CLUB
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY & PROCEDURES.
Guildford
Saints Football Club policy is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of
its members. The Club adopts the F.A. Child Protection Policy and abides by the
Football Association Regulations. Guildford Saints F C believes that every child
or young person, who plays or participates in football, should do so in a safe
environment and be protected from abuse. The Club recognises its responsibility
to protect all children and young people from physical, sexual or emotional harm
and from neglect or bullying.
This
policy applies to anyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity.
All coaches, volunteers, parents and players should show respect and
understanding for all and conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the
principles of the Club. Guildford Saints will consider, having taken advice and
appropriate CRB checks, whether anyone who has a previous criminal conviction or
caution for offences related to the abuse of children or young people, violence
or any sexual offences should be excluded from working with children and young
people. This position is re-enforced by
The
Club will:
 | Ensuring
that the managers and volunteers who organise the matches and train the
members have valid CRB check. |
| Those
above have a personal referee not related to the applicant but who knows of
the applicant’s character, trustworthiness, and previous experience of
working with/looking after children. |
| Those
above undertake a confidential interview with the Responsible Officer. |
| Have
awareness of their responsibility towards Child Protection and the role of
the Responsible Officer. |
| Managers
are alert to this policy and have basic awareness of Child Protection
practice in order to promote the children’s safety and well-being. They
have attended training courses in Child Protection and First Aid. |
Duty
of the Responsible Officer:
| Ensure
this policy is implemented throughout the Club's activities. This includes
the personnel, their practice and the premises in which the activities take
place. This includes undertaking a site audit. |
| Ensure
all necessary Child Protection related enquiries and investigations are
carried out. If necessary report concerns to the Children’s Services. Make
recommendation to the Club Secretary and the committee for approval of
volunteers, coaches, managers and volunteers. |
| Undertake
and report the results of CRB/screening enquiries to the Club Secretary and
to the Committee. Ensuring current procedures are implemented in the enquiry
process. |
| Maintain
Confidentiality on a need to know basis. |
| Undertake
Child Protection training. |
Procedures
& Reporting of concerns
Disclosure
or evidence for concern may occur in any number of ways. This may be by what a
child has said, about him/herself or another child or children. It may be
through interception of a written item, or through observation of activity or
behaviour giving cause for concern. It may be through changes in behaviour or
attitude. There may be physical, emotional pointers such as bruising, staining,
inappropriate behaviour or knowledge. Volunteers can pick up several other
signs.
All
those working on Guildford Saints activities have a duty to ensure that any
suspicion, incident, allegation or other manifestation relating to Child
Protection is immediately recorded and reported to the Club Secretary or the
Responsible Officer.
The
Responsible officer will take the following course of action:
Ø
Make a judgement as to the nature and the risk of immediate danger to the child. Where the risk of danger/ injury or worse seems imminent to the child, then the CPO is authorised to make a complaint to the Police in order to secure immediate action and protection of the child. NO PROTOCOL SHOULD EVER INHIBIT THIS COURSE OF ACTION IF IT IS TRULY WARRANTED.Ø
If the risk
is not imminent but there are significant concerns speak with the Duty Officer
at Children’s Services immediately: this covers any situation where it is
perceived there is danger to a child or detection of criminal offences against a
child or other form of ongoing/future/recent serious harm. Prior to speaking
with the duty officer, the CPO will consult with the volunteer / trainer/manager
involved.
Ø
In the event
of concerns of relating to abuse consult with the Duty officer at Children’s
Services or the duty Police officer.
Allegation
made against a worker or manager
If
a child or parent makes allegations to the Club against any person working for
the Club, whether paid or unpaid, or a member of the committee, the following
procedure will come into force - incident reports will be made at all stages as
appropriate:
The
person receiving the complaint will contact the Club Secretary. The Club
Secretary will contact the CPO. On receipt of the complaint, the CPO will
contact Children’s Services to appraise them of the situation. This will be by
informal channels but if there is a criminal allegation, the contact will be
formal to the duty social worker and also to the police.
The
Club Secretary should inform the person against whom the allegation has been
made as soon as possible. UNLESS THERE APPEARS TO BE A
CASE THAT THIS MIGHT PREJUDICE A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION. This will
require consultation with the police to ascertain.
The
course of action to be taken from thereon will be decided by the nature of the
allegation(s).
Photography
The following rules will apply during all the Clubs activities:
| All children will be appropriately dressed. |
| Photography or recording should focus on the activity, not on a particular young person. |
| Images should focus on small groups rather than individuals. |
| Images of a child who is under a court order should never be photographed. |
| If a young person is named their photograph should not appear in any editorials. |
| If a photograph is used avoid naming the person or use first name only, personal details should never be revealed. |
| Parents of carers of all young players must give permission for any images to be taken. A permission form must be signed by a parent/guardian before any photography takes place. |
| All people taking photographs or recording footage of players participating at any of the Club’s events should register with: |
Training sessions/Matches: Team Manager
Tournaments/Competitions: Event Organiser.
| Concerns regarding inappropriate or intrusive photography should be reported to the Responsible Officer. A report should be submitted and the local Police advised. A report should also be submitted to the F.A. |