BEST PRACTICE

Nottingham City FC 'Safeguarding Children Policy' sits in the context of the FA's policy.

The FA's response to the outcome of various Government inquiries is to change its constitution and adopt a more holistic approach. The government also devised its strategy based around those inquiries and implemented 'Every Child Matters: Change for Children (2004)'.

the term 'children or young people' refers to anyone under the age of 18, including those in official capacities as referees and coaches. Every Child Matters: Change for Children (2004) highlights the following five key outcomes for all children and young people:

1 - Being healthy: enjoying good physical and mental health and living a healthy lifestyle.

2 - Staying Safe: being protected from harm and neglect.

3 - Enjoying and Achieving: getting the most out of life and developing the skills for adulthood.

4 - Making a Positive Contribution: being involved with the community and society and not engage in anti-social or offending behavior.

5 - Economic Well-Being: not being prevented by economic disadvantage from achieving their full potential.

Alongside the FA, Nottingham City FC is committed to implementing this programme of change for children and using the power of football to build a better future. We are committed to promoting equality and to tackling all forms of discrimination and harassment. Safeguarding children is about protecting children's rights to be treated with respect.

We all have a legal duty and a moral responsibility for the safety and protection of children and young people within football. We all have a "duty of care' to place the welfare of children before anything else and to ensure participants are safe at all times and to help make football an enjoyable, safe and fulfilling activity for every child. The FA 'Safeguarding Children Policy' describes five (5) types of abuse, they are:

1 - Neglect: The persistent failure to meet a child's basic physical and / or psychological needs.

2 - Physical Abuse: Causing physical harm to children or failing to prevent any form of physical harm from taking place.

3 - Sexual Abuse: Forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in any form of sexual activity.

4 - Emotional Abuse: The persistent maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the childs emotional development.

5 - Bullying: Deliberately hurtful behavior, usually repeated over a period of time, where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves.

Following best practice in our roles with children will also help us to protect our volunteers from allegations. As part of the Club's best practice approach, we subject all our volunteers to a ‘Disclosure and Barring Service’ Check (DBS)-previously known as 'Criminal Records Bureau' (CRB). BBS disclosures are an essential tool in the recruitment of everyone who work in children's football, together with references and sometimes qualifications, DBS checks help to ensure that only suitable people are involved in working with the children and young people associated with our club.

All our volunteers are automatically put in a position of trust, which carries a degree of authority, power and responsibility. They need to be positive role models displaying a high degree of morality and ethical standards as this can have a significant benefit to children and young people's development.

We will implement our policy at all times and at all levels of the Club through co-operation with all participants, including parents. We will ensure that all children who access and use our services receive the appropriate level of safeguard. We will foster an environment where parents and their children will feel safe, comfortable and where they can express themselves verbally, emotionally and sportingly.

The main aim of the Club is to develop children’s technical ability and to improve their skill levels, as well as to encourage and support their overall development. In order to achieve this, our volunteers must have children’s well-being at the forefront of their approach when managing and delivering our holistic coaching and development programme to children.

Nottingham City Football Club