Rothwell Juniors Football Club Child Protection Policy

For any Child Protection Issues Please contact our Child Protection Officer Stuart Lamond

The introduction of this Child Protection Policy should be seen as a clear signal by Rothwell
Juniors Football Club that it is determined to ensure all necessary steps are taken to protect from
harm, those children and young people who participate in football at our club. The policy
establishes the club’s position, role and responsibilities and clarifies what is expected of other
individuals involved in football. It very clearly highlights the importance placed by Rothwell
Juniors Football Club on the protection of children and young people.

Every child and young person who plays football should be able to participate in an enjoyable and
safe environment and be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved
in football. We recognise, however, that child abuse is also a very emotive and difficult subject. It
is important to understand the feelings involved but not to allow them to interfere with our
judgement about any action to be taken. The club recognises its responsibility to safeguard the
welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional
harm and from neglect or bullying. It is determined to meet its obligation to ensure that those
clubs and organizations providing football opportunities for children and young people do so, to
the highest possible standard of care.

The aims of Rothwell Juniors Child Protection Policy are:

• To develop a positive and pro-active position in order to best protect all children and
young people who play football, enabling them to participate in an enjoyable and safe
environment.
• To demonstrate best practice in the area of child protection.
• To promote ethics and high standards throughout our football club.
The key principles underpinning this 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 their
age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual identity.
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly
and appropriately.
 

CONCLUSION

Rothwell Juniors Football Club, through confirming this Policy Document, has indicated its
determination to ensure that children and young people can participate in all forms of football
activity and do so with their safety being of paramount importance. It is essential that this
document is representative of a process of continual improvement in the area of child protection
within football. It is for all adults engaged in football activities to promote good practice and
procedures, whilst being ever vigilant and aware of their responsibilities towards the children and
young people in their care.

YOU SHOULD ALWAYS:

Treat all players and children with respect and dignity befitting of their age, watch your
language, tone of voice and where you put your body.
 

YOU SHOULD NEVER:

• Engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games including horseplay
• Allow or engage in inappropriate or intrusive touching of any kind
• Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged

• Make sexually suggestive comments to a child even in fun
• Let allegations a child make go unchallenged or unrecorded, always act
• Invade the privacy of children when they are changing, showering or going to the toilet
 

YOU SHOULD AVOID:

• Doing things of a personal nature that children can do for themselves. E.g. help with
changing
• Spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others
• Taking children alone on car journeys, however short
• Taking children to your home
Where these situations are unavoidable, first seek parental consent where possible. If unable to
speak to the parents, always inform them of the circumstances as soon as practicable.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

. Pain, itching, bruising or bleeding to genital area
. Stomach pains
. Discomfort when walking
. Unexplained sources of money
. Inappropriate sexual drawings / language / behaviour
. Aggressive, withdrawn or fear of one person
. Unexplained or untreated injuries
. Injuries on unlikely or unusual parts of the body
. Cigarette burns, bites or belt marks, scalds
. Fear of parents being contacted, going home or receiving medical advice
. Flinching when touched
. Refusal to discuss injury
. Covering arms or legs
. Poor personal hygiene
. Constantly hungry
. Inappropriate clothing or dress
. Constantly tired
. Lonely, no friends
. Under weight
. No parental support or interest
. Dishevelled appearance
• Over Reaction to mistakes
• Sudden speech disorders
• Extremes of emotions
• Self mutilation
There may not be any signs you may just feel that something is wrong. If you are worried, it is not
your responsibility to decide if it is abuse, but IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT ON YOUR
CONCERNS AND DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WHAT TO DO IF A CHILD DISCLOSES ABUSE

. Understand that this may be the only time the child has built up courage to tell someone
what has happened
. Stop what you are doing and respect the child’s privacy
. Stay calm and re-assuring

. Listen to what they tell you, tell them that whatever the circumstances they are not to
blame
. Do not react in a way that may add to the child’s distress e.g. anger or shock
. Explain that you cannot promise to keep what the child tells you a secret, you may have
to tell someone else
. Do not question the child in depth, do not ask leading questions, i.e. questions that need
a “yes” or “no” answer
. Only ask questions to establish exactly what was done and who did it
. Tell the child that you are pleased they decided to tell someone and that they are
absolutely right to do so
. Let the child know that you understand how difficult it is to talk about such experiences
. Inform the Team Manager (unless implicated)
. Contact the Rothwell Juniors Football Club Welfare Officer without delay (Richard
Mawson 07732691235)
. Do not contact parents until you have received advice
. Make an accurate record of the time and date and exactly what was said
Other Useful Contacts:

Childline: 0800 1111

Barnardos: 0181 550 8822

NSPCC: 0800 800 500