|
Child Protection Policy
Professionals
All individuals involved in sports activities with children and young people
have a responsibility to safeguard their welfare. The majority of children who
participate in sport do so in a safe and positive atmosphere with the support
and encouragement of those involved with the sport. However, a number of
children do not have a positive experience and sport like other aspects of
society now recognises the need to guard against individuals who may abuse their
position in a sport. An increasing number of children and older athletes are now
speaking out about their experiences of abuse and those involved in this field
are beginning to build up a clearer picture of the nature and extent of abuse in
sport.
There are a number of steps you can take to promote the welfare to the children
and young people involved in sport. Within this section you will find advice and
information about developing good practice in relation to child protection.
You should also consider contacting the governing body of your sport or your
professional body who may have produced a child protection policy and detailed
guidance about how to respond to concerns.
What is abuse?
Child abuse is any form of physical, emotional or sexual mistreatment or
lack of care that leads to injury or harm. It commonly occurs within a
relationship of trust or responsibility and represents an abuse of power or a
breach of trust. Abuse can happen to a child regardless of their age, gender,
race or ability.
Abuse and Neglect
Somebody may abuse or neglect a child by inflicting harm, or by failing to
act to prevent harm. Children may be abused in a family or in an institutional
or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger.
~ Neglect -- Where adults fail to meet a child's basic physical and/or
psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child's
health or development (e.g failure to provide adequate food, shelter and
clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the
failure to ensure access to medical care or treatment). It may also include
refusal to give children love, affection and attention. Neglect in sport could
include a teacher or coach not ensuring children safe, exposing them to undue
cold, heat or to unnecessary risk of injury.
~ Physical Abuse -- where adults physically hurt or injure children by hitting,
shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, biting, or scalding, suffocating,
drowning or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also
be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes
ill health to a child whom they are looking after e.g. factitious illness by
proxy or Munchausen's syndrome by proxy. Examples of physical abuse in sport may
be when the nature and intensity of training and competition exceeds the
capacity of the child's immature and growing body; where drugs are used to
enhance performance or delay puberty.
~ Sexual Abuse -- where girls and boys are abused by adults (both male and
female) who use children to meet their own sexual needs. This could include full
sexual intercourse, masturbation, oral sex, anal intercourse and fondling.
Showing children pornographic material (books, videos, pictures) or talking to
children in a sexually explicit manner is also a form of sexual abuse. In sport,
coaching techniques, which involve physical contact with children, could
potentially create situations where sexual abuse may go unoticed. The power of
the coach over young performers, is mis-used, may also lead to abusive
situations developing.
~ Emotional Abuse -- is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such
as to cause severe and persistant adverse effects on the child's emotional
development. It may involve conveying to children that they are worthless or
unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another
person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being
imposed on children. It may involve causing children to feel frightened or in
danger by being constantly shouted at, threatened or taunted which may make the
child very nevous and withdrawn. Some level of emotional abuse in sport may
occur if children are subjected to constant criticism, name-calling, and
sarcasm, bullying or unrealistic pressure to perform to high expectations
consistently.
The above defenitions are adapted from Department Of Health (1999) Working
Together to Safeguard Children -- A guide to inter-agency working to safeguard
and promote the welfare of children.
It is important to recognise the impact and extent of bullying and
discrimination in the lives of young people. Some people may not regard bullying
and discrimination as child abuse because of the settings in which this often
takes place and also because it is often other young people who are responsible
for the behaviour.
What is Bullying?
Bullying is often defined in terms of three components,
~ It must occur over time, rather than being a single aggressive act;
~ It involves an imbalance of power, the powerful attack the powerless;
~ It can be psychological, verbal, or physical in nature.
In the NSPCC study, the most common experiences of bullying and discrimination
reported by young people was at the hands of other young people.
~ Being called names, insulted or verbally abused;
~ Being deliberated embarrased and humiliated by other children;
~ Being made to feel different or like an outsider;
~ Being lied about;
~ Being physically assaulted or threatened with violence;
~ Being ignored.
