Child protection policy
CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
This policy has been devised in order to comply with legal requirements for the protection and safety of young people under the age of 18. It is recognised that while many young people under the age of 18 are, to all intents and purposes, adults, they are still under-age as far as the law is concerned. This policy is designed to ensure that children receive the level of protection to which they are entitled.
1. Definition of Terms
For the purpose of this policy, the following definitions have been used:
Committee Member: any member over 18 serving on the management committee.
Young Person: any young person attached to the Club in any capacity who is under 18.
2. General Statement of Intent
The Committee is concerned about the safety and welfare of all young people and will protect them from physical, sexual and emotional harm.
3. Statutory Framework
Working Together Under “The Children Act 1989” requires agencies working with children and young people to develop and follow procedures to ensure their safety and protection. These procedures must also set out which action to take if agencies suspect that a child has been abused or is at risk of abuse. Finally they must cover circumstances in which a Senior Member is accused of abuse.
4. Designated Staff
Child Protection Officer (a Committee member) or in absentia the chairperson. His/her role is to ensure:
i. Procedure and policy required by law is in place.
ii. All staff are aware of the procedures, how to follow them and receive appropriate training.
iii. Specific concerns are discussed and appropriate action is taken.
iv. Accurate records relating to individual young people are kept in a secure place.
5. Procedures for Members
i. If any Senior Member is concerned about a young person, he or she must inform the CPO immediately.
ii. Clear, precise and factual information about the concern must be recorded by the person raising it on the same day.
iii. The CPO will decide, in conjunction with the Senior Member raising the issue, whether to make a referral to social services.
iv. If a referral is made, a written report of the concerns will be sent to social services within 48 hours.
v. The CPO will ensure that the parent/guardian of the young person is kept informed of any action taken.
6. When to be concerned
Members should be concerned about a young person if she or he:
1. Has any injury for which there is no explanation, or for which the explanation changes or is inconsistent.
2. Regularly has unexplained injuries or frequent injuries which may appear to have a reasonable explanation.
3. Exhibits significant changes in behaviour/performance or attitude.
4. Disclosed an experience in which he/she or another young person may have been significantly harmed.
7. Dealing with a disclosure
Disclosure of abuse CANNOT be kept confidential and MUST be referred. If a young person discloses that he or she has been abused in some way, the member or official should take the following action:
i. It is not possible to promise confidentiality or to make other promises which it might not be possible to keep.
ii. Allow the young person to talk freely.
iii. Accept what is being said without displaying shock or disbelief.
iv. Use listening skills.
v. Ask minimal questions – keep them open not direct.
vi. Reassure that the young person is not to blame.
vii. Stress it was the right thing to disclose.
viii. Do not criticise the perpetrator.
ix. Explain what has to be done next and who has to be told.
8. Record Keeping
When a young person has made a disclosure of abuse, a Senior Member must:
i. Make brief notes as soon as possible after the conversation noting the date, time and place of the disclosure and any non-verbal communication by the young person.
ii. Record statements and observations not interpretations and assumptions.
iii. Keep the notes in a secure place in case they are needed by a court.
9. Support
It is recognised that dealing with a disclosure of abuse by a young person is a stressful experience and the Senior Members should seek support from the CPO or chairperson if absent. Further support can be arranged for Senior Members supporting young people if the Senior Members requires it.
10. Allegations involving Senior Members
i. If a young person makes an allegation of abuse against a Senior Members, the person receiving it must take it seriously and immediately inform the CPO or, in their absence, chairperson or Committee member.
ii. If a young person makes an allegation of abuse against the CPO, the person receiving it must take it seriously and immediately inform the chairperson.
iii. Any Senior Members who has concerns that a young person may have been abused by a member must immediately inform the CPO.
iv. Any Senior Member who has concerns that a young person may have been abused by the Chairperson, must immediately inform the CPO.
v. The CPO and/or chairperson will assess the accusation as soon as possible to decide the following:
a. If the accusation constitutes a criminal offence it should be referred to the police or social services as appropriate, without delay.
b. If the accusation constitutes a breach of Club working agreements (as in the constitution, minutes etc), it will be dealt with at a meeting of the Executive Committee (specially convened if necessary).
c. During the time any accusation is being investigated, either internally or by an external agency, the Senior Members will have no contact with the young person making the accusation, and the young person whom they are accused of abusing if this is different.
d. During the period of the investigation, other work duties of the Senior Members concerned will be re-assessed to ensure they have no further unsupervised contact with young people.
11. Review
This policy was adopted on 1 March 2007 and will be reviewed annually at AGM.
Signed:
Richard Clark
Richard Clark
Chairman
CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER 2007/08: Andy Carter?
