Child Protection
Broxbourne Borough V & E Football ClubChild Protection Policy
The Football Association / NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 800 5000BackgroundThe F.A. Child Protection Procedures and Practices Handbook places a clear responsibility on clubs to ensure that they safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. The purpose of this policy is to inform all trainers about these responsibilities and to enable everyone to have a clear understanding of how they are to be carried out.The club follows the procedures contained in the F.A. Child Protection Procedures and Practices Handbook - a guide to procedure and practice for all F.A. coaches/trainers. This club acknowledges that trainers are particularly well placed to notice outward signs of abuse, changes in behaviour or failure to develop. We recognise the important role we have in early recognition of the signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and appropriate referral procedures. Child Protection Responsibilities Accepted by Broxbourne Borough V & E F.C.·Mr S Wells is the club's designated trainer with responsibility for child protection matters.·The club has adopted clear and sound policies on confidentiality and will maintain all written evidence about child protection issues in a secure place. It will provide accurate information to the F.A. and Hertfordshire Social Services, where appropriate, normally through the designated trainer.·The club will provide training and yearly refresher meetings for trainers -through the "Train the Trainer" medium - to ensure that their skills and expertise are up to date. The Designated TrainerKey responsibilities of this role are to: ·Ensure that the F.A's child protection procedures are followed within the club.·Ensure that all trainers are aware of these procedures.·Ensure that appropriate training and support is provided.·Decide whether to take further action about particular concerns.·Report to the F.A / Social Services where appropriate over suspected cases of child abuse. Club ProceduresIntroductionA child needing help or guidance could approach any adult member of the training staff. Likewise any trainer may be in a position to notice or be concerned about physical or sexual abuse or neglect.If any trainer is concerned about a child they must inform the designated trainer, unless the designated trainer is the cause of that concern. In which case, they must inform the chief coach, Mr G Palmer.The trainer must record information regarding the concerns on the same day. The recording must be a clear, precise, factual account of the observations and must be signed and dated. The designated trainer will decide whether the concerns should be referred to the F.A. / Hertfordshire Social Services. Concerns will not be discussed with the parents before the designated trainer has consulted with the F.A / social services. When to be concernedTrainers should take note if any of the following are observed:·Any injury that is not typical of the bumps and scrapes normally associated with children's activities. ·Regular occurrence of unexplained injuries.·Confused or conflicting explanations of how injuries were sustained.·Significant changes in behaviour or attitude.·Sexual behaviour, which is unusually explicit or inappropriate to the child's age.·A recounting of an experience by a child in which they have been significantly harmed.Dealing with a Disclosure The following points give guidance on how trainers should deal with disclosures made to them:·Do not promise confidentiality. ·Explain who you will have to tell and why.·Listen to what is being said, without displaying shock or disbelief.·Accept what is being said.·Allow the child to talk freely, limit any questions to a minimum. Seek only to clarify and strictly avoid leading the child or adult who has made the approach by making suggestions or introducing your own ideas into what may have happened.·Never ask questions such as "Did he do X to you?" Instead use a minimum number of questions of the "Tell me what happened" type. ·If it is an adult making the approach and it becomes obvious that they are making a significant allegation concerning either abuse or neglect, you may feel it appropriate to stop them and refer to the designated trainer, unless he is the subject of the allegation, to avoid repetition of the details.·Be especially careful to distinguish between fact and opinion. Note also any noticeable non-verbal behaviour.·Reassure the child but do not make promises that you cannot keep. · Reassure the child that what has happened is not their fault.·Stress that the child has done the right thing by telling you.·Do not enter the child's account by condemning or criticising the perpetrator. By following correct procedures you are protecting yourself and the club. If any member of the coaching staff of Broxbourne Borough V & E at any stage has concerns for their own safety, especially owing to having made a referral, they should immediately involve the designated trainer who will promptly involve the F.A., Hertfordshire Social Services, or if necessary the police. The Football Association / NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 800 5000
