Sailing Club
Clubhouse (01636) 830065
NG14 7JX
| Child Protection Policy | Nottinghamshire
County Sailing Club Clubhouse (01636) 830065 NG14 7JX |
Note below is the full text of the policy, a pdf version with forms etc in is obtainable by right clicking & downloading on this link.
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY STATEMENT.NCSC (Nottinghamshire County Sailing Club) is committed to ensuring that children (including young people under the age of 18 years) are protected and kept safe from harm whilst they are on the club premises and /or taking part in any activity at the club.
NCSC will do this by implementing the Inter-agency Guidance on the Assessment of Children in Need and the local Area Child Protection Procedures (2001) that cover the City and Nottinghamshire as a whole. These procedures underpin the Child Protection Policy. They also reflect the Government guidance provided in ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (1999) and ‘Assessing Children in Need and their Families’ (2000)
The child protection officer is not responsible for making a referral to social services or the police. This is the responsibility of the individual who has been alerted to concerns about a child.
All club members, including instructors, parents and cares are responsible for reporting to social services or the police incidents of abuse or concerns that a child may be subject to abuse.
This
policy was written on
And
will be reviewed on
Child Protection Procedures
Contents-
Page: Content
1 NCSC Child Protection Policy Statement.
3 Introduction to Child Protection & Sport.
4 What is Child Abuse?
7 Responding to Disclosure.
9 Good Practice for Instructors and Members.
10 Appendix1
Recording incidents, allegations or suspicions of abuse.
12 Appendix 2.
Useful contact numbers.
13 Appendix 3.
Self-Declaration Form.
Purpose and aim
The purpose of these child protection procedures is to ensure a speedy and effective response for dealing with concerns about the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of children or their neglect.
All members of
Introduction to Child Protection and Sport
Sport plays a major part in the life of many children and families. Children have a right to be happy in the sports activities that they or their parents or carers choose. Parents have a right to believe that the sports club or organisation to which they entrust their children is safe. All sports organisations have therefore a duty of care for the children for whom they provide activities.
The abuse of children and young people is a sad fact of life within the
Your sports organisation may become aware of child abuse in a number of ways:
abused
§ An individual within the organisation may display inappropriate behaviour towards a child/ren.
Every sporting organisation/club needs to make sure that children and young people are kept safe from harm whilst using the club's facilities. In addition the club needs to ensure that each staff member or volunteer would know what to do if a child made an allegation of abuse whilst at the club.
The purpose of this document is to give guidance about the Child Protection policy and procedures and safeguards, which should be in place, in order to minimise the risk of harm to children who attend the club and to protect the club's staff and volunteers.
What is child abuse?
Children may be abused or placed at risk of harm in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by a stranger. Child abuse occurs to children of both sexes and all ages, in all cultures and religions, and social classes and to children with and without disabilities. The four main categories of abuse are:
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 in a child who they are looking after (Factitious Disorder) or where an adults use excessive and inappropriate training methods.
In the sports environment, physical abuse might also occur when the nature and intensity of training exceeds the capacity of the child's or young person's immature and growing body, (e.g. overtraining) and also when parents or coaches encourage children/young people to take performance enhancing drugs or alcohol.
Emotional Abuse the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child, which causes severe and persistent 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 that they meet the needs of another person. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. It may involve causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploitation or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of ill treatment to a child, though it may occur alone,
In the sports environment, emotional abuse might include situations where parents or coaches subject children or young people to constant criticism, bullying or unrealistic pressure to perform to high expectations or to obtain standards they are clearly not able to reach. It may also include situations where children or young people are overprotected preventing them from socialising.
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 what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative (e.g. rape or buggery) or nonpenetrative acts. They may include non-contact 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.
In the sports environment, sexual abuse might occur when inappropriate physical contact takes place ego through inappropriate supporting, treatment or touching of children or young people.
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.
Neglect 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.
In the sports environment neglect may occur if children/young people are consistently left alone and unsupervised. It may also occur if a teacher, coach or manager fails to ensure children are safe, or exposes them to undue extremes of weather or risk of injury e.g. through unsafe equipment.
Abuse in all its forms can affect a child at any age. The effects can be so damaging that if untreated may follow an individual into adulthood.
