4. Child Protection 3

Action
1. Concerns about poor practice:
If, following consideration, the allegation is clearly about poor practice, the Club Welfare Officer will deal with it as a misconduct issue.
If the allegation is about poor practice by the Club Welfare Officer, or if the matter has been handled inadequately and concerns remain, it should be reported to the Club Welfare Manager who will decide how to deal with the allegation and whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings.

2. Concerns about suspected abuse:
Abuse can come in forms of Emotional, Neglect, Physical or Sexual.

Any suspicion that a child has been abused by either a member of staff or a volunteer should be reported to the Club Welfare Officer, who will take such steps as considered necessary to ensure the safety of the child in question and any other child who may be at risk.
• The Club Welfare Officer will refer the allegation to the Club Welfare Manager who will contact the social services department which may involve the police, or go directly to the police if out-of-hours.
• The parents or carers of the child will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the social services department.
• The Club Welfare Officer should also notify the relevant Club Welfare Manager who in turn will inform the Child Protection Officer who will deal with any media enquiries.
• If the Club Welfare Officer is the subject of the suspicion/allegation, the report must be made to the appropriate Club Welfare Manager or in his/her who will refer the allegation to social services.
Confidentiality
Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Information should be handled and disseminated on a need to know basis only.
This includes the following people:
• the Club Welfare Officer
• the parents of the person who is alleged to have been abused
• the person making the allegation
• social services/police
• Club Welfare Manager
• the alleged abuser (and parents if the alleged abuser is a child).

Seek social services advice on who should approach the alleged abuser.

Information should be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people, in line with data protection laws (eg that information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure).

Internal enquiries and suspension
The Club Welfare Officer will make an immediate decision about whether any individual accused of abuse should be temporarily suspended pending further police and social services inquiries.
Irrespective of the findings of the social services or police inquiries the Chosen Hill FP RFC Disciplinary Committee will assess all individual cases to decide whether a member of staff or volunteer can be reinstated and how this can be sensitively handled. This may be a difficult decision, particularly where there is insufficient evidence to uphold any action by the police. In such case Chosen Hill FP RFC Disciplinary Committee must reach a decision based upon the available information, which could suggest that on a balance of probability, it is more likely than not that the allegation is true. The welfare of the child should remain of paramount importance throughout.

Support to deal with the aftermath of abuse

Allegations of previous abuse
Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event (eg by an adult who was abused as a child or by a member of staff who is still currently working with children).
Where such an allegation is made, the club should follow the procedures as detailed above and report the matter to the social services or the police. This is because other children, either within or outside sport, may be at risk from this person. Anyone who has a previous criminal conviction for offences related to abuse is automatically excluded from working with children. This is reinforced by the details of the Protection of Children Act 1999.
Action if bullying is suspected
If bullying is suspected, the same procedure should be followed as set out in 'Responding to suspicions or allegations' above.

Action to help the victim and prevent bullying in sport:
• Take all signs of bullying very seriously.
• Encourage all children to speak and share their concerns (It is believed that up to 12 children per year commit suicide as a result of bullying, so if anyone talks about or threatens suicide, seek professional help immediately). Help the victim to speak out and tell the person in charge or someone in authority.
• Investigate all allegations and take action to ensure the victim is safe. Speak with the victim and the bully(ies) separately.
• Reassure the victim that you can be trusted and will help them, although you cannot promise to tell no one else.
• Keep records of what is said (what happened, by whom, when).
• Report any concerns to the Club Welfare Officer.

Action towards the bully(ies):
o Talk with the bully(ies), explain the situation, and try to get the bully(ies) to understand the consequences of their behaviour. Seek an apology to the victim(s).
o Inform the bully(ies)'s parents.
o Insist on the return of 'borrowed' items and that the bully(ies) compensate the victim.
o Provide support for the victim's coach.
o Impose sanctions as necessary.
o Encourage and support the bully(ies) to change behaviour.
o Hold meetings with the families to report on progress.
o Inform all organisation members of action taken.
o Keep a written record of action taken. (Incident Form)

3. Concerns outside the immediate sporting environment (eg a parent or carer):
o Report your concerns to the Club Welfare Officer, who will contact the relevant bodies as soon as possible.
o If the Club Welfare Officer is not available, the person being told of or discovering the abuse should contact social services or the police immediately.
o Social services and the Club welfare Officer / Manager will decide how to involve the parents/carers.
o Maintain confidentiality on a need to know basis only.

4. Information for social services or the police about suspected abuse:
To ensure that this information is as helpful as possible, a detailed record should always be made at the time of the disclosure/concern, which should include the following:
o The child's name, age and date of birth of the child.
o The child's home address and telephone number.
o Whether or not the person making the report is expressing their own concerns or those of someone else.
o The nature of the allegation. Include dates, times, any special factors and other relevant information.
o Make a clear distinction between what is fact, opinion or hearsay.
o A description of any visible bruising or other injuries. Also any indirect signs, such as behavioural changes.
o Details of witnesses to the incidents.
o The child's account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred.
o Have the parents been contacted?
o If so, what has been said?
o Has anyone else been consulted? If so, record details.
o If the child was not the person who reported the incident, has the child been spoken to? If so, what was said?
o Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? Record details.
o Where possible referral to the police or social services should be confirmed in writing within 24 hours and the name of the contact who took the referral should be recorded.
If you are worried about sharing concerns about abuse with a senior colleague, you can contact social services or the police direct, or the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000, or Childline on 0800 1111.

Declaration
On behalf of Chosen Hill FP RFC we, the undersigned, will oversee the implementation of the Child Protection Policy
Date: 01/09/2009

Signed:
Print Name: ANDREA DARBY
Chosen Hill FP RFC Welfare Officer.

Date:
Name:
Signed:
Position within Chosen Hill FP RFC : Chairman

Date:
Name:
Signed:
Position within Chosen Hill FP RFC : Manager Junior Section

Policy to be reviewed annually
Andrea Darby
Club Welfare Officer
Chosen Hill FP RFC
Email: