Policy Statement

Policy and procedure

 Hurstpierpoint FC Colts are committed to ensuring children are protected and kept safe from harm whilst they are engaged in any activity within this club. 

We will endeavor to do this by:

 ·        Providing parents, children, committee members and team managers with information about Hurstpierpoint FC Colts, what we do and what to expect from us.

·        Ensuring that our committee members and team managers are carefully selected and have ongoing training opportunities.

·        Providing clear procedures enabling parents and children to voice their concerns or lodge complaints if they feel unsure or unhappy about anything.

 Policy aims 

Hurstpierpoint FC Colts Child Protection Policy is provided to committee members and team managers and any others who will have direct contact with children. 

The aims of the policy are: 

·        To create a healthy and safe environment at all training sessions, matches and events.

·        To ensure children are listened to and given a sense of belonging and kept safe from harm.

·        To support and encourage parents to voice their opinions regarding the welfare of the children.

·        To ensure team managers are well informed, supported and protected. 

Objectives

 Specific objectives outline how the policy intends to achieve the stated aims: 

·        Raise the level of awareness of child abuse within the committee members and team managers and the different forms it can take.

·        Raise the level of awareness of committee members and team managers about what the children are entitled to be protected from.

·        Ensure that all committee members and team managers recognise signs, which could signify the abuse of a child.

·        Promote the general welfare, health and full development of children during all activities.

·        Develop effective procedures in recording and responding to complaints and to alleged or suspected incidents of abuse.

Recognising child abuse 

It is not always easy to recognise a situation where abuse may occur or has already taken place. It is acknowledged that the committee members and team mangers are not experts at such recognition. It is important to remember that it is not our responsibility to decide whether or not child abuse is taking place, but to report where we have concerns or any allegations have been made, in order to protect the child. 

Indications that a child is being abused include:

·        Unexplained or suspicious injuries such as bruising, cuts or burns,   particularly if situated on part of the body not normally prone to such injuries.

·        An injury for which the explanation seems inconsistent

·        The child describes what appears to be an abusive act involving him/her.

·        Someone else (a child or adult) express concern about the welfare of a child.

·        Unexplained changes in behavior over time e.g. becoming very quiet, withdrawn or displaying sudden outbursts of temper

·        Inappropriate sexual awareness

·        Engages in sexually explicit games

·        Is distrustful of adults, especially those with whom a close relationship would normally be expected

·        Has difficulty making friends is prevented from socialising with other children

·        Displays variations in eating patterns including overeating and loss of appetite and loses weight for no apparent reason

·        Becomes increasingly dirty or unkempt

 This is not exhaustive and the presence of one or more of the above indicators is not proof that abuse is taking place. 

Main forms of abuse

Neglect

Adult fails to meet the child’s basic needs such as food or warm clothing, fail or refuse to give children love, affection and attention. Children might also be constantly left alone or unsupervised. Neglect in a sporting activity context could include the adult failing to ensure children are safe, exposing them to undue cold or too necessary risk of injury.

Physical abuse

Adults physically hurt or injure children by hitting, shaking, squeezing, burning and biting or by giving children alcohol, inappropriate drugs or poison. Attempted suffocation or drowning also comes within this category. In a sports activity, physical abuse might occur when the nature or intensity of a particular activity exceeds the capacity of the child’s immature and growing body.

Sexual Abuse

Adults – both male and female – who use children to meet their own sexual needs abuse girls and boys. This could include full sexual intercourse, masturbation, oral sex, anal intercourse and fondling. Showing children pornographic material (books, videos, pictures) is also a form of sexual abuse.

Emotional abuse

Persistent lack of love and affection, where a child may be constantly shouted at, threatened or taunted which may make the child very nervous and withdrawn. Emotional abuse may occur when there is constant overprotection (which prevents the child from socialising), or there is neglect, physical or sexual abuse. Emotional abuse in sport or activities may occur if children are subjected to constant criticism, bullying or unrealistic pressure to perform to high expectations.

Good practice in child abuse issues

All children have the right to live their lives to the fullest potential, to be protected, to have the opportunity to participate in and enjoy a wide range of sports and other activities, and to be treated with dignity and respect. Although hundreds and thousands of children have wonderful experiences through these activities, abuse does happen.

To help prevent abuse occurring and any false allegations arising, the following basic guidelines will help safeguard children, team managers, committee members and the club concerned.

Preventing allegations arising

It is possible to reduce the situations where abuse of children may occur, and help to protect managers/committee members by promoting good practice. The following are specific examples of care that should be taken when working within a sports context and with children.

·        Always be publicly open when working with children. Avoid situations where a manager and individual child are completely unobserved (encourage an open environment).

·        If any form of personal contact is required, it should be provided openly (i.e. the manager should ask the permission of the child involved).

