CHILD WELFARE POLICY

 

 

Key principles at the club:

 

· To provide a safe and enjoyable environment in which football is played.

 

· Demonstrate a model of best practice in line with FAW guidance.

 

· Promote ethics and high standards throughout the game.

 

· To ensure that all those involved in football at the club are aware of their responsibilities  in the protection of children and young people.

 

Aims of the Policy:

 

· To establish an effective system to ensure that all children and young people are able to enjoy football in as safe an environment as possible.

 

· To ensure that all involved are aware of the procedures relating to the protection of children and young adults.

 

· To promote and ensure high standards of behaviour by all those involved with the club.

 

· To ensure that everyone involved is protected from physical, verbal and sexual harassment.

 

· To establish an effective system to ensure that those in a position of trust do not put themselves in situations where allegations of abuse can be made.

 

All adults involved will:-

 

· Treat all players equally, with respect and dignity.

 

· Put the welfare of each player first, before winning or achieving goals.

 

· Build balanced relationships based on mutual trust, which empowers children to share in the decision- making process.

 

· Promote fair play.

 

· Involve parents/carers wherever possible.

 

· Give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.

 

· Avoid excessive training.

 

· Secure 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.        

                                   

· Request written parental consent if club officials are required to transport players in their cars.

 

Best practice principles for adults involved at the club.

 

· avoid spending too much time alone with one child away from the others

 

· avoid taking children to their home where they will be alone with the child

 

· never take part in rough, physical or sexually-provocative games, including horseplay.

 

· never share a room with a child

 

· never allow or take part in any form of inappropriate touching

 

· never allow children to use inappropriate language: always challenge this behaviour

 

· never make sexually-suggestive comments to a child, even in fun

 

· never reduce a child to tears as a form of control

 

· never allow allegations made by a child go unchallenged, unrecorded or not   acted upon

 

· never do things of a personal nature for children or young adults that they can do for themselves

 

· never accept bullying, rule violations or use of prohibited substances

 

If any of the following occur, it will be reported to a colleague immediately and recorded appropriately. The child’s parents/carers will be informed:

 

· A member of staff accidentally hurts a child.

 

· A child seems distressed in any way.

 

· A player seems to be sexually aroused by a member of staff’s actions.

 

· A player misunderstands or misinterprets an action.

 

Recruitment procedures

 

The club will endeavour to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure that unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. The following checks will be made when adults volunteer their services to LAFC:

 

· All volunteers/staff will complete an application form and a self-disclosure about any criminal record.

 

· Consent will be obtained from an applicant to seek information from the Criminal Records Bureau.

 

· Two confidential references will be taken up, including one regarding previous working with children if relevant.

 

· Applicants must provide the Club with proof of identity (passport photo or driving licence with photo).

 

LAFC will fully support and protect anyone who, in good faith, reports concerns regarding the welfare of a child. Any allegations will be taken seriously and will be responded to quickly and in a sensitive manner.

 

If concern is considered to be about poor practice, the Child Protection Officer and club Management Committee will deal with it as a misconduct issue.

 

Any suspicions that a child has been abused by a member of staff, a volunteer or another child should be reported to the Child Protection Officer immediately, who will take such steps necessary as to ensure the safety of the child.

 

Advice will be sought from Social Services and the child’s parents will be contacted as soon as possible.

 

Should the Child Protection Officer be the subject of any allegations, the club Chairperson will be informed and appropriate action will be taken.

 

LAFC will not tolerate any form of bullying and in this respect all staff/volunteers will:

 

· Take all signs of bullying very seriously.

 

· Encourage all children to speak and share their concerns with someone in authority.

 

· Investigate all allegations and take action to ensure the victim is safe.

 

· Provide reassurance to the victim.

 

· Keep written record of what is said and action taken.

 

· Report any ongoing concerns to the Child Protection Officer.

 

· Talk to the bully/ies regarding the consequences of the behaviour and seek an apology for the victim.

 

· Inform parents of all children involved.

 

· Encourage and support the bully to change behaviour.

 

· Hold meetings with the families to report on progress.

 

· Inform management committee of action taken.

 

CONFIDENTIALITY

 

Every effort will be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information will be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only. This will include:

 

· The Child Protection Officer

 

· The parents of the child

 

· The person making allegations

 

· Social Services and police (if appropriate)

 

· The FAW representative

 

· The alleged abuser (and his/her parents if another child is involved).

 

· Information will be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection law.

 

LAFC reserve the right to expel anyone, adult or child, who fails to act in accordance with this and associated policies.

 

This policy was formally adopted at a meeting held on the 02/02/2004.

 

 

Proposed - Peter Jones

 

Seconded - Sue Deidun

 

Signed  Alan Hiatt (Chairman)

 

 

 

Policy prepared by:

Angela Carpenter DipCOT/SROT

January 2004