Skelton United Junior Football Club - Child Protection Policy

1. Skelton United Junior Football Club acknowledges its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and young person who has been entrusted to its care and is committed to working to provide a safe environment for all
members. A child or young person is anyone under the age of 18 engaged in any club football activity. We subscribe to The Football Association's child protection and best practice policy and procedures and endorse and adopt the policy statement contained in that document.

2. The key principles of The FA Child protection policy are that:

The child's welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration.
All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of the age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately
Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents or carers is essential.

We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse.

Skelton United Junior Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club.

3. Skelton United Junior Football Club has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and
accepted that the Football Association's child protection regulation (see The FA handbook) applies to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity. This includes those who are a volunteer, match official, helper
on club tours, football coach, club official or medical staff.

4. We endorse and adopt the FA's Child Protection and best practice Guidelines for Recruiting volunteers and will:

Develop a role profile
Request identification documents
As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant(s) and where possible conduct interviews before appointing
Request and follow up with two references before appointing
Require an FA CRB Unit Enhanced Disclosure where appropriate in line with FA guidelines.

All current Skelton United Junior Football Club members with direct access to children and young people will be required to complete a CRB Enhanced Disclosure via The FA CRB Unit. If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Skelton United Junior Football Club, guidance will be sought from the Football Association. It is noted and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via The FA CRB Unit Enhanced CRB Disclosure and that all decisions will be made in the best interests of children and young people.

It is accepted that that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence policies or practice with children or young
people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of 'grooming' within football.

5. Skelton United Junior Football Club supports the FA's 'whistle blowing' policy. Any adult or young person with concerns about a colleague can 'whistle blow' by contacting The FA Child Protection Manager on 0207 745 4771, by writing to The FA Case Manager at The Football Association, Soho Square, London W1D 4FA or by going direct to the police, social services or NSPCC. Skelton United Junior Football Club encourages everyone to know about it and utilise it if necessary.

6. Skelton United Junior Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer (CWO) in line with the The FA's role profile and required completion of the child protection and best practice workshop. The post holder will be involved
with designated person's training provided by The FA. The CWO is the first point of contact for all club members and parents or guardians regarding concerns for the welfare of any child or young person. They will liaise directly with the CFA CPO and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns.

They will also play a proactive role in increasing an awareness of poor practice and abuse amongst club members.

7. We acknowledge and endorse The FA's identification of bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. If bullying does occur, all players parents or guardians should be able to tell and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly. Incidents need to be reported to the CWO, a member of the committee or, in cases of serious bullying contact CFA CPO.

8. Codes of Conduct for players, parents or spectators, officials and coaches have been implemented by Skelton United Junior Football Club. In order to validate these codes of conduct the club has clear sanctions to deal with any misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented by leagues or the CFA in more serious circumstances. All prospective members will be informed of these codes.

9. Further advice on child protection matters can be obtained from:

The County Football Association's Child Protection Officer, whose details can be found in the County Handbook
The Football Association/NSPCC Child protection
24-Hour Helpline 0808 800 5000
www.TheFA.com/Goal
The FA child protection team on 0207 745 4649

Chairperson: Damian Sidgwick
Secretary: Jim Hartnett
Treasurer: Barbara Clarke
Dated 25th January 2008.

SKELTON UNITED JUNIOR FOOTBALL CLUB

Child Protection

Definition Of Abuse

The nominated Child protection Representative at Skelton United Junior football Club is Laura Payne.

For any alleged cases brought to the attention of the Child Protection officer, she will inform the relevant Social Services department with all information collected.

All managers and coaches will gradually complete the Football Association Level 1 coaching course, which has a 3 hour session on Child Protection.

This football club is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the club at every level. If anyone involved with this club is made aware of a child that may be suffering, or may be at risk of significant harm, then that person should notify the nominated child protection representative.

Abuse can take many forms:

Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, burning or scalding, or otherwise physical harm to a child.

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse affects on the child’s emotional development.

This may be conveyed as the child being unloved, worthless, inadequate or not valued.

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.

Neglect is 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 be something as not providing adequate food, shelter or clothing, failure to provide access to appropriate medical care or treatment.

Reporting allegations:

1. A written record should be kept of the facts surrounding the concern, what action was taken and why.

2. Managers/coaches, or other participants and the Club Child Protection Officer should bear in mind that it is not, under any circumstances their job to investigate an allegation

In the event of an allegation, the following information will be collected:

Name of the child
Parent’s/carers details
The child’s address
Any relevant telephone numbers
What is said to have happened or what was seen
When it occurred
Who else was there
What was said by those involved
Whether there is any actual evidence-e.g. bruises, bleeding, changed behaviour
Who has been told about it
Who was concerned
Was the Child able to say what had happened
Whether the parents have been advised

Recruitment Procedure for Manager’s, Coaches, and Official Helpers at Skelton United Junior Football Club.

Any person who wishes to be involved with managing, coaching and helping the junior football club meet its objectives and has any form of contact with children under 18 years of age will be required to have completed the following:

1. Attend for interview with Chairperson and two personnel off the committee of the junior football club.

2. Agree to have Criminal Records Bureau checks completed and a copy of the disclosure given to SUJFC prior to taking any position within the club.

3. Read and agree to work to the club code of conduct and sign the relevant document.

4. If taking a manger/coach role within the club, the individual agrees to attend a Level 1 Football Association coaching course within 12 months of starting with SUJFC.

5. In the event of any individual receiving assistance with any coaching course costs, if the individual leaves within 12 months of completing the course, the club would expect the individual to reimburse the club in full.

Chairperson:- Jim Hartnett

Secretary:- Peter Pugh

Treasurer:- Barbara Clarke

Dated:- 25/4/2010