·        Where possible, parents should take on the responsibility for their children in the changing rooms. If groups have to be supervised whilst changing, always ensure that managers are with the same gender, and where possible working in pairs.

·        Where there are mixed groups, supervision should be by a male and female adult.

·        Team managers must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every person and treat everyone equally within the context of the sport or activity in which they are involved.

·        The team manager must place the wellbeing and safety of the performer above the development of the performance.

As a general rule everyone should be aware that it does not make sense to spend unreasonable amounts of time alone with children alone on car journeys, however short. If these situations occur it should be with full and prior knowledge and consent of the child’s parents/carers.

You should never:

·        Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games

·        Share a room with a child

·        Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate contact

·        Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun

·        Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon

·        Do things of a personal nature that a child is able to do for themselves

·        Enter the changing rooms of a child of the opposite gender

·        Take children to your home where they will be alone with you

·        Recognise good performance through physical contact

If a child is accidentally injured as a result of your actions, seems to be distressed in any manner, appears to be sexually aroused by your actions, misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done report such incidents as soon as possible to the chairman and make a written note of it. Parents/carers should be informed of any such incidents.

Recruitment

 Team managers who are recruited to provide opportunities for children to participate in sport and other activities must be checked for any possible irregularities, which may give you reason for concern. To show consistency when recruiting managers and committee members, procedures include the following elements:

·        All adults who will have unsupervised access to children will undergo a CRB check.

·        All team managers will have to provide the management committee with:

Consent for Criminal Records Bureau checks and require applicants to disclose any previous criminal convictions.

A minimum of two references should be taken up from reputable sources and, where relevant, be followed up. These references should include the person’s suitability to work with children.

Proof of identity. The most reliable forms are birth certificates and National Insurance number. However a driving license or passport, or other form of identification which gives the full name, date of birth and current address, together with a signature and photograph.

Two representatives from the management committee should conduct an interview, to assess the person’s suitability.

Team managers need to be equipped with the awareness signs and indicators of abuse and an understanding of the responsibility to act swiftly and sensitively and within accordance with the child protection policy/procedures when such concerns arise.

Managers must be made aware that child abuse can and does occur and that colleagues could perpetrate it.

It needs to be made clear that most abusers are not the monsters that most picture them to be, but ordinary men and women, more commonly men, and, at the extreme, clever, manipulative and powerful.

Managers must be made aware that children find it very difficult to talk about abuse. They need to be listened to, taken seriously and have their concerns acted upon.

Managers must be made aware of what they need to do in response to any concerns they may have.

Somebody in the club should be made responsible for the coordination and organisation of such training.

Procedure for dealing with allegations of abuse

“REMEMBER, IT IS NOT YOUR JOB TO JUDGE BUT TO REPORT”

  It is not the responsibility of a team manger or a committee member to take individual responsibility or to decide whether or not the child abuse is actually taking place. However, there is a responsibility to protect children in order that appropriate agencies (e.g. social services) can then make inquiries and take any necessary action.

There should always be a commitment to work with parents or carers where there are concerns about their children. Therefore in most situations it would be important to talk to parents/carers to help clarify any initial concerns. For example, if a child seems to be withdrawn, he/she may have experienced a family bereavement. 

However, there are circumstances in which a child may be placed in greater risk if such concerns were shared (e.g. where a parent/carer may be responsible for the abuse or not able to respond to the situation appropriately). In these situations or where concerns still exist, any suspicion, allegation or incident of abuse must be reported to the club chairman as soon as possible (unless the chairman is involved in your suspicions, whereby the club secretary should be approached). 

Once the incident or allegation has been reported it is the responsibility of the chairman to inform the social services department without delay. If the chairman is not available, the person discovering or being informed of the suspected abuse should immediately contact the secretary, who will then decide how and when parents/carers will be informed, and ultimately become responsible for what steps are to be taken. 

Dealing with allegations from children

Children who are being abused will only tell people they trust and with whom they feel safe. By listening to and taking seriously what a child is telling you, you will already be helping to protect them. It is useful to think in advance how you might respond to the situation. The following are brief guidelines:

·        Staying calm and not rushing into actions which may be inappropriate.

·        Confirming you know how difficult it must have been to confide in you and that they have done the right thing.

·        Reassuring the child and stressing he/she is not to blame.

·        Listening to and believing what the child says. Show you are taking what is being said seriously.

·        Where possible remain in view, do not go somewhere on your own.

·        Be honest and do not make promises you cannot keep. Explain you may have to tell other people in order to stop what is happening.

·        Ensure you are quite clear about what the child says so you can pass it on to child protection professionals. Keep questions to a minimum and avoid closed questions (ones answered by a ‘yes’ or ‘no’). Use open questions to encourage the child to use their own words.

The law is very strict and a child abuse case can be dismissed if it appears the child has been led or words have been suggested.

