# Child Protection Policy

- Link: https://www.newhamyoungbloods.co.uk/child-protection-policy/
- Published: 2018-03-15T17:17:54+00:00
- Author: admin

###### Last Updated March 2018

##### Purpose

The purpose of this document is to outline the approach taken by Newham Youngbloods
Basketball Club with regards to safeguarding children. Children are defined as those
who are under 18 years of age.

##### Policy Statement

Newham Youngbloods Basketball Club recognises that it has a duty of care to safeguard
and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring that our safeguarding
practice reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance, complies with
best practice and is in line with the policies adopted by the NGB, Basketball England.
It is paramount that all children participating in sport must be able to do so in
a safe environment and that all coaches and volunteers must ensure that they give
the highest standard of care and act in accordance with the club’s safeguarding 
policy.

**The club is committed to ensuring that:**
 • the welfare of the child is paramount•
all children and vulnerable adults regardless of age, culture, disability, gender,
language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual identity have a positive and
enjoyable experience in a safe environment • all children have the right to be protected
from abuse whilst participating in basketball or outside of the activity • all suspicions
and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to appropriately •
all coaches and volunteers have a responsibility to report concerns of abuse to 
the club’s Child Welfare Officer • all coaches and volunteers attend suitable training
and understand that it is not their role to decide if abuse has occurred, but to
report any concerns immediately In addition, and as part of our safeguarding policy
commitment, Newham Youngbloods Basketball Club will also: • promote and prioritise
the safety and well-being of children • ensure everyone understands their roles 
and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding and are provided with appropriate
learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to signs of abuse, neglect
and other safeguarding concerns relating to children • ensure appropriate action
is taken in the event of incidents and/or concerns of abuse and provide support 
to the individual(s) who raise or disclose the concern • ensure that confidential,
detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely
stored • prevent the recruitment and/or deployment of unsuitable individuals • ensure
robust safeguarding arrangements and procedures are in operation The policy and 
any supporting procedures will be widely promoted and are mandatory for everyone
involved in Newham Youngbloods Basketball Club. Failure to comply with the policy
and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal
or exclusion from the club.

##### Recruitment and Training

All adults who are involved in working closely with children within the club will
be subject to a number of checks to ensure their suitability to work with children.

All coaches within Newham Youngbloods Basketball Club will be required to:
 • Undertake
a DBS check • Attend Safeguarding Children and First Aid training • Become suitably
qualified as a coach or produce certificates if already qualified as a coach All
other volunteers who are working closely with children will be required to undertake
a DBS check.

_Note: Anyone who has a previous criminal conviction for offences related to abuse
is automatically excluded from working with children. This is reinforced by the 
Protection of Children Act 1999._

##### Photography and Video

Newham Youngbloods Basketball Club fully supports the appropriate use of photography
and video as a means of recording basketball-related activities. However, there 
is evidence that sports club events have been used as an opportunity to take inappropriate
images (photographs and/or videos) of children. Our club and its members should 
be vigilant and any concerns should be reported to the club’s Child Welfare Officer
immediately.

**During Training**
 Before any of our coaches can use photographic or video equipment
as a coaching aid, all parents and players of those to be involved must have: • 
given their consent • been made aware that it is being used as part of the coaching
programme • been informed of how the footage will be used and stored All others 
wishing to take photographs and/or videos during training must have the permission
of Newham Youngbloods Basketball Club.

**During Matches**
 For home matches, any photographs and/or videos can only be 
taken by individuals who have been given permission to do so by Newham Youngbloods
Basketball Club. On match days, permission will be granted by the coach of the team
that the request to be photographed or videoed is made to providing: • all members
of that team and their parents have given their consent • the away team have also
given their permission For away matches, anyone wishing to photograph and/or video
the game must have • the permission of both teams Note: Photographs and videos must
never be taken in changing rooms.

**Bullying**
 All bullying is classed as a form of abuse and Newham Youngbloods 
Basketball Club are committed to helping to eliminate it from the sport of basketball.

