Torquay Leander
Swimming and Life Saving Society
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
1.
Introduction
Torquay
Leander Swimming and Life Saving Society (
Children
may be abused regardless of their age, gender, racial origin, culture,
religious belief,
disability
or sexual identity. In many cases they are abused by people they know and
trust. This
could be
from within and outside the family and even in an organised environment such as
a
sports
or other play/youth event.
It is
important to remember that
both a
moral and possibly a legal obligation to ensure the highest possible standard
of care.
young
people. To this end the following Child Protection Policy has been compiled through
the
examination
of the principles of good practice.
The
purpose of the policy is to help protect children in our care and, in turn,
protect
members
and volunteers.
2.
Policy Statement
- Providing
parents, children, members and volunteers with information about
what it does and what they can expect.
- Ensuring that
the coaches/teachers/officials/helpers (hereafter known as the “Staff”)
are
carefully selected and trained.
- Providing
clear procedures enabling parents and children to voice their concerns or
lodge
complaints if they should feel unsure or unhappy about anything.
2.1 Policy
Aims
will
have direct contact with children in accordance with the ASA Child Protection
procedures
and guidelines.
The aims
of the policy are as follows:
- To create a
healthy and safe environment at all activities, and sessions. To ensure
children are listened to and given a sense of belonging and kept
safe from harm.
- To support and
encourage parents to voice their opinions regarding the welfare of their
children.
- To ensure the
‘Staff’ who administer sessions are well informed, supported and
protected.
2.2 Objectives
Specific
objectives outline how the policy intends to achieve the stated aims:
- Raise the
level of awareness of child abuse within the “Staff” and the different
forms it
can take.
- Raise the
level of awareness of the ‘Staff’ about what the children are entitled to
be
protected from.
- Ensure that
all the ‘Staff’ recognise signs, which could signify the abuse of a child.
- Promote the
general welfare, health and full development of children during all
activities.
- Develop
effective procedures for recording and responding to accidents and
complaints
and to alleged or suspected incidents of abuse.
3.
Child Abuse
3.1
Recognising Abuse.
It is
not always easy to recognise a situation where abuse may occur or has already
taken place.
It is
acknowledged that
experts
at such recognition. It is important to remember that it is not our
responsibility to decide
whether
or not child abuse is taking place, but to report where we have concerns to
either the
Club
Secretary, Chairperson, Coach or Committee Member, in accordance with the ASA
Child
Protection
procedures and guidelines, any allegation that is made in order to protect the
child.
Indications
that a child is being abused include:
- Unexplained or
suspicious injuries such as bruising, cuts or burns, particularly if
situated
on part of the body not normally prone to such injuries.
- An injury for
which the explanation seems inconsistent.
- The child
describes what appears to be an abusive act involving him/her.
- Someone else
(a child or adult) expresses concern about the welfare of a child.
- Unexplained
changes in behaviour over time e.g. becoming very quiet, withdrawn or
displaying sudden outbursts of temper.
- Refusal to
remove clothing for normal activities or keeping covered up in warm
weather.
- Inappropriate
sexual awareness.
- Engages in
sexually explicit behaviour in games.
- Is distrustful
of adults, especially those with whom a close relationship would normally
be expected.
- Has difficulty
making friends.
- Is prevented
from socialising with other children.
- Becomes
increasingly neglected-looking in appearance, or loses or puts on weight
for no
apparent reason.
These
signs are not exhaustive and the presence of one or more of the above
indicators is not
proof
that abuse is actually taking place.
3.2
Main Forms of Abuse:
Neglect
Adults
fail to meet the child's basic needs such as food or warm clothing, fail or
refuse to give
children
love, affection and attention. Children might also be constantly left alone or
unsupervised.
Neglect
in a sporting or activity based context could include failing to ensure
children are safe,
exposing
them to undue cold or to unnecessary risk of injury.
Physical
Abuse
Adults
physically hurt or injure children by hitting, shaking, squeezing, burning and
biting or by
giving
children alcohol, inappropriate drugs or poison. Attempted suffocation or drowning
also
comes
within this category.
In
sports or activity-based situations, physical abuse might occur when the nature
or intensity of
a
particular activity exceeds the capacity of the child's immature and growing
body
Sexual
Abuse
Adults -
both male and female - who use children to meet their own sexual needs. This
could
include
full sexual intercourse, masturbation, oral sex, anal intercourse and fondling.