·        Record exactly what the child has said to you, in a legible and accurate format, as soon as possible after the incident. Separate the facts from your opinion. Include:

·        The child’s name, address and date of birth. The nature of the allegation.

·        A description of any visible bruising or other injuries.

·        Your observations (e.g. a description of the child’s behavior and physical and emotional state).

·        Exactly what the child said and what you said. Record the child’s account of what happened and how bruising or other injuries occurred.

·        Any action you took as a result of your concerns (e.g. who you spoke to and any resulting action, including any contact with parents/carers, the chairman/secretary, and social services).

·        Sign and date what you have recorded, provide a copy where necessary to the chairman or secretary.

·        Store the information in a safe, confidential place.

·        Do not take sole responsibility – consult someone else (the chairman/secretary) as soon as possible, so you can begin to protect the child and gain some support for yourself in what could be a difficult situation.

NB: in determining your actions remember that only experienced and specifically qualified and trained professionals should deal with cases or suspicions relating to child abuse. If you are unsure whether what you have seen or heard may require action speak to someone about this. The NSPCC provide a 24 hour helpline 0800 800 500 where you can discuss your concern or you can contact your local social services officer or the club chairman. 

Dealing with allegations about team managers or committee members

 Should an individual manager or committee member become aware of an allegation (against a colleague) of child abuse taking, or having taken place, it is vital that the following procedures are followed:

·        Take the allegation seriously. It is your duty to consider any allegation to be potentially dangerous to the child and therefore report it.

·        Make a written record of any details of which you are aware, part of your report.

·        Report the allegation to the chairman, giving details of the allegation, how you became aware of it and any other relevant details. Try not to cloud your report with your opinions or judgments. In a case where the chairman is involved, report to the secretary.

·        Do not judge or investigate. By reporting an allegation quickly any necessary investigations and /or judgments can be then made by trained professionals i.e. social services or police.

·        Maintain confidentiality. It is extremely important that any allegations are not discussed (unless absolutely necessary) as any breaches could be damaging to both the child and any investigation which may follow. Refer to ‘confidentiality’.

·        Any requests for information from members of the public (including parents) or the media should be directed to the chairman and should be given the ‘no comment’ response.

·        If the organisation becomes aware of an allegation of child abuse taking place it is the responsibility of the management committee to ensure the following procedures are followed:

·        Obtain full, clear details of the allegation, including any written report available from the adult reporting the allegation.

·        Report the matter to the police and social services immediately. Referrals telephoned to the social services department should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours. A record should also be made of the name and designation of the social services member of staff or police officer to which concerns were passed, together with the date and time of the call, in case any follow up is needed.

·        Where judged appropriate, the adult should be suspended pending the outcome of any investigation. This can, and should, be done in consultation with the police and social services.

 NB. It should be made clear to the adult that any suspensions made irrespective of any belief of guilt, but as a standard measure put in place to protect all parties involved, including the child, football club and adult. The immediate aim of any suspension is to eliminate the possibility of the alleged perpetrator gaining access to children.

 Confidentiality

In dealing with any case or suspicion relating to child abuse, all team managers and committee members should be made aware that any breaches in confidentiality can be potentially very damaging to the child, family and any child protection investigations which may take place.

Personal details of any child protection issue must not be discussed, unless it is absolutely necessary, and then prior permission must have been sought from the family of the child involved and any other parties concerned e.g. team manager/ committee member. 

It is important that only those who need to know are given the relevant information to protect the rights of the both the victim and the alleged perpetrator. 

This will mean, at the very least, informing:

-         The chairman

-         Where relevant, a statutory child protection agency.

-         The parents of the child

-         The alleged perpetrator.

 Informing the parents of a child about whom you are concerned will need to be handled in a sensitive way and should only be undertaken in consultation with a statutory agency i.e. the local social services department or police child protection unit.

Any individual under suspicion whether or not he or she is a team manager or committee member within the football club has a right to be notified of the nature of the complaint. This is another matter, which will need careful consideration and again, should only be undertaken in consultation with a statutory agency. 

Depending upon the outcome if initial inquiries, committee members and team managers who have contact with either child concerned or the alleged perpetrator may need to be given brief details of the incident and subsequent action. The statutory agency involved will provide advice as to who should be told, when they should be told and the type of information, which is appropriate to share. 

Dealing with the media

 The chairman who is responsible for dealing with inquiries, which are likely to be made, should an incident of child abuse arise. Tony Tregear on 01273 832691. 

All Team managers and committee members should be made aware that the media are quick to respond to hints of an allegation such as child abuse and will often make extreme attempts to obtain information. Therefore, it is important that all Team managers and committee members are alert to any media approaches and ensure that all inquiries are directed to the chairman.

 Once the chairman is contacted they may either give an agreed statement (negotiated with consultation with the police and/or social services) or simply meet any inquiries with the ‘no comment’ response.