Safeguarding

CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

Introduction

Stockton RFC considers the welfare of all young people is paramount, and recognises and accepts the responsibility to safeguard and promote the interests and well being of all personnel within the club. We are committed to ensure that young people whatever their age, gender, culture, ability, language religious beliefs, racial origin, and/ sexual identity enjoy the game in a fun environment. They must be kept safe from abuse of any description whilst preparing, training, playing and using the club facilities.

The aim is to deliver the highest possible standards of care.

The Academy operates as an autonomous unit within the club, with its own structure responsible for running rugby for all age groups from under 7 to and including colts.

This Child Protection Policy has been drawn up and approved by all the junior personnel and ratified by the club executive and general committee.

Objectives:

To offer safeguards to all young people (i.e. under the age of 18 years) with whom the club is involved.

To ensure the highest possible professional assistance is given to young people, and that members of the club involved with young people understand and are trained in their responsibilities to ensure the following aims are complied

To safeguard good practice as laid down in RFU guidelines, systems and procedures.

Aims:

To ensure that all those involved with Stockton RFC recognise and understand their responsibilities of safeguarding children and young people’s welfare. This includes protecting them from physical, emotional, or sexual harm and from bullying of any kind.

To respect young peoples rights, and reasonable wishes and feelings.

To ensure that all adults who work with young people are aware of their role and responsibilities, and take advantage of training opportunities made available to them.

To ensure each coach has the proper qualification for the tasks they undertake. This is the responsibility of the coaching coordinator.

To ensure that where there is a lead coach for a group of young people, they have the correct level of qualification and if working towards a qualification are correctly supervised during their training at all times.

At least one person within the club is appointed as a formal and qualified in Child Protection responsibilities.

To ensure that all relevant persons who have regular contact with children or have a management responsibility towards them undertake a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure. If in doubt it is the responsibility of the Child Protection co-ordinator to ensure such persons are checked out.

To keep formal written records of young persons membership, attendance at training and matches,

To ensure parental consent is obtained where appropriate.

To record disciplinary action where such action has been taken either by a referee, age club manager,

To record accidents in the accident book and take action where necessary to ensure trained medical support is available at all matches and training sessions. This is located in the changing rooms.

To set out a code of conduct each year covering behavioural requirements of all coaches, officials, supporters, parents, and children.

To ensure that a nominated Child Welfare Officer is readily available and known to all club members, officials. In Stockton Rugby Club the appointed official is Mrs. Lynn Doherty who may be contacted via the club address (Stockton RFC, Station Road, Norton, Stockton-on-Tees,)

To have written procedures for dealing with suspicious incidences, or accusations and ensure they are known to all within the club. Such procedures are available on the club web site at Stocktonrfc.com

Annual code of conduct covering behavioural requirements of all coaches, officials, supporters, parents, and children.

All coaches shall have a minimum of level one coaching awards and be cleared by criminal records checks if they are involved in any way with teams playing under the age of 18 years..

This code of conducts sets the standard of behaviour of all concerned in the club, whether involved with young players or those over 18 years of age.

The referees and others in charge of the game shall be given respect at all times and not be subject to behaviour unbecoming of the standards expected by the club. This includes bad language, assault, racial abuse of any description, threatening behaviour and any other behaviour likely to bring the club into disrepute.

Any conduct requiring investigation by the club shall be dealt with in the first instance by the appointed child welfare officer and the Chairman of the Academy.

Any person subjected to disciplinary action by the above shall be notified of the decision in writing and have 28 days in which to appeal. This appeal shall be heard by members of the general committee appointed to deal with such appeals. The decision of the appeals officials shall be final.

Eric Smalley
February 2008