Introduction
All sporting organisations which make provision for children
and young people must ensure that:
- The welfare of the child is paramount;
- All children, whatever their age, culture, disability,
gender, language, racial origin religious beliefs and/or sexual
identity have the right to protection from abuse;
- All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken
seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;
- All staff (paid /unpaid) working in Horrabridge Rangers
Sports Association have a responsibility to report concerns
to the appropriate officer.
Staff/volunteers are not trained to deal with situations of
abuse nor decide if abuse has occurred.
Policy statement
Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association has a duty of care
to safeguard all children involved in Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association
from harm. All children have a right to protection, and the needs
of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable
must be taken into account. Horrabridge will ensure the safety and
protection of all children involved in Horrabridge Rangers Sports
Association through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted
by Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association.
A child is defined as under 18 (The Children Act 1989).
Policy aims
The aim of the Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association Child
Protection Policy is to promote good practice:
- Providing children and young people with appropriate
safety and protection whilst in the care of Horrabridge Rangers
Sports Association;
- Allow all staff / volunteers to make informed and confident
responses to specific child protection issues.
Promoting Good Practice
with Young People
Introduction
Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong
emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand
these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgement
about any action to take. Abuse can occur within many situations including
the home, school and the sporting environment. Some individuals will
actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order
to harm them. A coach, instructor, teacher, official or volunteer
may have regular contact with young people and be an important link
in identifying cases where a young person needs protection. All suspicious
cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines
in this document. When a child enters the club having been subjected
to child abuse outside the sporting environment, sport can play a
crucial role in improving the child’s self esteem. In such instances
the club must work with the appropriate agencies to ensure the child
receives the required support.
Good Practice Guidelines
All personnel should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary
behaviour in order to protect themselves from false allegations. The
following are common sense examples of how to create a positive culture
and climate within football:
Good practice means:
- Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoiding
private or unobserved situations and encouraging an open environment
i.e. no secrets).
- Treating all young people/disabled adults equally, and
with respect and dignity.
- Always putting the welfare of each young person first,
before winning or achieving goals.
- Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with players
(e.g. it is not appropriate to have an intimate relationship with
a child or to share a room with them).
- building balanced relationships based on mutual trust
which empowers children to share in the decision-making process;
- Making sport fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play.
- Ensuring that if any form of manual/physical support
is required, it should be provided openly and according to guidelines
provided by the Coach Education Programme. Care is needed, as it
is difficult to maintain hand positions when the child is constantly
moving. Young people should always be consulted and their agreement
gained. Some parents are becoming increasingly sensitive about manual
support and their views should always be carefully considered.
- Keeping up to date with the technical skills, qualifications
and insurance in sport.
- Involving parents/carers wherever possible (e.g. for
the responsibility of their children in the changing rooms). If
groups have to be supervised in the changing rooms, always ensure
parents/teachers/coaches/officials work in pairs.
- Ensuring that if mixed teams are taken away, they should
always be accompanied by a male and female member of staff. (NB
however, same gender abuse can also occur)
- Ensuring that at tournaments or residential events, adults
should not enter children’s rooms or invite children into
their rooms.
- Being an excellent role model – this includes not
smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of young people.
- Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather
than negative criticism.
- Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of young
people and disabled adults – avoiding excessive training or
competition and not pushing them against their will.
- Securing parental consent in writing to act in loco
parentis, if the need arises to give permission for the administration
of emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment.
- Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along
with the details of any treatment given.
- Requesting written parental consent if club officials
are required to transport young people in their cars.
Practice to be avoided
The following should be avoided except in emergencies.
If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable they should
only occur with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge
in the club or the child’s parents. For example, a child sustains
an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent fails to arrive
to pick a child up at the end of a session:
- Avoid spending excessive amounts of time alone with children
away from others;
- Avoid taking children to your home where they will be
alone with you.
Practice never to be sanctioned
The following should never be sanctioned. You should
never:
- Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games,
including horseplay;
- Share a room with a child;
- Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching;
- Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged;
- Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in
fun;
- Reduce a child to tears as a form of control;
- Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged,
unrecorded or not acted upon;
- Do things of a personal nature for children or disabled
adults, that they can do for themselves;
- Invite or allow children to stay with you at your home
unsupervised.
