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