Child Employment Policy 2024

CBW’s Child Protection Officer is Fiona Best 07771710416

safe@cardiganbaywatersports.org.uk

A child / young person is defined as a person under the age of 18 (Children’s Act 1989)

 

The welfare of the child is paramount

 

All children, whatever their age, culture, ability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity should be able to participate in watersports in a fun and safe environment

 

All reasonable steps taken to protect children from harm, discrimination and degrading treatment and to respect their rights, wishes and feelings

 

All suspicions and allegations of poor practice or abuse will be taken seriously and responded to.

 

CBW volunteers and employees will be recruited with regard to their suitability and will be provided with guidance and/or training in good practice and child protection procedures

 

The policy is reviewed at least annually or whenever there is a major change in the organisation or in relevant legislation.

 

Good Practice

 

• always work in an open environment avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets

 

• promote fairness

 

• confront and deal with bullying

 

• treat all young people equally and with respect and dignity

 

• put the welfare of the young person before winning

 

• maintain a safe and appropriate distance

 

• physical support only provided openly and with consent

 

• Involve parents / carers wherever possible to supervise

 

• encourage parents to take responsibility for their own child

 

• group supervision in changing rooms, ensure parents / carers work in pairs

 

• mixed teams are accompanied by a male and female member of staff

 

• at away events adults should not enter a young person’s room or invite young people to their rooms

 

• be an excellent role model, this includes not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of young people

 

• give enthusiastic and constructive feedback

 

• recognise development needs do not sacrifice welfare over achievement

 

• avoid excessive training or competition or pushing them against their will

 

• written parental consent to administer first aid or other medical treatment

 

• keep a written record of any injury and any treatment given

 

Poor Practice

 

• excessive amounts of time alone with young people

 

• taking young people alone in a car on journeys

 

• taking young people to your home alone with you

 

• sharing a room with a young person

 

• rough, physical or sexually provocative games or horseplay

 

• allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form

 

• allowing use of inappropriate language unchallenged

 

• making sexually suggestive comments

 

• reducing a person to tears as a form of control

 

• allow allegations to go unchallenged, unrecorded or acted upon

 

• do personal things that the young person can do themselves

 

 

If during your care you accidentally hurt a young person, the young person seems distressed in any manner, appears to be sexually aroused by your actions and/or if the young person misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done, report any such incidents as soon as possible to another colleague and make a written note of it.  Parents should also be informed of the incident.

 

 

Four main types of abuse: physical, sexual, emotional, neglect. 

 

• Physical Abuse:

 

• hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, biting, scalding, suffocating, and drowning.

 

• Giving alcohol or inappropriate drugs.

 

• Intense training without regard for the immature and growing body

 

• Emotional Abuse: telling a young person they are useless, worthless, unloved, and inadequate or valued in terms of only meeting the needs of another person.

 

• constant criticism, negative feedback, performance expectation at levels that are above their capability.

 

• Bullying is deliberate hurtful behaviour, repeated over a period of time

 

• It may be physical, hitting, kicking, slapping

 

• Verbal, racist or homophobic remarks, name calling, graffiti, threats, abusive text, tormenting, ridiculing, humiliating, ignoring, isolating form the group

 

• pushed too hard to achieve or succeed.

 

• Neglect

 

• failure to meet basic physical and/or psychological needs

 

• failure to provide adequate, drinks, food, shelter or clothing

 

• failure to protect from physical harm or danger

 

• denial of appropriate medical care or treatment.

 

• Refusal to give love, affection and attention

 

Sexual Abuse

 

• full sexual intercourse, masturbation, oral sex, anal intercourse and fondling.