Showing
children
pornographic material (books, videos, pictures) is also a form of sexual abuse.
Sports
or activities, which involve physical contact with children, could potentially
create
situations
where abuse may go unnoticed. The power over young people, if misused, may also
lead
to abusive situations arising.
Emotional
Abuse
Persistent
lack of love and affection, where a child may be constantly shouted at,
threatened or
taunted
which may make the child very nervous and withdrawn. Emotional abuse may also
occur
when
there is constant overprotection (which prevents children from socialising), or
there is
neglect,
physical or sexual abuse.
Emotional
abuse in sport or activities may occur if children are subjected to constant
criticism,
bullying
or unrealistic pressure to perform to high expectations consistently.
3.3
Effects of Abuse
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.
There
have been a number of studies which suggest children with disabilities are at
increased risk
of abuse
through various factors such as stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination,
isolation and
powerlessness
to protect themselves, or adequately communicate that abuse has occurred.
Children
from ethnic minorities, who may also be experiencing racial discrimination, may
be
doubly
powerless.
4.
Good Practice in Child Abuse Issues
All
children have the right to live their lives to the fullest potential, to be
protected, to have the
opportunity
to participate in and enjoy a wide range of sports and other organised
activities, and
to be
treated with dignity and respect. Although hundreds and thousands of children
have
wonderful
experiences through these activities, abuse does happen.
To help
prevent abuse occurring and any false allegations arising,
follow
the ASA Child Protection guidelines and procedures to safeguard all Members of
4.1
Preventing Allegations Arising
It is
possible to reduce the situations where abuse of children may occur, and help
to protect the
‘Staff’ by
promoting good practice. The following are more specific examples of care that
should
be taken
when working within a sports context and with children:
4.1.1
Always be publicly open when working with children. Avoid situations where a
member
of the
“Staff” and individual child are completely unobserved (encourage an open
environment)
– for example, a child may fall ill and have to be taken home.
4.1.2
Children must never be left unattended, especially after the session has ended.
It is the
responsibility
of the ‘Staff’ to ensure the child/children has been released into the care of
an
appropriate carer.
4.1.3
They must always know where the children they are responsible for are, at all
times.
Therefore
the “Staff” must ensure a register of children attending activities is kept and
the
register
contains up-to-date information
4.1.4 If
any form of personal contact is required, it should be provided openly (i.e..
the member
of
“Staff” should ask the permission of the child involved). Let the child know
what you
are
going to do and why. In today's society, parents are becoming increasingly
sensitive
about
physical contact; therefore, consideration should be given to such concerns and
an
appropriate
response taken to inform them of your actions.
4.1.5
Where possible, parents should take on the responsibility for their children in
the
changing
rooms. If groups have to be supervised whilst changing,
that the
‘Staff’ are with the same gender, and where possible working in pairs.
4.1.6
Where there are mixed groups,
both
male and female members of the “Staff”.
4.1.7
The ‘Staff’ must place the wellbeing and safety of the performer above the
development
of
performance.
As a
general rule everyone should be aware that it does not make sense to spend
unreasonable
amounts
of time alone with children away from others or to take children alone on car
journeys,
however
short. If these situations, for whatever reason, are unavoidable, they should
only occur
with the
full and prior knowledge and consent of the ‘Staff’ and the child's
parents/carers.
You
should never:
- Engage in
rough, physical or sexually provocative games.
- Share a room
with a child.
- Allow or
engage in any form of inappropriate contact.
- Make sexually
suggestive comments to a child, even in fun.
- Allow
allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted
upon.
- Do things of a
personal nature that a child is able to do for itself.
- Enter the
changing rooms of a child of the opposite gender.
- Take children
to your home where they will be alone with you.
- Recognise good
performance through physical contact.
Occasions may arise where a member of the
“Staff” undertakes things of a personal nature for
children,
particularly if they are young or have disabilities. These duties should only
be carried
out with
the full and prior understanding and consent of parents/carers and the children
involved.
If a
child is accidentally injured as a result of your actions, seems to be distressed
in any manner,
appears
to be sexually aroused by your actions, misunderstands or misinterprets
something you
have
done, report such incidents as soon as possible to another colleague
(preferably the
Secretary/Coach/Chairperson/Committee
Member) and make a written note of it. Parents/carers
should
be informed of any such incidents.