Boys were mostly likely to experience physical bullying or threats, have
property stolen or damaged. Girls were more likely to be ignored or not spoken
to.
Bullying by adults was a less common experience but one in ten reported this. Of
this form of bullying the most common experiences were:
~ Being deliberated embarrassed or hummiliated;
~ Being unfairly treated or verbally abused;
~ Being ignored or not spoken to.
The study comfirmed previous investigations suggesting that bullying and
discrimination by young people is one of the mosty common forms of harmful
aggression experienced by young people. Another important fact identified in the
study is that for a quarter of those yong people involved the experience of
bullying and discrimination had long term harmful effects.
Some Typical Indications
Remember that every child is unique and it is difficult to predict how their
behaviour will change as a result of their experience of abuse. The impact of
abuse is likely to be affected by their age, the nature and extent of the abuse
and the help and support they receive. There are some behaviours that are
commonly seen in children who are abused but remember they may only give an
indication and not confirmation.
~ Unexplained or suspicious injuries such as bruising, bites, burns,
particularly if situated on a part of the body not normally prone to such
injuries.
~The child says that he or she is being abused, or another person says they
believe (or know) that abuse is occuring.
~ The child has an injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent or which
has not been adequately treated.
~ The childs behaviour changes, either over time or quite suddenly, and he or
she becomes quiet and withdrawn, or alternately becomes aggressive.
~ Refusal to remove clothing for normal activities or keeping covered up in warm
weather.
~ The child appears not to trust particular adults, a parent or coach with whom
she or he would be expected to have, or once had, a close relationship.
~ An inability to make close friends.
~ Pains or itching, bruising or bleeding in or near genital area.
~Inappropriate sexual awareness or behaviour for the child's age.
Listening to Children
As an adult with trust and influence with children sports coaches are in a
powerful position to recognise or receive information about abuse. However,
remember it is not your responsibility to decide if a child is being
abused. Your role is to act on those concerns.
Many sports have clear guidelines as to how child protection concerns should be
dealt with and you should make yourself aware of these and must follow them if
you have concerns. Failing to respond or responding in contravention to your
sport guidelines can have serious implications for the future handling of the
case.
If you are involved in a sport that does not have guidelines, here is some
advice as to how to respond to concerns.
Children will express themselves verbally or non-verbally and it is important to
respond sensitively and carefully to what they are saying or in how they are
behaving.
~ If the child tells you about their abuse, listen carefully to what they tell
you.
~ Don't ask direct questions -- "Who, What, Where or When".
~ Do encourage them to talk -- "Do you want to tell me about this?"/
~ Be honest with them about what you can and cannot do. Tell them you are not
able to keep what they have told you secret and that you will try to find them
the help they need.
~ Keep calm and even if you find what they are saying difficult or painful, keep
listening.
~ When they have finished, make a detailed note of what they have said and pass
that information onto someone in a position of authority within your sport --
Club Secretary, Chair, Senior Coach.
~ If you have serious concerns about the immediate safety of that child, contact
the police or social services. Record who you spoke to and tell your club
official what you have done.
~ Do not contact or confront the individual who is alleged to be responsible.
~ Find someone you trust to talk to about or to support you but remember not to
name or identify those involved in the allegations.
Responding to non-verbal concerns
Changes in a child's behaviour can be the result of a wide range of factors
and this makes it difficult to identify if the changes are linked to abuse. Even
signs such as bruising or other injuries cannot be taken as "proof" of abuse.
However if you have concerns, you have a responsibility to act on those
concerns.
Many sports will have guidelines about how you should respond to concerns
arising from physical signs or other concerns. It is important you follow those
guidelines.
If you are involved in a sport that does not have a guidance, here is a guide as
to how you should respond.
~ Record carefully have you have observed and pass this information to an
official in your club.
~ Talk to someone in your club.
The Coaches Charter
1. Coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person and
treat everyone equally within the context of their sport.