 

• showing pornography

 

• talking in a sexually explicit manner

 

Indicators of Abuse

 

• unexplained or suspicious injuries such as bruising, cuts or burns

 

• an injury for which an explanation seems inconsistent

 

• the person describes what appears to be an abusive act involving them

 

• another person expresses concern about their welfare

 

• unexplained changes in a behaviour, upset, quiet, withdrawn or outbursts of temper

 

• inappropriate sexual awareness

 

• engaging in sexually explicit behaviour

 

• distrust of adults of whom a close relationship would normally be expected

 

• difficulty in making friends

 

• being prevented from socialising with others

 

• displaying variations in eating patterns, over-eating or loss of appetite

 

• losing weight for no apparent reason

 

• becoming increasingly dirty or unkempt

 

 

Signs of bullying include:

 

• behavioural changes such as reduced concentration and/or becoming withdrawn, clingy, depressed, tearful, emotionally up and down, reluctance to go training or competitions
• an unexplained drop off in performance
• stomach aches, headaches, difficulty sleeping, bed wetting
• scratches or bruising
• damage to clothes or personal equipment
• bingeing on food, alcohol or cigarettes
• a shortage of money or frequents loss of possessions

 

The presence of one or more of the indications is not proof of abuse.

 

Photography / Video Equipment

 

CBW may use video as a coaching aid or marketing

 

Responding to Suspicions and Allegations

 

It is not your responsibility to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place.

 

It is your responsibility to act on any concerns.

 

Advise the Centre manager or Child Protection Officer.

 

This applies to allegations/suspicions of abuse occurring within CBW or elsewhere.

 

Receiving Evidence of Possible Abuse

 

• stay calm so as not to frighten the young person
• reassure the child that they are not to blame and that it was right to tell
• listen to the child, show that you are take them seriously
• keep questions to a minimum so that there is a clear and accurate understanding of what has been said. The law is very strict and child abuse cases have been dismissed where it is felt that the child has been led or words and ideas have been suggested during questioning. Only ask questions to clarify
• inform the child that you have to inform other people about what they have told you. Tell the child this is to help stop the abuse continuing.
• safety of the child is paramount. If the child needs urgent medical attention call an ambulance, inform the doctors of the concern and ensure they are made aware that this is a child protection issue
• record all information
• report the incident to the Centre Manager

 

Helplines

Help for adults concerned about a child    Call us on 0808 800 5000

Help for children and young people          Call ChildLine on 0800 1111

Recording Information

 

• the child’s name, age and date of birth
• the child’s home address and telephone number
• whether or not the person making the report is expressing their concern or someone else’s
• the nature of the allegation, including dates, times and any other relevant information
• a description of any visible bruising or injury, location, size etc.
• 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/injuries occurred
• have the parents been contacted? If so what has been said?
• has anyone else been consulted? If so record details
• has anyone been alleged to be the abuser? Record detail

 

Reporting the Concern

 

CBW expects its members and staff to discuss any concerns they may have about the welfare of a child immediately with the Centre Manager.Any suspicion that a child has been abused by an employee or a volunteer should be reported to CBW Manager.

 

• CBW will refer to social services
• the parent/carer will be contacted following advice from the social services
• the Centre manager will deal with any media inquiries
• the Centre manager will implement any disciplinary proceedings
• the Centre manager should also notify the relevant sport governing body
• if the Centre manager is the subject of the suspicion/allegation the report must be made to the Centre Principal

 

Concerns outside CBW (e.g. a parent or carer)

 

• Report your concerns to the Centre manager
• Social Services will decide how to inform the parents/carers

 

Confidentiality

 

Information should only be shared with:

 

• The Centre manager
• The parents of the child
• The person making the allegation
• Social Services
• The alleged abuser (and parents if the alleged abuser is a child)

 

All information should be stored in line with data protection laws.

 

Inquiries and Suspension

• Centre manager may suspend an individual accused of abuse pending social services inquiries

 

• CBW Disciplinary Committee will decide whether a member of staff or volunteer can be reinstated.

 

Recruiting and Selecting Personnel

 

• Staff and volunteers complete a self-disclosure about any criminal record.

 

• Consent should be obtained from the applicant to seek information from the Criminal Records Bureau.

 

• Obtain two references, one in regard to work with children.

 

• Evidence of identity (passport or driving licence with photo)

 

 

Interview and Induction

 

• 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.

 

• Analyse their own practice against good practice

 

• report any concerns or suspicion of abuse

 

• Respond to concerns expressed by a child

 

• Work safely and effectively with children