Introduction
. The welfare of the child is paramount
. All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin religious beliefs and or sexual identity have the right to protection from abuse
. All suspicions and allegations of abuse and poor practice will be taken seriously and responded to quickly and appropriately
. All staff working within UGFC has a responsibility to report concerns to the approiate officer

NB Volunteers are not trained to deal with situations of abuse or to decide if abuse has occurred

Urney Gaelic Football Club (UGFC) has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in UGFC from harm.  All children have a right to protection and the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account.  UGFC will ensure the safety and protection of all children involved in UGFC through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by UGFC.

A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The children’s act 1989)

 

Policy aims
The aim of the UGFC child protection policy is to promote good practice
Provide children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of our club
Allow all coaches and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues

 

Good practice guidelines
All personnel should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to promote children’s welfare and reduce the likelihood of allegations being made



Good practice means
• Always working in an open environment and encouraging open communication with no secrets
• Treating all young people equally with respect and dignity
• Always put the welfare of the child before winning or achieving goals
• Maintain a safe and appropriate distance with players
• Make sport fun, enjoyable and promote fair play
• Ensuring that if any form of physical/manual support is required, it should be provided openly and according to guidelines provided by the GAA.
• Young people and their parents should always be consulted and their agreement gained
• Involve parents/carers wherever possible, encourage them to take responsibility for their children in the changing rooms, always ensure that coaches work in pairs
• Ensure that if mixed teams are taken away, they should always be accompanied by a male and female member of staff.  However remember that same gender abuse can occur
• Being an excellent role model, includes not smoking, drinking alcohol in the presence of young people
• Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
• Recognizing the developmental needs and capacity of young people, avoiding excessive training or competition and not pushing them against their will.
• Securing parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to administer emergency first aid and/or other medical treatment
• Keeping a written record of any injury that occurs, along with details of any treatment given.
• Requesting written parental consent if club officials are required to transport young people in their cars.



Practices to be avoided
The following should be avoided except in emergency.  If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable it should be with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge in the club or the child’s parents.  For example, a child sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital, or a parent fails to arrive to pick up a child at the end of a training session.
• Avoid spending time alone with children away from others.
• Avoid taking or dropping off a child to an event or activity.



Practices never to be sanctioned
• You should never engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.
• Share a room with a child.
• Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching.
• Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
• Make sexually suggestive comments to a child even in fun
• Reduce a child to tears as a form of control.
• Fail to act upon and record any allegations made by a child.
• Do things of a personal nature for children or disable adults that they can do for themselves.
• Invite or allow children to stay with you at home unsupervised.



NB It may be sometimes necessary for coaches or volunteers to do things of a personal nature for children, particularly if they are young or disabled.  These tasks should only be carried out with the full understanding and consent of parents and the players involved.  There is a need to be responsive to a person’s reactions.  If a person is fully dependant on you, talk with him/her about what you are doing and allow choices where possible.  This is particularly so if you are involved in any dressing or undressing of outer clothing, lifting or assisting a child to carry out particular activities.  Avoid taking on the responsibility for tasks which you are not appropriately trained.

Incidents that must be reported / recorded
If any of the following occur you should report this immediately to the appropriate officer and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents of the child are informed:
• If you accidently hurt a player
• If he/she seems distressed in any manner
• If a player appears to be sexually aroused by your actions
• If a player misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done
There is evidence that some people have used sporting events as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage of young and disabled sportspeople in vulnerable positions. All clubs should be vigilant and any concerns should be reported to the club child protection officer.
Videoing as a coaching aid: there is no intention to prevent club coaches and teachers using video equipment as a legitimate coaching aid. However performers and their parents/carers should be made aware that this is part of the coaching programme and their consent obtained and such films should be stored safely.

Recruitment and training of staff and volunteers
(organization/club) recognizes that anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and that all reasonable steps are taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. Preselection checks must include the following:
• All volunteers/staff should complete an application form. The application form will elicit information about an applicant’s past and a self disclosure about any criminal record.
• Consent should be obtained from an applicant to seek information from the Criminal Records Bureau.
• Two confidential references, including one regarding previous work with children. These references must be taken up and confirmed through telephone contact.
• Evidence of identity (passport//driving license with photo.)

Responding to allegations or suspicions
It is not the responsibility of anyone working in (organization/club) in a paid or unpaid capacity to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However there is a responsibility to act on any concerns by reporting these to the appropriate officer or the appropriate authorities.
(Organization/club) will assure all staff/volunteers that it will fully support and protect anyone who in good faith reports his or her concern that a colleague is or may be abusing a child.
Where there is a complaint against a member of staff there may be three types of investigations:
• A criminal investigation
• A child protection investigation
• A disciplinary or misconduct investigation

The result of the police and child protection investigation may well influence and inform the disciplinary investigation, but all available information will be used to reach a decision.

 

Reporting concerns about poor practice
If following consideration the allegation is clearly about poor practice the designated club child protection officer will deal with it as a misconduct issue.
If the allegation is about poor practice by the Organization/Club child protection officer or if the matter has been handled inadequately and concerns remain it should be reported to the relevant (sport Governing Body) officer who will decide how to deal with the allegation and whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings.

 

Reporting concerns about suspected abuse
Any suspicion that a child has been abused by either a member of staff or a volunteer should be reported to the organization/club child protection 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 organization/club Child protection officer will refer the allegation to the social services department who may involve the police.
The parents or carers of the child will be contacted as soon as possible.
The organization/club child protection officer should also notify the relevant (Sport Governing Body) officer who in turn will inform the (sport Governing Body) child protection officer who will deal with any media enquiries.
If the organization/club child protection officer is the subject of the suspicion/allegation the report must be made to the appropriate manager or his/her absence the (Sport Governing Body) child protection officer 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 on a need to know basis only.  This includes the following people:

• The club child protection officer• The parents of the person who is alleged to have been abused• The person making the allegation• Social services/police• The GAA regional  manager and child protection officer

Seek advice from social services on who should approach the alleged abuser (or parents if the alleged abuser is a child).

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

Reporting concerns outside the immediate sporting environment (e.g. a parent or carer)

Report your concerns to the club child protection officer, who should contact social services or the police as soon as possible.

If the club child protection officer is not available, the person being told of or discovering the abuse should contact the police or social services immediately.

Social services and the club child protection officer will decide how to involve the parents/carers.

The club child protection officer should also report the incident to the GAA governing body.  The governing body should ascertain whether or not the persons involved in the incident play a role in the club and act accordingly.



 

Child protection officerKaren RedstoneUrney Gaelic Football Club07729793252Karenredstone@hotmail.co.uk