2. Coaches must place the well being and safety of the performer above the
development of performance. They should follow all guidelines laid down by the
sports governing body and hold apporpriate insurance cover.
3. Coaches must develop and appropriate working relationship with performers,
especially children, based on mutual trust and respect. Coaches must not exert
undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward.
4. Coaches must encourage and guide performers to accept responsibility for
their own behaviour.
5. Coaches should hold up-to-date nationally recognised governing body coaching
qualifications.
6. Coaches must ensure the activities they direct or advocate are appropriate
for the age, maturity, experience and ability of the individual.
7. Coaches should at the outset clarify with performers, and where appropriate
their parents, exactly what is expected of them and what performers are entitled
to expect from their coach.
8. Coaches should co-operate fully with other specialists.
SAMPLE CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
CONTENTS
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY STATEMENT
Young Judo Club/Swale Martial Arts Club will endeavour at all times through its
provision of coaching to:
- promote the welfare, health and full development of children and
protect them from harms of all kinds
- recognise that children have rights as individuals and treat them
with dignity and respect
- raise awareness about what children are entitled to be protected
from
- plan coaching sessions so as to minimise opportunities for the
children to suffer harm
- develop effective procedures for responding to alleged or suspected
incidents of abuse
- a child is defined as anyone who is under the age of 16 years
What is child abuse?
It is generally accepted that there are four main forms of
abuse. The following definitions are based on those from Working Together to
Safeguard Children (Department of Health, Home Office, Department of Education
and Employment 1999)
- Physical
Abuse
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing,
poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing
physical harm to a child.
Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer
feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to, a child whom they
are looking after. A person might do this because they enjoy or need the
attention they get through having a sick child.
Physical abuse, as well as being a result of an act of
commission can also be caused through omission or the failure to act to protect.
- Emotional
Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment
of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the
child’s emotional development. It may involve making a child feel or believe
that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they
meet the needs of another person.
- Sexual
Abuse
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young
person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of,
or consents to, what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact,
including penetrative acts such as rape, buggery or oral sex or non-penetrative
acts such as fondling.
Sexual abuse may also include non-contract activities, such
as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic
material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in
sexually inappropriate ways.
Boys and girls can be sexually abused by males and/or
females, by adults and by other young people. This includes people from
different walks of life.
- Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic
physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment
of the child’s health or development. It may involve a parent or carer failing
to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failure to protect a child from
physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical
care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a
child’s basic emotional needs.
Legislation and Guidance
There is a considerable body of legislation, government
guidance and standards, which are designed to ensure that children are protected
from harm.
The Children Act 1989
This Act legislates for children in England & Wales.
The intention of the Children Act 1989 is to ensure that
the welfare and developmental needs of children are met, including their need to
be protected from harm.
Criminal Justice and Court Services Act 2000
Part II of this Act relates to ‘public bodies’
responsibilities within child protection and is integral to child protection
systems in the UK designed to prevent unsuitable people from working with
children.
It links to other laws including Protection of Children
Act 1999 and The Police Act 1997 that together build a system that
makes it a criminal offence if an employer does not take sufficient steps to
check an employee working with children and/or knowingly gives someone a job who
is inappropriate to work with children.
PROTECTING
CHILDREN, COACHES AND HELPERS
To reduce the likely situations for abuse of
children and to help protect the coaches and helpers from false accusations of
abuse, everyone should be aware of the following guidelines.
As a general rule it is not sensible to:
spend excessive
amounts of time alone with children away from others;
take children
alone on a car journey, however short;
take children to
their home.
Where occasions arise when the above is
unavoidable, such instances should occur with the full knowledge and consent of
the child’s parent/guardian.
Coaches and Helpers should:
Be
registered with the Criminal Records Bureax.
This
will give employers and voluntary organisations access to
information
about criminal records and other relevant information about
people
they intend to appoint in paid or unpaid posts working with
children
and young people under 18, It will provide a one stop shop
service
across England and Wales
Always ensure that the parent/guardian collects the child.
