The Chelmsford Ice Hockey Academy fully recognises and accepts its responsibilities for Child Protection. Our Policy applies to all staff and volunteers working in the club. The ethos of the club is to promote a positive, supportive and secure environment to give all players a sense of being valued. We will establish a safe environment in which children can learn and develop, where they feel secure and are listened to.

We will ensure that children know that there are adults in the club whom they can approach if they are worried about anything.

We will develop and then implement procedures for identifying and reporting suspected procedures of abuse.

We will develop and then implement procedures where an allegation is made against a volunteer member of the club.

We will keep written records of concerns about children, even when there is no need to refer to the matter immediately.

We will ensure that all records are kept in a secure place, and retained for future reference.

We will ensure that safe recruitment practices are always followed and that DBS checks are carried out on volunteers who work in the club. These checks will be re-submitted every three years.

We will ensure that we have a designated person for child protection who has received appropriate training and support for this role.

We will ensure that every volunteer understands their responsibilities in being alert to signs of abuse and their responsibility in referring their concerns to the designated person responsible for child protection.

We will follow the recommended procedures and guidelines laid down by the English Ice Hockey Association on the Protection of Children and Young Persons from Abuse. The EIHA documentation relating to this can be found here.

Child Protection Procedures

The club will have a named person with a clearly defined role and responsibilities in relation to child protection. The person placed in that role will be listed in the contacts as the Child Protection Officer.

If a player discloses that abuse has taken place, the coach or manager that has been informed of this should:

Listen

Stay calm and make no judgement about what they have heard.

Take the child seriously.

Ask clarification questions only if necessary (avoid asking them to repeat the information too often).

Inform the child that they will need to tell the Head Coach / designated person for child protection. A record of what the child has disclosed should be taken as soon as possible, using the child’s own words.

The written account should be signed and dated by the child and the representative of the club.

A parent/manager must be present with the child during any interviews/consultations.

Referral may be made to relevant agencies or advice asked from the National Child Protection Officer of the English Ice Hockey Association.