Introduction 

Sporting Chance is committed to providing a safe and supportive environment in its work with children and young people. It is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people at all times, and expects all employees to share this commitment. These procedures apply to anyone working on behalf of the Sporting Chance, including senior managers, paid staff and volunteers. 

In our work with children we recognise that every child has the right to live free from harm and abuse. We also recognise that every child is potentially at risk from harm and abuse. 

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

From Wednesday 1 July 2015, all schools and childcare providers must have due regard to the need to prevent people being drawn into terrorism. The government has defined extremism in the Prevent strategy as: “vocal or active opposition to fundamental British values including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of different faiths and beliefs." 

In order to facilitate our commitment to safeguarding, Sporting Chance has developed Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures that detail:  

• Policy and guidelines to ensure a safe and supportive environment for children and staff is provided. 

• Policy and guidelines to ensure that staff are equipped to make clear and consistent responses to disclosures, allegations or suspicions of abuse. 

• The responsibilities of staff within their duty of care. 

• A code of conduct for staff and children that identifies required behaviour in working professionally and safely at Sporting Chance. 

Policy Aims

The aim of these Safeguarding and Child Protection Procedures is to ensure Sporting Chance is: 

• Providing children with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care and supervision of our staff; 

• Enabling all staff to make informed and confident responses to safeguarding issues; 

• Contributing to the protection and safety of the children in our provision and in the wider context of their lives. 

Code of Conduct 

All staff and volunteers must demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to create a positive and protective culture.

Staff  must: 

• Always put the welfare of each child first. 

• Treat all children fairly and with respect, dignity and patience. Listen to, value and take their issues seriously. Promote openness and honesty. 

• Respect differences and challenge discrimination or prejudice. 

• Always work in an open environment, avoid private or unobserved situations. Make sure other adults can see and preferably hear you if you have to have any one to one interaction with a 

young person. NB Staff should use public venues and locations for community based activities. If this is not possible it should be discussed and agreed with the Manager in advance, and details included in the session recording. School based activities will be held within the school grounds, unless agreed in advance with school contact.

• Maintain a safe and appropriate distance with children. Sometimes it may be necessary to do things of a personal nature for young people e.g. in an emergency situation. If you must use physical contact, clearly tell the young person what you are doing and why, seek their permission and give choices. Unless absolutely unavoidable such as in an emergency, have another member of school staff /  adult present. Ensure that you record your actions and inform the Manager as a matter of urgency. 

• Be appropriately dressed at all times, wear Sporting Chance branded uniform during sessions

• Take opportunities to sensitively have conversations with children about keeping safe at school, with Sporting Chance, and at home. 

• Involve children in the decisions that affect them. Listen to, value and take their contributions seriously. 

• Report all concerns, suspicions or allegations to the Manager or another member of Sporting Chance staff as soon as possible. Always act. 

Staff must not: 

• Make sarcastic, insensitive, patronising, belittling, inappropriate, derogatory, discriminatory, offensive or sexually suggestive comments or gestures to or in front of young people, or allow these to go unchallenged or unreported. 

• Allow any concerns, reports, suspicions or allegations to go unreported. Always pass things on to a Sporting Chance  staff member as a matter of urgency, even if it seems a relatively minor thing. 

• Engage in or allow behaviour that is in any way harmful or abusive. 

• Develop inappropriate relationships with children. 

• Engage in rough or physical games or play. 

• Have inappropriate and unnecessary physical contact with children. g. Act in a way that can be perceived as threatening or intrusive. 

• Do things of a personal nature that children can do for themselves - e.g. applying sunscreen, eczema cream. 

• Give children, or accept from them, any personal contact details or having any contact with them outside of that agreed with Sporting Chance and using their official channels - this includes any form of social media, exchanging phone numbers, email or postal addresses. 

• Consume alcohol or use illegal substances whilst at work or volunteering with children. Smoking or vaping in front of children is not permitted. 

• If  volunteers are required to work on a 1:1 basis with a young person and should adhere to the Lone Working policy in respect of this matter for their role. 

Any breach of this code of conduct will result in the individual concerned being removed from contact with children pending further investigations. If any of the following occurs you must report it immediately to the Manager and Designated Safeguarding Lead., and also record the incident. 

• If you accidentally hurt a child. 

• If a child seems distressed in any manner by your actions. 

• If a child misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done or said.

• If an allegation is made about you or anyone else. 

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 judgment 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 provision having been subjected to child abuse outside the sporting environment, mentoring 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.

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. Sporting Chance will be vigilant and any concerns should be reported to the Child Welfare Officer (Spencer Davies).

NB: Videoing as part of evidence collecting: there is no intention to prevent staff using video equipment as a legitimate reporting aid. However, performers and their parents/carers should be made aware that this is part of the mentoring and give their permission, and such films should be stored safely.