For the older child who may wish to travel to the track, circuit training
or race on their own, written permission from the parent/guardian must be
obtained.
Coaches and Helpers should not:
Leave a child
alone with someone else.
Be alone with a
child in the changing room.
Treat a child for
an injury alone and away from others.
Allow children to
use inappropriate language unchallenged.
Let allegations a
child makes go unchallenged or unrecorded.
ORGANISED
TRIPS
For trips such as a weekend competition,
where a child will be travelling without a parent, additional steps should be
taken to ensure the welfare and protection of the child.
The following guidelines for the trip should
be observed:
- Parents/guardians must be given full information about a trip.
- Parents/guardians written permission must be given for a child to be
included on the trip.
- The coach/team manager/helper must be aware of any special medical
problems a child has and must be satisfied that they can be dealt with.
- Written permission must be given by the parent/guardian that in
extreme circumstances, medical attention can be given to a child.
- Coaches, team managers and helpers are responsible for the welfare
and safety of the children whilst they are on the trip.
- The children must be adequately supervised at all times.
- Parents should be informed of actions requiring discipline in
writing. A report must be made and given to the child protection officer.
- There should be a minimum of two adults accompanying the children on
a coach trip. If the group consists of both sexes then male and female
supervision should be provided.
- If a coach/team manager/helper is providing a lift in a car to a
coaching session or race meeting, permission must be obtained from the
parent/guardian and any necessary insurance cover provided.
RECORDING
ALLEGATIONS OR SUSPICIONS OF ABUSE
In all cases where an allegation of
abuse is made against a member of the club, a record of the incident must be
made, using the Child Protection Report form. Copies of this form are available
from either Child Protection Officer. Once completed it should be given to the
club’s Child Protection Officer/s who will record it in the Incident Record
Book. Further investigation will be the responsibility of the clubs Child
Protection Officer/s.
This report contains:
Name of the child
The age of the child
The parent’s name
Home address and telephone number
Nature of the concern:
- Is the person making the report expressing their own concerns or
passing on those of someone else.
- What has prompted the concerns? Give dates and times of specific
incidents. Any physical signs? Behavioural signs? Indirect signs?
- Has the child been spoken to? If so, what was said?
- Have the parents/guardians been contacted? If so, what was said?
- Has anybody been alleged to be the abuser? If so record details.
- Has anyone else been consulted? If so, record details.
The Child Protection Officer/s will assess
all allegations promptly and decide on appropriate action.
If it is a concern by a coach, team
manager or helper as to the possible abuse of a child then they will report the
concerns to the Child Protection Officer/s, on the Child Protection Report form.
The CPO will investigate and after consultation report the concerns to Social
Services and other agencies.
Full documentation will be kept. All
information will be treated as confidential and held securely by the Child
Protection Officer/s.
CHILD
PROTECTION OFFICER/S
The Child Protection Officer/s for YJC/SMAC
will be responsible for:
- Introduction and implementation of the Child Protection Policy
within the Club.
- Undertake any training that may be needed, keep up to date with any
new guidelines that may be issued by the Governing Body of the Sport,
NCF or Social Services.
- Ensure that all club coaches, helpers, officials complete a
volunteer reference form and agreement to adhere to the clubs Child
Protection Policy and keep these up to date.
- Keep up to date records of all qualifications of coaches, helpers
and officials.
- Receive and advise on reports from coaches, helpers, and any other
club member.
- Ensure that parents, children and young people know the Child
Protection Officer/s are available to discuss any concerns.
- Initiate action where appropriate. Once identified, concerns must be
reported to the appropriate services, i.e. Social Services, Police.
- Keep confidential any matter or information referred to them.
- Keep and record all information.
- Ensure the Chairperson is kept informed where appropriate.
Child
Protection Officers currently are:
Martin Clarke
Alan Kontozi
CODE OF BEHAVIOUR
DO treat everyone with respect.
DO provide an example you wish to follow.