4.2
Selection of Coaches/Teachers/Officials/Helpers
4.2.1
Coaches/teachers/officials/helpers (the ‘Staff’) who are recruited to provide
opportunities
for
children to participate in sport and other activities must be checked for any
possible
irregularities,
which may give reason for concern. To show consistency when recruiting
new
members, procedures should be developed to include the following elements:
4.2.2
All ‘Staff’ who have contact with children shall be registered with the ASA and
will
undergo
a Criminal Records Bureau (
and
guidelines.
4.3
Training
It is
important that all new ‘Staff’ who will be working or have individual access to
children shall
receive
a copy of the Child Protection Policy and Procedures and undergo training in
child
protection
issues.
- The ‘Staff’
need to be equipped with awareness of the signs and indicators of abuse
and an
understanding of the responsibility to act swiftly and
sensitively and within accordance with the
- Child
Protection Policy/Procedures when such concerns arise.
- The ‘Staff’
must be made aware that child abuse can and does occur and that
colleagues,
who are members within the organisation, could perpetrate it.
- It needs to be
made clear that most abusers are not the monsters that most picture them
to
be, but ordinary men
and women, more commonly men, and, at the extreme, clever,
manipulative and powerful.
- The ‘Staff’
must be made aware that children can find it very difficult to talk about
abuse. They need to be listened to, taken seriously and have
their concerns acted upon.
- The ‘Staff’
must be made aware of what they need to do in response to any concerns
they
may have.
- The Child
Protection/Welfare Officer is responsible for the organisation and
coordination
of such training in
5
Policy & Procedure
5.1
Procedure for dealing with allegations of abuse
"REMEMBER,
IT IS NOT YOUR
It is
not your responsibility to decide whether or not child abuse is actually taking
place.
However,
there is a responsibility to protect children and you should make a detailed
note of
what you
have seen or heard and pass this information on to the Club’s Child Protection
Officer,
Secretary,
Chairperson, Head Coach or, at an event, the Referee – unless of course you
suspect
them of
being involved;
There
should always be a commitment to work in partnership with parents or carers
where there
are
concerns about their children. Therefore, in most situations it would be
important to talk to
parents
or carers to help clarify any initial concerns. For example, if a child seems
to be
withdrawn,
he/she may have experienced a family bereavement.
However,
there are circumstances in which a child may be placed at even greater risk if
such
concerns
were shared (e.g. where a parent or carer may be responsible for the abuse, or
not able
to
respond to the situation appropriately). In these situations or where concerns
still exist, any
suspicion,
allegation or incident of abuse must be reported to the Club’s Child Protection
Officer,
Secretary,
Chairperson, Head Coach, as soon as possible.
Once the
incident or allegation has been reported it is the responsibility of the Child
Protection
Officer
to inform the Social Services Department without delay, and to write to the ASA
Legal
Department
to advise them of your concern and to whom you have reported it, in accordance
with
the
ASA’s Child Protection Procedures and Guidelines.
Address:
ASA Legal Affairs Department, Harold Fern House,
LE11
5AL.
5.2
Dealing with Allegations from Children
Children who are being abused will only tell people they trust
and with whom they feel
safe. By listening to and taking seriously what a child is
telling you, you will already be helping to protect them. It is useful to think
in advance how you might respond to the situation.
The following are brief guidelines:
- React calmly
so as not to frighten or deter them.
- Reassure the
child you know how difficult it must have been to confide in you and that
they have done the right thing.
- Reassure the
child and stressing that he/she is not to blame.
- Listening to
and believing what the child says. Show you are taking what is being said
seriously.
·
Where possible remain in view, do not go
somewhere on your own.
- Be honest and
do not make promises you cannot keep. Explain you may have to tell other
people in order to stop what is happening.
- Ensure you are
quite clear about what the child says so that you can pass it on to child
protection professionals. Keep questions to a minimum and avoid
closed questions (i.e.
ones which are answered by a single 'yes' or 'no'). Use open
questions to encourage the
child to use their own words. The law is very strict and a child
abuse case can be
dismissed if it appears the child has been led or words have
been suggested.
Record
exactly what the child has said to you, in a legible and accurate
format, as soon as
possible after the incident. Separate the facts from your opinion.
Include:
- _ The
child's name, address and date of birth the nature of the allegation.
- _ A
description of any visible bruising or other injuries.