Newham Youngbloods Basketball Club will:
 • take all signs of bullying very seriously•
encourage all children to speak and share their concerns (an open environment) •
help the victim to speak out and make all children aware of the importance to tell
the person in charge or someone in authority • investigate all allegations and take
action to ensure the victim is safe (speak with the victim and the bully separately)•
reassure the victim that they can be trusted and will help them, although we will
not promise to tell not to tell anyone else • keep records of what is said • ensure
any concerns are reported to the club’s Child Welfare Officer

If there is an allegation of bullying against a coach, a volunteer or another club
member, then this should be reported to the club’s Child Welfare Officer.

**Note:** Many ‘low level’ incidents of bullying are usually capable of being dealt
with at the time by coaches and/or volunteers. However, if the bullying is severe(
e.g. a serious assault), or if it persists despite efforts to deal with it, these
incidents should be referred to the club’s Child Welfare Officer.

##### Responding to Incidents, Allegations or Concerns

It is the responsibility of the club’s Child Welfare Officer to investigate an incident,
allegation or concern that is brought to their attention as contravening the club’s
safeguarding policy.

Newham Youngbloods Basketball Club must re-emphasise that:
 • it is not the responsibility
of any coach, volunteer or club member within the club to decide whether or not 
any form of abuse has taken place • the responsibility of any coach, volunteer or
club member is to act on any incident, allegation or concern by reporting it to 
the club’s Child Welfare Officer • the club will fully support and protect anyone,
who, in good faith reports their concern that a colleague is, or maybe, abusing 
a child

**Confidentiality**
 Newham Youngbloods Basketball Club will make every effort to
ensure that confidentiality is maintained for all concerned. Any information will
be handled and disseminated on a ‘need to know’ basis only.

**Note:** Where there are concerns that a child is, or maybe, at risk of significant
harm, the prevailing consideration is to safeguard the child and it may be appropriate
to override confidentiality in such situations.

**Allegations of previous (historical) abuse
 
Allegations of abuse may be made 
sometime after the event i.e. historical abuse.
 Where such an allegation is made,
the club (via the Club Welfare Officer) will report the matter to the social services
and/or the police. This is because other children, either within or outside of the
club, may be at risk from this person.

**Monitoring**
 This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis by the club’s Child
Welfare Officer and amended in order to comply with any changes in our ways of working
and/or legislation.

##### Appendix

**Good Practice Guidelines**
 All coaches and volunteers should be encouraged to
demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to promote children’s welfare and reduce
the likelihood of any allegations being made. The following are common sense examples
of how to create a positive culture and climate within the club.

**Good practice means:**
 • Always working in an open environment • Treating all
children with equal concern and with respect and dignity • Always putting the welfare
of each child first • Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust which
empowers children to share in the decision-making process • Making activities fun,
enjoyable and promoting fair play. Activities should be age appropriate • Ensuring
that if any form of manual or physical support is required, it is provided openly•
Consulting with children and their parents. Involving parents and carers wherever
possible • Ensuring that appropriate qualifications and training are provided to
all those working with children • Being an excellent role model • Giving enthusiastic
and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism • Recognising the developmental
needs and capacity of children including those with additional needs – avoiding 
excessive training or competition and not pushing them against their will • Ensuring
that up to date contact details are available and that details of adults responsible
for the collection of children are recorded and adhered to • Keeping written records
of any injuries that occur and details of any treatment given Practices to be avoided:
The following should be avoided. If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable
it should be with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge of the club
or the child’s parents. • Avoid spending time alone with children away from others•
Avoid taking or dropping off a child at an event or activity • Avoid taking photographs
of children unless permission has been given by their parent or carer Practices 
never to be sanctioned: • Engaging in rough, physical or sexually provocative games,
including horseplay • Sharing a toilet or changing facility with a child • Allowing
or engaging in any form of inappropriate touching • Allowing children to use inappropriate
language • Making sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun • Reducing
a child to tears as a form of control • Failing to act upon and record any allegations
made by a child • Doing things of a personal nature for a child that they can do
for themselves • Inviting or allowing children to meet or stay with you at your 
home • Inviting children to ‘become friends’ on social networking sites