DO run coaching sessions in sight or hearing
of others.
DO respect a young person's right to privacy.
DO provide access for young people and adults
to feel comfortable enough to point out attitudes or behaviour they do not like
and provide a caring atmosphere.
DO maintain a healthy adult lifestyle.
DO use common sense in selecting subjects to
demonstrate skills on.
DO remember that someone else might
misinterpret your actions, no matter how well intentioned.
DO recognise that caution is required
especially in sensitive moments of counselling such as when dealing with
bullying, bereavement or abuse.
DO have separate sleeping accommodation for
coaches and children.
*************************************
DO NOT permit abusive youth peer activities (e.g. ridiculing, bullying).
DO NOT have inappropriate physical or verbal contact with others.
DO NOT jump to conclusions about others without checking facts.
DO NOT allow yourself to be drawn into inappropriate attention seeking behaviour
such as tantrums or crushes but deal firmly and fairly with such behaviour at
all times.
DO NOT exaggerate or trivialise child abuse issues.
DO NOT show favouritism to any individual.
DO NOT make any suggestive remarks or gestures or tell jokes or stories of a
‘smutty’ nature to children.
DO NOT rely on your good name to protect you - it may not be enough!
DO NOT believe "it can never happen to me" - it can!
DO NOT get close to or have physical contact with a young person without clearly
explaining what you are doing (e.g. correcting position of a foot in a throw or
a stretching routine etc.).
POLICY
All adults coaching, managing teams, helping
or coming into contact with children or young people under the aegis of
activities of YJC must comply with
the Child Protection Policy and Code of Behaviour of the Club.
As one such person you are required to sign a
copy of this document. By signing you agree to comply with the Policy and to
follow the Code of Behaviour. The signed form should be returned
to a Child Protection Officer. accepts that in matters
concerning child protection the welfare of the child is the paramount
consideration.
It is the policy of the YJC to safeguard
the welfare of the children and all others involved in its activities by
protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm.
Everyone coaching, and helping with children
and young people will be required to disclose all convictions, whether spent or
not.
Anyone involved with an offence
involving abuse or causing harm to children will be subject to disciplinary
action, which could include expulsion from the YJC and prohibition from
participating in the activities of the Club and include notifying the
appropriate authority.
Persons against whom allegations of such
offences have been made, which appear well founded, will be denied access to
children even though they may not have been convicted of a relevant offence. Any
person so accused does have the right to appeal against this decision.
If you suspect a child is being abused:
1a. immediately tell a Child Protection
Officer.
2a. record the facts as you know them on a
CPR form and give a copy to your Child Protection Officer.
3a. ensure that the child has access to an
independent adult.
4a. ensure that no other situation arises
which could cause any further concern.
If a child discloses to you abuse by
someone else:
1a. allow the child to speak without
interruption, accepting what is said.
2b. alleviate feeling of guilt isolation,
while passing no judgement.
3b. advise that you will try to offer
support, but that you must pass the information on.
4b. same steps as 1a-4a as in suspecting a
child is being abused.
If you receive an allegation about any
adult or about yourself:
1c. immediately tell your Child Protection
Officer.2c. record the facts as you know them on a
CPR form and give a copy to your Child Protection Officer.
3c. try to ensure that no-one is placed in a
position which could cause further compromise.
You must report and refer any
abuse; you must not investigate.
REPORT FORM
|
Name of Person making report
|
Date
|
|
Name of Child
|
Age
|
|
Parents Name
|
Telephone No.
|
|
Home Address
|
|
Nature of Concern
|
Is the person making the report
expressing their concerns or passing on concerns of someone else.
|
|
What has prompted the concerns. Are
signs physical, behavioural, indirect or a mixture.
|
|
Details of incident/s, giving dates and
times.
|
|
Has
the child been spoken to? If so, what was said.
|
|
Have
the parents/guardian been contacted? If so what was said.
(continue on separate page if required)
|
Information Page
Health & Safety
SMAC MISSION STATEMENT
|