For example, an adult who has been abused as a child may find it difficult or impossible to maintain a stable, trusting relationship, become involved with drugs or prostitution, attempt suicide or even abuse a child in the future.
Effects of abuse
There have been a number of studies that suggest children with disabilities are at increased risk of abuse through various factors such as stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, isolation and a powerlessness to protect themselves or adequately communicate that abuse has occurred.
Recognising abuse
Good child protection practice means ensuring that all members and instructors know how to recognise child abuse and potential risks to children.
This does not mean that they are experts, or responsible for deciding whether or not. abuse has occurred, but they do have a responsibility to be alert to behaviour by children or workers that suggests something is wrong, and have a clear understanding of the correct reporting procedure to follow.
Child abuse can manifest itself in many ways. Indications that a child is being abused may include the following:
· Suffering continual stomach pains or other physical ailments without medical explanation.
· Any delay in seeking medical assistance or indeed none being sought at all, could be an indicator of abuse.
· Explanation of an accident is vague, lacking in detail, inconsistent with the injury or varies with each telling.
· Changes over time of manner and appearance, such as losing weight, becoming dirty and disheveled, being constantly tired and always hungry.
· Telling you about being asked to keep a secret or dropping other hints and clues about abuse.
· Someone else - child or adult - expressing concern about the welfare of another child.
This list is not exhaustive and the presence of one or more of the indicators is not proof that abuse is actually taking place.
Different types of child abuse may be present at the same time ego a child who is being physically abused may also be being sexually abused.
It is important to be aware that adults who wish to abuse or exploit children or young people will often move themselves into positions of trust and/or close working with children in order to create situations in which they can abuse.
RESPONDING TO DISCLOSURE.
Responding to a child who discloses abuse either against a club member, instructor,
helper, parent or carer.
Procedures that deal with allegations or suspicions about abuse, must be based on the fundamental principles that the welfare of the child is paramount.
In all cases members, instructors or helpers should be aware of the importance of listening to and taking seriously what a child is telling them. Children who are being abused will only tell people they trust and with whom they feel safe.
The main issues that need to be considered when faced with a situation where abuse is disclosed are detailed below.
Taking Action - The Do's
Create a safe environment by taking the following actions:
Stay calm
§ Listen - give the child time to say what he/she wants. Pay particular attention to any spontaneous statement. In the case of children without speech or with limited language, pay attention to their signing or other means of expression, including behavior and play.
§
. Reassure - tell the child that he/she has done the right thing, and that the abuse is not his/her fault;
Record in writing - as soon as possible document the conversation accurately. See Appendix 1 - 'Recording incidents/allegations/suspicions of abuse form’
Report – to the Duty Social Worker Child Care. 01636 682700
§ Record - confirm referrals in writing, on Appendix 1 'Recording incidents/allegations/suspicions of abuse form', within 24 hours of the referral being made. Also record concerns and the action taken on the clubs internal records.
Taking Action - The Don'ts
§ Do not panic
§ Do not promise to keep secrets
§ Do not inquire into details of the abuse or question the child
§ Do not make the child repeat the story unnecessarily
§ Do not take responsibility for deciding whether or not abuse has occurred. Seek advice.
The primary responsibility of the person who first suspects or is told of abuse is to report it and ensure that their concern is taken seriously.
IF IN DOUBT TELEPHONE SOCIAL SERVICES FOR ADVICE
Call Social Services and ask to speak to the duty social worker for children on
01636 682700
Out of Hours Emergency Duty Team 0115 8447333.
Remember
It is important that any member of NCSC is aware that they are not responsible for deciding whether or not abuse has occurred. That is a task for the professional child protection agencies following a referral to them regarding concerns about a child. However, it is the responsibility of that person to contact Social Services.
Recording information
§ Appendix 1 Recording Incidents /Allegations/Suspicions of Abuse Form Should be used to record information which will be passed to the Social Services Department, usually by the designated child protection officer
§ Appendix 2 Useful contacts
Gives details of telephone numbers which will be needed when making a referral to social services
Confidential Information
Parents / carers should normally be consulted and their agreement obtained regarding a referral being made to Social Services. An explanation should be given that it is a requirement of the NSCS Child Protection Policy. However if consulting with parents /carers places a child at risk of increased harm, will interfere with criminal proceedings (e.g. if the alleged abuser is a parent / carer) or there are concerns about the safety of the club member reporting the abuse, it will be necessary to contact Social services and make the referral without the parents / carers knowledge. The Duty Social Worker must be told why the parents /carers have not been informed.