The Football Association / NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 800 5000BackgroundThe F.A. Child Protection Procedures and Practices Handbook places a clear responsibility on clubs to ensure that they safeguard and promote the welfare of all children. The purpose of this policy is to inform all trainers about these responsibilities and to enable everyone to have a clear understanding of how they are to be carried out.The club follows the procedures contained in the F.A. Child Protection Procedures and Practices Handbook - a guide to procedure and practice for all F.A. coaches/trainers. This club acknowledges that trainers are particularly well placed to notice outward signs of abuse, changes in behaviour or failure to develop. We recognise the important role we have in early recognition of the signs and symptoms of abuse or neglect and appropriate referral procedures. Child Protection Responsibilities Accepted by Broxbourne Borough V & E F.C.·Mr S Wells is the club's designated trainer with responsibility for child protection matters.·The club has adopted clear and sound policies on confidentiality and will maintain all written evidence about child protection issues in a secure place. It will provide accurate information to the F.A. and Hertfordshire Social Services, where appropriate, normally through the designated trainer.·The club will provide training and yearly refresher meetings for trainers -through the "Train the Trainer" medium - to ensure that their skills and expertise are up to date. The Designated TrainerKey responsibilities of this role are to: ·Ensure that the F.A's child protection procedures are followed within the club.·Ensure that all trainers are aware of these procedures.·Ensure that appropriate training and support is provided.·Decide whether to take further action about particular concerns.·Report to the F.A / Social Services where appropriate over suspected cases of child abuse. Club ProceduresIntroductionA child needing help or guidance could approach any adult member of the training staff. Likewise any trainer may be in a position to notice or be concerned about physical or sexual abuse or neglect.If any trainer is concerned about a child they must inform the designated trainer, unless the designated trainer is the cause of that concern. In which case, they must inform the chief coach, Mr G Palmer.The trainer must record information regarding the concerns on the same day. The recording must be a clear, precise, factual account of the observations and must be signed and dated. The designated trainer will decide whether the concerns should be referred to the F.A. / Hertfordshire Social Services. Concerns will not be discussed with the parents before the designated trainer has consulted with the F.A / social services. When to be concernedTrainers should take note if any of the following are observed:·Any injury that is not typical of the bumps and scrapes normally associated with children's activities. ·Regular occurrence of unexplained injuries.·Confused or conflicting explanations of how injuries were sustained.·Significant changes in behaviour or attitude.·Sexual behaviour, which is unusually explicit or inappropriate to the child's age.·A recounting of an experience by a child in which they have been significantly harmed.Dealing with a Disclosure The following points give guidance on how trainers should deal with disclosures made to them:·Do not promise confidentiality. ·Explain who you will have to tell and why.·Listen to what is being said, without displaying shock or disbelief.·Accept what is being said.·Allow the child to talk freely, limit any questions to a minimum. Seek only to clarify and strictly avoid leading the child or adult who has made the approach by making suggestions or introducing your own ideas into what may have happened.·Never ask questions such as "Did he do X to you?" Instead use a minimum number of questions of the "Tell me what happened" type. ·If it is an adult making the approach and it becomes obvious that they are making a significant allegation concerning either abuse or neglect, you may feel it appropriate to stop them and refer to the designated trainer, unless he is the subject of the allegation, to avoid repetition of the details.·Be especially careful to distinguish between fact and opinion. Note also any noticeable non-verbal behaviour.·Reassure the child but do not make promises that you cannot keep. · Reassure the child that what has happened is not their fault.·Stress that the child has done the right thing by telling you.·Do not enter the child's account by condemning or criticising the perpetrator. By following correct procedures you are protecting yourself and the club. If any member of the coaching staff of Broxbourne Borough V & E at any stage has concerns for their own safety, especially owing to having made a referral, they should immediately involve the designated trainer who will promptly involve the F.A., Hertfordshire Social Services, or if necessary the police. The Football Association / NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 800 5000
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