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Through the implementation of our Child Protection Policy and the support of its Managers, Rubery Juniors FC will maintain the professionalism and safeguards of good practice which are associated with the game.
Introduction
Anyone under the age of 18
within the club should be considered as a child for the purposes of this
document.
The welfare of all children is paramount.
All children whatever their age gender, culture, ability, language, religious
belief, racial origin, and/or sexual identity should be able to enjoy the game
in a fun environment safe from abuse of any kind.
All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to
swiftly and appropriately.
All individuals within The Club who work with children will be made aware of
good practice in order to ensure that they are not placed in situations where
unmerited accusations are made.
The Club will work with Parents/Carers to ensure all youngsters within the club
enjoy the game within a safe environment.
The Club will recognise the statutory responsibilities of Social Services and
the Police to ensure the welfare of young people, and is committed to complying
with the Football Association Ltd “Child Protection Procedures and Practices
Handbook”.
The Club has a designated a Welfare/Child Protection Officer who has attended
the Football Association's Child Protection Workshop. In addition each team will
have a designated Manager or Coach who has successfully attained a FA Level One
Coaching Certificate in Football (FA1CCF) which also incorporates Child
Protection and First Aid training.
All Managers/Coaches will be and must be subject to Criminal Records Bureau
disclosure
Abuse & Poor Practice
It is not always easy to differentiate poor practice from abuse, albeit intentional or unintentional. It is not, therefore the responsibility of the adults in The Club to determine whether or not abuse is taking place. It is however their responsibility to identify poor practice and possible abuse and to act if they have a concern about the welfare of a child.
The five main types of abuse are:
Emotional Abuse
In a football situation
emotional abuse may occur when:
Managers provide repeated negative feedback.
Repeatedly ignore a young Players effort and progress.
Repeatedly demand performance levels above these of which the young Player is
capable and over emphasis on the winning ethic.
Abuse by neglect
In football this may be
when:
Young Players are left alone without supervision.
A young Player is exposed to unnecessary heat or cold without fluids or
protection.
A young Player is exposed to an unacceptable risk of injury.
Physical Abuse
In a football situation
physical abuse may occur when:
Managers expose young players to exercise /training which disregard the capacity
of the player's immature growing body.
Managers expose young players to overplaying, overtraining or fatigue.
Managers expose young players to alcohol or give them the opportunity to drink
alcohol below the legal age.
Sexual Abuse
The close proximity of Managers and others to young people provides opportunities for potential abusers to exploit their position of trust to sexually abuse.
Bullying
Bullying is not always easy to define, and will not always be an adult abusing a young person. It is often the case that the bully is a young person.
There are three main types
of bullying:
Physical: hitting, kicking, theft.
Verbal: racist or homophobic remarks.
Emotional: persistent negative feedback
All these will include deliberate hostility and aggression towards a victim in one or more of the following forms:
A victim who is weaker and
less powerful than the bully or bullies.
An outcome, which is always painful and distressing for the individual.
Other forms of violence.
Sarcasm, spreading rumours, persistent teasing, tormenting, ridiculing,
humiliation.
Racial taunts, graffiti, gestures.
Unwanted physical contact or abusive offensive comments of a sexual nature.
The competitive nature of football makes it a potential environment for the bully. This may manifest itself in some of the following ways:
A Parent who pushes too
hard.
A Manager who adopts a win at all costs philosophy.
A Player who intimidates others.
An official who is over officious.
Roles and Responsibilities
Managers
Be familiar with and adhere
to club Child Protection Policy and Best Practice guidelines.
Undertake any relevant training provided by the club.
Undertake CRB disclosure.
Parents
Ensure the club has relevant
details relating to their child.
Share any concerns initially with the club Child Protection Officer.
Be involved in club activities.
Assist in the supervision of young players when able and when appropriate.
Child Protection Officer
The Child Protection Officer is not an officer of the committee and can be approached directly and confidentially.
The Child Protection Officer will take all allegations of child abuse seriously and without prejudice take appropriate action where necessary with outside agencies as laid down within.
The Football Association Child Protection Policy
These also may include:-
N.S.P.C.C
Social Services
Local Police
If a young person needs medical attention an ambulance must be called and/or a Doctor informed. All incidents reported to the Child Protection Officer will be recorded via a written report using an incident referral form. If an allegation is then reported to the police or social services they will give guidelines and advice in relation to contacting the child's parents/guardian's should the allegation relate to them.
“Non action is not an option in Child Protection”
The Committee
The Club Secretary and / or the Club Chairperson will deal with any referrals, which are deemed to relate to poor practice and not child abuse. The Child Protection Officer may be included in an advisory capacity but would not be part of any disciplinary action, which may be deemed necessary by the Club Secretary/ Chairperson. All officers of the Management Committee at an E.G.M would discuss any such action, in support of a final decision managed by the Club Secretary
If a Manager or Parent is found to be guilty of poor practice they may be subject to suspension from any involvement with the club.
Positions of Trust
All adults who work with young people are in a position of trust, which has been invested in them by the Parents, the sport and the young person. This relationship can be described as one in which the adult is in a position of power and influence by virtue of their position. The relationship is no different to that between a School Teacher and the pupils in their care.
Code of Conduct Concerning the Abuse of Trust
Any behaviour, which
encourages a physical or emotionally dependent relationship to develop between
the person in a position of trust and the young person in their care, must be
avoided.
All those within the club have a duty to raise concerns about the behaviour by
Managers/Coaches/Officials/Volunteers or Administrators, which may be harmful to
young people in the club without prejudice to their own position.
Allegations relating to a breach of code of conduct will be investigated
according to Football Association Disciplinary Procedures.
Practices to Be Avoided
Everyone as a general rule should be aware that it does not make sense for a Manager to:
Spend amounts of time alone
with young people away from others.
Take young people alone on car journeys however short.
If it should arise that such situations are unavoidable they should only take
place with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge in the club
and/or someone with parental responsibility for the player.
Practice That Is Prohibited
Adults should never:
Allow or engage in rough
physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.
Share a bedroom with a child or young person.
Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching.
Allow children or young people to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
Make sexually suggestive comments to a child or young person even in fun.
Allow allegations made by a child or young person to go unchallenged, unrecorded
or not acted upon.
Do things of a personal nature for children or young people that they can do for
themselves.
Invite or allow children or young people to stay with you at your home
unsupervised.
Anti- Bullying Policy
The Club does not accept any form of bullying; it will be prepared to:-
Take the problem seriously.
Investigate any incidents.
Talk to the bullies and victims separately.
It will then decide on appropriate action, which may include some/all of the following:
Obtain an apology from the
bully or bullies to the victim.
Inform the parents of the bully or bullies
Insist on the return of any items borrowed or stolen.
Any incidents of bullying must be reported to team Manager or the Child Protection Officer.
Monitoring and Self-Evaluation here at Rubery Juniors F.C.
As part of our on going commitment to improve practice and to continue to develop as a club, we are implementing an annual review form. These forms are available from your team Manager. There are three separate forms in respect of:
Managers
Players
Parents
Parents of younger players would need to help their child to fill this in and obviously relate the questions in a format that is applicable to their child's age and level of understanding.
The Committee values your comments and suggestions and will use these to evaluate what needs to be done to continue to develop the club for existing future players.
Rubery
Juniors FC
Child Protection & Welfare Officer
Mrs. Karen
Williams 07867-925463