Parents / carers may refuse to give their permission for contact to be made with Social Services. In this situation they (the parents /carers ) must be informed that in accordance with the NSCS Child Protection Policy the referral will be made with or without their agreement.
IF IN DOUBT TELEPHONE SOCIAL SERVICES FOR ADVICE.
What happens after a referral is made?
The Social Services department will carry out an assessment to establish whether abuse has occurred. It is possible that you may be invited to attend a multi-agency strategy meeting in order to share the information that you have about the child. This strategy meeting should normally be held within 72 hours of receipt of the referral and will consider arrangements for completing the joint enquiries between police and social services regarding the allegation. You may also be invited to attend an initial child protection conference, which will decide whether the child's name should be placed on the Child Protection Register.
The meeting will also make recommendations in the best interest of the child.
GOOD PRACTICE GUIDE FOR INSTRUCTORS AND MEMBERS.
You can reduce both the number of situations where abuse to children may occur and the potential for unfounded allegations against instructors and helpers by promoting good practice.
The following are common sense guidelines for all members, instructors and helpers of NCSC.
You should never.
Young or disabled children must be accompanied by a parent /carer or responsible adult whilst on club premises. Any personal care required by the child is the responsibility of the parent /carer or responsible adult.
A parent/carer or responsible adult whilst on club premises must accompany all children who have a medical problem, which requires supervision and / or medication. Administration of medication is the responsibility of the parent /carer or responsible adult.
APPENDIX 1
Recording incidents, allegations or suspicions of abuse.
This form is designed to help you through the process of reporting and recording any suspicions.
It is not your responsibility to decide whether the allegation / suspicion is true
Complete as much information as possible (particularly those sections in bold) before contacting Social Services. If you are in any doubt call Social Services
on 01636 682700 Monday – Thursday
Out of hours Emergency Duty Team 0115 8447333
Date and Time of any incident/allegation/suspicion:
Name and Position:
Child's Name:
Child's Address:
Parents' Names
(And address if different to children):
Date of Birth:
Child's Gender:
Child's Ethnic Origin:
Child and Parents' first language:
Nature of any disability (if any)
Details of any siblings/other family members/significant others:
Details of the concerns:
Are you reporting your own concerns or passing on those of somebody else? Give details?
Abusive behaviour /Disclosure by child/Allegations (anonymous or otherwise)
(continued on next page)
Remember - do not lead a child. Record exactly what was said to you. (Continue on separate sheet if necessary) (or overleaf)
Whether consent from parents/carers or young person has been given to referral. If not, why not?
Names/contact of any other professionals/agencies known to be involved
Information on any support or intervention, which has already been provided by the club/other agencies
External agencies contacted:
Social Services YES/NO
If yes:
Record date and time/name and contact number/details of advice received
Other (eg. NSPCC, Police) If yes: Which?
Record date and time/name and contact number/details of advice received
Signature:
Date:
NB. A copy of this form should be sent to Social Services no more than 24 hours after a formal telephone referral has been made.
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Outcome of any referral made -feedback received from Social Services or other agency.
Signature.
Date:
Copy to Mary Poole
This form should be kept confidential
APPENDIX 2
Useful Contact Numbers.
Nominated Child Protection Officer for the NCSC
Mary Poole 01636 813621
Monday – Thursday
Friday
Emergency Out of Hours 0115 8447333
Evenings, nights, weekends and Bank Holidays.
NSPCC Child Protection Help line 0808 800 5000
Police 01636 605999
APPENDIX 3
Self-Declaration Form
Confidential:
Declaration from all staff and volunteers' working with children and young people
Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence or been the subject of a Caution or of a Bound Over Order?
Yes No
If yes, please state below the date(s) and nature of the offence(s)
Signed Date
Mrs/Mrs/Miss/Ms First Name Surname
Date of Birth
Place of Birth
Any surname previously known by
Address
Telephone No.
You are advised that under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders
Act (
You must inform the Nominated Club Officer if any of the above changes.