NB. It may sometimes
be necessary for staff or volunteers to do things of a personal nature
for children, particularly if they are young or are disabled. These
tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent
of parents and the players involved. There is a need to be responsive
to a person’s reactions. If a person is fully dependent on you,
talk with him/her about what you are doing and give choices where
possible. This is particularly so if you are involved in any dressing
or undressing of outer clothing, or where there is physical contact,
lifting or assisting a child to carry out particular activities. Avoid
taking on the responsibility for tasks for which you are not appropriately
trained.
If any of the following occur you should report this immediately
to another colleague and record the incident. You should also ensure
the parents of the child are informed.
- If you accidentally hurt a player.
- If he/she seems distressed in any manner.
- If a player appears to be sexually aroused by your actions.
- If a player misunderstands or misinterprets something
you have done.
Guidelines for Use of Photographic Filming Equipment at Sporting
Events
There is evidence that some people have used sporting events
as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage
of young and disabled sportspeople in vulnerable positions. It is
advisable that all clubs be vigilant with any concerns to be reported
to the Club Child Protection Officer.
Videoing as a coaching aid: there is no intention to prevent
club coaches and teachers using video equipment as a legitimate coaching
aid. However, performers and their parents/carers should be aware
that this is part of the coaching programme and care should be taken
in the storing of such films.
Recruitment and selecting staff and volunteers
Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association recognises that anyone
may have the potential to abuse children in some way and that all
reasonable steps are taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented
from working with children. When undertaking pre selection checks
the following should be included:
- All volunteers /staff should complete an application
form. The application form will elect information about applicants
past and a self disclosure about any criminal record.
- Consent should be obtained from an applicant to seek
information from the Criminal Records Bureau (introduced in September
2001).
- Two confidential references, including one regarding
previous work with children. These references must be taken up and confirmed through
telephone contact.
- Evidence of identity (Passport or driving licence with
Photo).
Responding to suspicions or allegations
It is not the responsibility of anyone working in Horrabridge
Rangers Sports Association, in a paid or unpaid capacity to
take responsibility or to decide whether or not child abuse has taken
place. However there is a responsibility to act on any concerns through
contact with the appropriate authorities.
Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association will assure all staff/volunteers
that it will fully support and protect anyone, who in good faith reports
his or her concern that a colleague is, or may be, abusing a child.
Where there is a complaint against a member of staff there
may be three types of investigation
- A criminal investigation,
- A child protection investigation,
- A disciplinary or misconduct investigation.
The results of the police and child protection investigation
may well influence the disciplinary investigation, but not necessarily.
Poor Practice
- If, following consideration, the allegation is clearly
about poor practice; the Club Child Protection Officer will deal
with it as a misconduct issue.
- If the allegation is about poor practice by the Club
Child Protection Officer, or if the matter has been handled inadequately
and concerns remain, it should be reported to the relevant Horrabridge
Rangers Sports Association officer who will decide how to deal with
the allegation and whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings.
Suspected Abuse
- Any suspicion that a child has been abused by either
a member of staff or a volunteer should be reported to the Club
Child Protection Officer, who will take such steps as considered
necessary to ensure the safety of the child in question and any
other child who may be at risk.
- The Club Child Protection Officer will refer the allegation
to the social services department who may involve the police, or
go directly to the police if out-of-hours.
- The parents or carers of the child will be contacted
as soon as possible following advice from the social services department.
- The Club Child Protection Officer should also notify
the relevant Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association officer who
in turn will inform the Devon Football Association Child Protection
Officer who will deal with any media enquiries.
- If the Club Child Protection Officer is the subject of
the suspicion/allegation, the report must be made to the appropriate
Manager or in his/her absence the Devon Football Association Child
Protection Officer who will refer the allegation to Social Services.
Confidentiality
Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality
is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and
disseminated on a need to know basis
only. This includes the following people:
- The Club Child Protection Officer;
- The parents of the person who is alleged to have been
abused;
- The person making the allegation;
- Social services/police;
- The Devon Football Association Regional Development Manager
and Devon Football Child Protection Officer;
- The alleged abuser (and parents if the alleged abuser
is a child). *
*Seek social services advice on who should approach alleged
abuser.
Information should be stored in a secure place with limited
access to designated people, in line with data protection laws (e.g.
that information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure).
Internal Enquiries and Suspension
- The Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association Child Protection
Officer will make an immediate decision about whether any individual
accused of abuse should be temporarily suspended pending further
police and social services inquiries.
