sufficiently evidenced, the Club Secretary will appoint 3 club members (who have no direct or indirect involvement with matter) to convene an investigation panel to investigate the complaint. If the complaint is not sufficiently evidenced, the Club Secretary will offer the complainant one further opportunity to evidence the complaint before the matter is closed. 

4. The investigation panel will meet to review the complaint and carry out any investigations they deem necessary to ensure a fair process for both the complainant and the subject(s) of the complaint. Where practical this investigation process will be completed within 28 days of the panel being convened. 

5. Where a Club Member or Officer is the subject of the complaint they will be given adequate opportunity by the investigation panel to respond to the complaint 

6. The investigation panel may, if they wish, confer with the Club Secretary and / or Club Chairman to determine the most appropriate course of action as a result of the investigation. 

7. The complainant will be notified in writing of the outcome of the investigation as soon as practical following the completion of the investigation. The complainant will be offered the opportunity to appeal against the outcome. Any appeal must be submitted within seven days of receiving the decision.

8. Any appeals will be reviewed by the Club Chairman and one other Club member not previously involved in the process. The decision reached after this review will be final and conclusive. 

9. Any complaints of serious misconduct regarding the behaviour of Members or Officers should be reported to England Athletics and dealt with in accordance with its Disciplinary Procedures. 

10. If a dispute arises between any Members or Officers of the Club about the validity or propriety of anything done by any Member or Officer under these Rules and the dispute cannot be resolved by agreement, the parties to the dispute must first try in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation before resorting to litigation.

Adopted by Committee 26th May 2022