Gym Child Protection Policy

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY [ Gymnastics Risk Assessment ]

Introduction :

Gymschool will always ensure that...

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 will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately;
All staff (paid/unpaid) working in sport have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate officer (the lead teacher).

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Policy statement :

Gymschool has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in Gymschool 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. Gymschool will ensure the safety and protection of all children involved through adherence to the Child Protection guidelines adopted by Gymschool.

A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).

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Policy aims :

The aim of the Child Protection Policy is to promote good practice :

Providing children and young people with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of Gymschool
Allow all staff /volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.

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Promoting good practice :

Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in those facing such a situation. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with your judgement about the appropriate action to take.

Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and the sporting environment. Some individuals will actively seek employment or voluntary work with young people in order to harm them. A coach, instructor, teacher, official or volunteer will have regular contact with young people and be an important link in identifying cases where they need protection. All suspicious cases of poor practice should be reported following the guidelines in this document.

When a child enters the club having been subjected to child abuse outside the sporting environment, sport can play a crucial role in improving the child’s self-esteem. In such instances the club must work with the appropriate agencies to ensure the child receives the required support.

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Good practice guidelines :

All personnel should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to protect themselves from false allegations.

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Good practice means :

Always working in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets).
Treating all young people/disabled adults equally, and with respect and dignity.
Always putting the welfare of each young person first, before winning or achieving goals.
Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with players (e.g. it is not appropriate for staff or volunteers to have an intimate relationship with a child or to share a room with them).
Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust which empowers children to share in the decision-making process;
Making sport fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play.
Ensuring that if any form of manual/physical support is required, it should be provided openly and according to guidelines provided by the Coach Education Programme. Care is needed, as it is difficult to maintain hand positions when the child is constantly moving. Young people should always be consulted and their agreement gained. Some parents are becoming increasingly sensitive about manual support and their views should always be carefully considered.
Keeping up to date with technical skills, qualifications and insurance in sport.
Involving parents/carers wherever possible. For example, encouraging them to take responsibility for their children in the changing rooms. If groups have to be supervised in the changing rooms, always ensure parents, teachers, coaches or officials work in pairs.
Ensuring 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 also occur.
Ensuring that at tournaments or residential events, adults should not enter children’s rooms or invite children into their rooms.
Being an excellent role model – this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of young people.
Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of young people and disabled adults – 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 the details of any treatment given.
Requesting written parental consent if club officials are required to transport young people in their cars.

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Practices to be avoided :

The following should be avoided except in emergencies. 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 a child up at the end of a session...

Avoid spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others.
Avoid taking or dropping off a child to an event.

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Practices never to be sanctioned - The following should never 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
Allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon
Invite or allow children to stay with you at your home unsupervised
Do things of a personal nature for children or disabled adults, that they can do for themselves

N.B. It may sometimes be necessary for staff or volunteers to do things of a personal nature for children, particularly if they are young or are 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 dependent on you, talk with him/her about what you are doing and give choices where possible. This is particularly so if you are involved in any dressing or undressing of outer clothing, or where there is physical contact, lifting or assisting a child to carry out particular activities. Avoid taking on the responsibility for tasks for which you are not appropriately trained.

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Incidents that must be reported/recorded :

If any of the following occur you should report this immediately to another colleague and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents of the child are informed...

If you accidentally 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.

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Use of photographic/filming equipment at sporting events :

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 to be reported to the Club Child Protection Officer.

N.B. 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 such films should be stored safely.

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Recruitment of staff and volunteers :

Gymschool recognises 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. Pre-selection 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 or driving licence with photo).

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Interview and Induction of staff and volunteers :

All employees (and volunteers) will be required to undergo an interview carried out to acceptable protocol and recommendations. All employees and volunteers should receive formal or informal induction, during which...

A check should be made that the application form has been completed in full (including sections on criminal records and self-disclosures).
Their qualifications should be substantiated.
The job requirements and responsibilities should be clarified.
Child protection procedures are explained and training needs are identified.

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Training of staff and volunteers :

In addition to pre-selection checks, the safeguarding process includes training after recruitment to help staff and volunteers to...

Analyse their own practice against established good practice, and to ensure their practice is likely to protect them from false allegations.
Recognise their responsibilities and report any concerns about suspected poor practice or possible abuse.
Respond to concerns expressed by a child or young person.
Work safely effectively with children.

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