- Irrespective of the findings of the social services or
police inquiries the Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association Disciplinary
Committee will assess all individual cases to decide whether a member
of staff or volunteer should be reinstated and how this can be sensitively
handled. This may be a difficult decision; particularly where there
is insufficient evidence to uphold any action by the police. In
such cases, the Horrabridge Rangers Sports Association Disciplinary
Committee must reach a decision based upon the available information
which could suggest that on a balance of probability; it is more
likely than not that the allegation is true. The welfare of children
should always remain paramount.
Support to Deal with the Aftermath
- Consideration should be given about what support may
be appropriate to children, parents and members of staff. Use of
Help Lines, support groups and open meetings will maintain an open
culture and help the healing process. The British Association of
Counselling Directory (The British Association for Counselling
Directory is available from The British Association for Counselling,
1 Regent Place, Rugby CV21 2PJ, Tel: 01788 550899, Fax: 01788 562189,
E-mail: bac@bac.co.uk,
Internet: www.bac.co.uk)
may be a useful resource.
- Consideration should be given about what support may
be appropriate to the alleged perpetrator of the abuse.
Allegations of Previous Abuse
Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event
(e.g. by an adult who was abused as a child or by a member of staff
who is still currently working with children). Where such an allegation
is made, the club should follow the procedures as detailed above and
report the matter to the social services or the police. This is because
other children, either within or outside sport, may be at risk from
this person.
Anyone who has a previous criminal conviction for offences
related to abuse is automatically excluded from working with children.
This is reinforced by the details of the Protection of Children
Act 1999.
Action if Bullying is Suspected
The same procedure should be followed as set out in the Section
relating to responding to suspicions or allegations, if bullying is
suspected. All settings in which children are provided with services
or are living away from home should have rigorously enforced anti-bullying
strategies in place.
Action to Help the Victim and Prevent Bullying in Sport:
- Take all signs of bullying very seriously.
- Encourage all children to speak and share their concerns
(It is believed that up to 12 children per year commit suicide as
a result of bullying, so if anyone talks about or threatens suicide,
seek professional help immediately). Help the victim to speak out
and tell the person in charge or someone in authority. Create an
open environment.
- Investigate all allegations and take action to ensure
the victim is safe. Speak with the victim and the bully (ies) separately.
- Reassure the victim that you can be trusted and will
help them, although you cannot promise to tell no one else.
- Keep records of what is said (what happened, by whom,
when).
- Report any concerns to the Club Child Protection Officer
or the school (wherever the bullying is occurring).
Action Towards the Bully(ies):
- Talk with the bully (ies), explain the situation, and
try to get the bully (ies) to understand the consequences of their
behaviour. Seek an apology to the victim(s).
- Inform the bully’s parents.
- Insist on the return of borrowed items and that
the bullies (ies) compensate the victim.
- Provide support for the coach of the victim.
- Impose sanctions as necessary.
- Encourage and support the bully (ies) to change behaviour.
- Hold meetings with the families to report on progress.
- Inform all organisation members of action taken.
- Keep a written record of action taken.
Remember:
- Maintain confidentiality on a need to know basis
only.
- Ensure the Club Child Protection Officer follows up with
social services.
- The Club Child Protection Officer should also report
the incident to the Devon Football Association Child Protection
Officer who should ascertain whether or not the person/s involved
in the incident play a role in Football and act accordingly.
If you do not know who to turn for advice or are worried about
sharing your concerns with a senior colleague, you should contact
the social services direct (or the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, or Childline
on 0800 1111)
What to do if there are concerns
Information passed to the social services or the police must
be as helpful as possible, hence the necessity for making a detailed
record at the time of the disclosure/concern. Information passed to
the social services or the police must be as helpful as possible,
hence the necessity for making a detailed record at the time of the
disclosure/concern. Information should include the following:;
- Name of child
- Age of child and date of birth
- Home address and telephone number
- Is the person making the report expressing their own
concerns or those of someone else
- What is the nature of the allegation? Include dates,
times, any special factors and other relevant information.
- Make a clear distinction between what is fact, opinion
or hearsay.
- A description of any visible bruising or other injuries.
Behavioural signs indirect signs?
- Witnesses to the incidents.
- The child’s account, if it can be given, of what
has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred.
- Have the parents been contacted?
- If so what has been said?
- Has anyone else been consulted? If so record details.
- If it is not the child making the report has the child
concerned been spoken to? If so what was said?
- Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? Record details