Safeguarding Children / Child Protection Policy
Every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from abuse. This is the responsibility of every adult involved in football, thus every club is required to endorse and adhere to The Association’s Safeguarding Children Policy.
Darlington F.C recognises its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of children and young people who play or participate in football by protecting them from abuse and harm.
Darlington F.C is committed to working to provide a safe environment for all children and young people to participate in the sport to the best of their abilities for as long as they choose to do so.
Darlington F.C recognises that the terms ‘child or young person’, ‘abuse’ and ‘harm’ are open to interpretation and challenge but for the purpose of this Safeguarding Children policy they are defined as follows:
Abuse shall be defined as:
for the purposes of safeguarding children, shall include physical abuse, emotional abuse,
sexual abuse, neglect, bullying and hazing.’
Harm shall be defined as:
‘Harm’ may be caused by acts of commission and acts of omission.
This Safeguarding Children Policy is supported by The FA’s Respect programme to address verbal abuse and bullying of youngsters by parents and coaches on the sidelines. The Association’s and Darlington F.C Academy Safeguarding Children Policy principles are that:
of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, race, faith, belief or sexual orientation;
swiftly and appropriately; and
their parents and carers is essential.
Darlington F.C is committed to working in partnership with the Police, Children’s Services Departments, Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards (LSCB) and the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) in accordance with their procedures. This is essential to enable these organisations to carry out their statutory duties to investigate concerns and protect all children and young people.
Darlington F.C Academy Safeguarding Children Policy is in response to government legislation and guidance, developed to safeguard the welfare and development of children and young people.
Club Welfare Officer
Clubs and Leagues with youth teams must appoint a Welfare Officer in line with FA affiliation requirements.
The Club welfare officer for Darlington F.C Academy is:
All League and Club Welfare Officers are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct for volunteer Welfare Officers.
The role of the Welfare Officer is to:
As a Welfare Officer they will act as a role model to others in accordance with the roles and
responsibilities of their position, in line with FA Rules and Regulations, the Respect codes of conduct for officials and the laws of the game.
In fulfilling the role they accept that within the role of Welfare Officer they will:
young people
concerns including discrimination
CFA and show a commitment to keeping their training up to date
If they do not follow the above code any/all of the following actions may be undertaken by their Club, League, County FA or The FA (This is not an exhaustive list):
On appointment, all League and Club Welfare Officers agree to uphold the Code of Conduct for volunteer Welfare Officers and understand the actions that may be taken should they fail to act in accordance with the Code. In agreeing to fulfil the role they confirm that they meet the criteria outlined within The FAs Suitability Checklist for YLWO/CWOs.
WELFARE OFFICER PERSON SPECIFICATION AND SUITABILITY CHECKLIST
Essential
The FAs Respect programme and safeguarding children education
Desirable
Essential
acceptance by The Association of the outcome
documentation
Workshop
facilitated by The FA or the local County FA
Officers
Desirable
NB If anyone is known to be unsuitable to work with children his/her application should be
refused by the Club/League. If in any doubt about an applicant contact your County FA
Welfare Officer.
Parental / Personal Consent and Key Information
At the start of the season or when children register, personal information will be collected and a consent form completed. Coaches will require this information for practical reasons, such as, contact numbers, medical information etc. This information will remain confidential and will only be used for the purpose intended.
Additional written consent will be acquired that will differ from the regular weekly training sessions and matches.
This pertains to children under 16 years of age. Any players aged 16 or above may self consent but information will be still be collated to the parents and carers .
Information on any child will not be kept for longer than necessary. I.e destroyed once a player leaves, unless there is a specific need to keep it.
Photography, Film, Media and Social Media
Written consent must be sought from parents and carers to photograph or film anyone under the age of 16 years. Persons over 16 years of age can self consent but consent all the same must be provided.
Requests will be sought at the beginning of the season / upon registration of a player.
When seeking consent, Darlington FC Academy will make identify in clear terms what the photograph / media will be used for. For example:-
Staff, volunteers, children and young people will be advised on the standards of behaviour expected within Darlington Youth Academy in relation to the use of social media.
Any social media pages, set up in relation to coaching, will be clearly defined as a club page and not a personal members page.
Media pages will only be used for the purpose intended and any unacceptable behaviour will be managed via our policies and procedures.
Staff and volunteers are not permitted to have any players on their personal media outlets nor permitted to privately message them via any social media (including Whatsapp, messenger etc)
If emails are to be sent to a player then it is required to also add the parents/carer email address to the correspondence if under 18 years of age.
Club Volunteer Suitability and Criminal Record Checks
It is an essential element of those working with children and young people that they are suitable to do so.
Darlington Youth Academy ensure the safe recruitment of all its staff and volunteers with application forms, relevant references and clear, up to date Criminal Record Checks (CRB).
At least two references, from individuals who are not related to the applicant, will be requested One reference being associated with the applicant’s place of work and, if possible, one that demonstrates they have been involved in sport, particularly children’s activities, previously, or other voluntary work.
References will be followed up prior to any offer of appointment being made.
If any references raise concerns we will contact the relevant authorities.
The appointment of staff and volunteers will consider; all the information received via the application form, confirmation of identity, the outcome of the take up of references and The FA DBS.
This information, alongside the outcome of the meeting/ interview will make an informed decision as to whether or not to accept the applicant into our club
Staff and volunteers are also required to have a full and relevant qualification to take lead on coaching children and young people and complete the FA’s Safeguarding and First Aid Programmes.
A minimum of 2 adults will always be present during any type of footballing activity, with both male and female staff available when the activity is mixed gendered.
RESPONDING TO CONCERNS, ALLEGATIONS AND DISCLOSURES
There is a moral responsibility to report any concerns about a child or young person in any context.
If a child or young person informs you directly that they are concerned about someone’s behaviour towards them, this is known as a disclosure.
A disclosure may be given slowly over time or all at once and it may seem incomplete, unclear and may sometimes be retracted. Children don’t often tell in one simple ‘disclosure’.
The person receiving the disclosure should:
* Take what the child or young person says seriously;
*As soon as the child or young person completes the disclosure make sure you accurately record what they said using their language and of any actions you may have taken as a result;
If in any doubt or any advice is needed then speak to your Club Welfare Officer who will be able to support you further.
Please refer to the document ‘GRASSROOTS’ FOOTBALL SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN POLICY AND PROCEDURES’ for further guidance.
This policy also cross references to:-
Remember
Safeguarding is EVERYONE’S responsibility!!