Recruitment and Training of Staff and Volunteers

Sporting Chance recognises that anyone may have the potential to abuse children in some way and that all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children. 

Pre-Selection Checks

Pre-selection checks must included 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 Disclosure and Barring Service

• 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)

Interview and Induction

All employees (and volunteers) will be required to undergo an interview carried out to acceptable protocol and recommendations. All employees and volunteers should receive a 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 role requirements and responsibilities should be clarified

• They should sign up to the organisation’s Code of Ethics and Conduct

• Child protection procedures are explained and training needs are identified

Training

In addition to preselection 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

• Staff will be required to undergo specific training 

• Staff to attend a recognised 3-hour good practice and child protection awareness training workshop, to ensure their practice is exemplary and to facilitate the development of a positive culture towards good practice and child protection 

• Relevant personnel to receive advisory information outlining good practice and informing them about what to do if they have concerns about the behaviour of an adult towards a child

• Relevant personnel to gain a national first aid training (where necessary) 

• Attend update training when necessary. 

Responding to Allegations or Suspicions

It is not the responsibility of anyone working 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 through contact with the appropriate authorities.

Sporting Chance 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 investigation:

• A criminal investigation 

• A child protection investigation

• A disciplinary or misconduct investigation

The results of the police and child protection investigation may well influence the disciplinary investigation, but not necessarily.

Action if there are Concerns

1. Concerns about Poor Practice:

If, following consideration, the allegation is clearly about poor practice; the Child Welfare Officer will deal with it as a misconduct issue. 

If the allegation is about poor practice by the Child Welfare Officer, or if the matter has been handled inadequately and concerns remain, it should be reported to the relevant body (South West Child Protection); the LADO Tina Wilson on 07767 002901 / 01454 868508 who will decide how to deal with the allegation and whether or not to initiate an investigation.

2. 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 Child 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 Child Welfare Officer will refer the allegation to the LADO and Social Services department who may involve the Police, or will go directly to the Police in an emergency. The parents or carers of the child will be contacted as soon as possible following advice from the Social Services department. 

If the Child Welfare Officer is the subject of the suspicion/allegation, the report must be made to the LADO and potentially Social Services. 

Confidentiality and Accountability

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 Child Welfare Officer

• The parents of the person who is alleged to have been abused 

• The person making the allegation

• Social Services / Police

• The National Governing Body Regional Development Manager and National Governing Body Child Protection Officer

• 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 (e.g. that information is accurate, regularly updated, relevant and secure).

Allegations of Previous Abuse

Allegations of abuse may be made some time after the event (e.g. by an adult who was abused as a child by a member of staff who is still currently working with children).  Where such an allegation is made, Sporting Chance will 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 Allegations or Suspicions' above.

Action to help the victim and prevent bullying:

• 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. Create an open environment 

• 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 Child Welfare Officer or the school (wherever the bullying is occurring) 

Action towards the bully(ies):

• 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)

• Inform the bully’s / bullies’ parents

• Insist on the return of 'borrowed' items and that the bully(ies) compensate the victim

• Provide support for the victim's coach

• Impose sanctions as necessary 

• Encourage and support the bully(ies) to change behaviour 

• Hold meetings with the families to report on progress 

• Inform all organisation members of action taken 

• Keep a written record of action taken

3. Concerns Outside the Immediate Sporting Environment (e.g. a Parent or Carer):

Report your concerns to the Child Welfare Officer, who should contact Social Services or the Police as soon as possible. See below for the information Social Services or the Police will need. If the Child Welfare Officer is not available, the person being told of or discovering the abuse should contact Social Services or the police immediately. Social Services and / or the Police will decide how to involve the parents/carers. 

Maintain confidentiality on a need-to-know basis only. 

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:

• The child's name, age and date of birth of the child

• The child's home address and telephone number

• Whether or not the person making the report is expressing their own concerns or those of someone else

• The nature of the allegation. Include dates, times, any special factors and other relevant information

• Make a clear distinction between what is fact, opinion or hearsay

• A description of any visible bruising or other injuries. Also any indirect signs, such as behavioural changes 

• Details of witnesses to the incidents

• The child’s account, if it can be given, of what has happened and how any bruising or other injuries occurred

• Have the parents been contacted? 

• If so what has been said? 

• Has anyone else been consulted? If so record details 

• If the child was not the person who reported the incident, has the child been spoken to? If so what was said? 

• Has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? Record details

• 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

This Policy was formally adopted by Sporting Chance on 12/1/14

It will be reviewed on an annual basis, with the next review taking place on  13/3/25

Declaration:

The undersigned, will implement the Safeguarding Policy and take all necessary steps to ensure it is adhered to.

Signed: 

Name: Spencer Davies 

Position within Sporting Chance:  Child Welfare Officer / Designated Safeguarding Lead

Date: 13/3/24