- _ Your
observations (e.g. a description of the child's behaviour and physical and
emotional state).
- _ Exactly
what the child said and what you said. Record the child's account of what
has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred.
- _ Any
action you took as a result of your concerns (e.g. who you spoke to and
any
resulting action, including any contact with parents/carers,
other club members or
social services).
- _ Sign
and date what you have recorded, provide a copy where necessary (e.g. to
Club’s Child Protection Officer, Secretary, Chairperson or Head
Coach).
- _ Store
the information in accordance with relevant procedures.
Do not
take sole responsibility - consult someone else (e.g. the Club’s Child
Protection
Officer,
Secretary, Chairperson, Head Coach) as soon as possible, so you can begin to
protect
the child and gain some support for yourself in what could be a difficult
situation.
NB: In
determining your actions remember that only experienced and specifically
qualified and
trained
professionals should deal with cases or suspicions relating to child abuse. If
you are
unsure
whether what you have seen or heard may require action, speak to someone about
this.
_ Ring Swim Line on 0808 100 4001 – Swim
Line is the ASA’s Helpline where you can talk
to
someone who understands both swimming and the requirements of child protection.
If you
need
urgent advice you have the option to transfer to the NSPCC Child Protection
Helpline
who
provide a 24 hour help line 0800 800 500 where you can discuss your concern.
_ Contact
your local Social Services Department or, in an emergency, the Police.
5.5 Confidentiality
In
dealing with any case or suspicion relating to child abuse, everyone should be
made aware that
any
breaches in confidentiality can be potentially very damaging to the child,
family and any
child
protection investigations which may take place.
Personal
details of any child protection issue must not be
discussed, unless it is absolutely
necessary,
and then prior permission must have been sought from the family of the child
involved
and any
other parties concerned.
It is
important that only those who need to know are given the relevant information
to protect the
rights
of both the victim and the alleged perpetrator.
This
will mean, at the very least, informing:
- The person
responsible for child protection within the organisation.
- Where
relevant, a statutory child protection agency.
- The parents of
the child.
- The alleged
perpetrator.
Informing
the parents of a child about whom you are concerned will need to be handled in
a
sensitive
way and should only be undertaken in consultation with a statutory agency i.e.
the ASA
Swim
Line, the local social services department or Police child protection unit.
Any
individual under suspicion, whether or not he or she is a Member or volunteer
within the
organisation
has a right to be notified of the nature of the complaint. This is another
matter,
which
will need careful consideration and again, should only be undertaken in
consultation with a
statutory
agency.
Depending
upon the outcome of initial enquiries, Members and other agencies that have
contact
with either
the child concerned or the alleged perpetrator may need to be given brief
details of the
incident
and subsequent action. The statutory agency involved will provide advice as to
who
should
be told, when they should be told and the type of information, which it is
appropriate to
share.
5.6
Dealing with the Media
The
Child Protection/Welfare Officer, Secretary, Chairperson or Head Coach is
responsible for
dealing
with enquiries, which are likely to be made, should an incident of child abuse
arise.
All Members
and volunteers should be made aware that the media are very quick to respond to
hints of
an allegation such as child abuse and will often make extreme attempts to
obtain
information.
Therefore, it is important that everyone at
approaches
and ensures that all enquiries are directed to the appropriate person.
Once the
official member of staff is contacted they may either give an agreed statement
(negotiated
with the ASA Swim Line – Phone No – 0808 100 4001 in
consultation with the
police
and/or social services) or simply meet any enquiries with the 'no
comment' response.
Appendices
Attached:
Amateur
Swimming Association (ASA) Swim Line
ASA
Swimming Club legal Counselling Service
|
Legal Advice
When
everything is going according to plan it is easy to forget some of the benefits
provided
to clubs through the ASA insurance package. This brief article is a
reminder
of the legal advice and expenses insurance policy which is automatically
provided
to all clubs.
The
officials of an ASA club are entitled to use a 24 hour legal advice helpline
which
provides
assistance by phone on all legal problem areas. The help line also provides
advice
to ensure the correct procedures are followed if a dispute arises which may
lead
to a claim under this policy.
The
policy covers a wide range of situations including the defence of club disputes
and
legal defence cover.
Clubs
requiring legal advice should first contact the Ash Cox of the ASA Legal
department
at insurance.query@swimming.org to obtain the
DAS helpline number
and a reference number to be given to the DAS helpline when calling.