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:

• A child or young person shall be defined as ‘anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday.’

Abuse shall be defined as:

• ‘a violation of an individual’s human or civil rights by any other person or persons and,

for the purposes of safeguarding children, shall include physical abuse, emotional abuse,

sexual abuse, neglect, bullying and hazing.’

Harm shall be defined as:

• ‘Ill treatment and forms of ill treatment (including sexual abuse and forms of ill-treatment which are not physical) and also the impairment of or an avoidable deterioration in physical or mental health and the impairment of physical, intellectual, emotional, social or behavioural development.’

‘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:

• The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration;
• All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless

of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, race, faith, belief or sexual orientation;

• All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to

swiftly and appropriately; and

• Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people 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:

• Mr Ben Reay(Club Welfare Officer)

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:

1. Be clear about the Club’s/League’s responsibilities when running activities for children and young people

2. Help those actively involved with children and young people understand what their duty of care means on a day to day basis

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:

• Be child centred at all times and promote a fun safe environment for children and

young people

• Follow all of the FA’s policies and in particular procedures for reporting safeguarding

concerns including discrimination

• Act appropriately in all situations brought to their attention
• Champion Best Practice within their Club/League
• Communicate and positively engage with the CFA WO on all poor practice/safeguarding matters brought to the attention of CFA /The FA
• Attend meetings as reasonably required by the Club Committee, Youth League and CFA
• Manage and deal with poor practice issues in an appropriate and timely manner
• Ensure appropriate levels of confidentiality and data security are maintained at all times
• Implement and manage a responsible recruitment process in line with The FA’s policy and procedures
• Attend continued personal development (CPD) opportunities as offered by their

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):

• Required to meet with the Club/League Committee, YLWO or CFA WO
• Required to follow an action plan monitored by the YLWO/CFA WO
• Required to complete an FA education course
• Suspended by the Club/League
• Fined or suspended by the County FA
• Required to leave the Club/League they represent
• Removed from role by the Club/League/County FA/The FA

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

1. Person Specification

Essential

• Experience of dealing or working with young people
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding children issues¹
• A good communicator in a variety of situations with people from diverse backgrounds
• Committed to and ability to abide by The FA Rules and Regulations and promote

The FAs Respect programme and safeguarding children education

• Empathy when dealing with individuals, sometimes in demanding situations
• Ability to listen and assess situations fairly
• Ability to handle confidential information sensitively and with integrity
• Reasonable level of administration experience and how to deal with confidential documentation
• Willingness to attend any in-service training facilitated by either The FA or the local County FA

Desirable

• Knowledge and understanding of grassroots football
• Access to the internet
• Ability to use Emails

2. Suitability Checklist

Essential

• Willing and able to provide relevant current references
• Previous experience of dealing or working with children
• Knowledge of and positive attitudes to equal opportunities
• Commitment to treat all children as individuals and with equal concern
• Physical health – appropriate to carry out tasks
• Integrity and flexibility
• At least 18 years of age
• Completion of The Association’s Criminal Records Checks (CRC) process and

acceptance by The Association of the outcome

• Understanding of the need for confidentiality when dealing with issues
• Reasonable level of administration experience and how to deal with confidential

documentation

• Completion of The FAs Safeguarding Children Workshop and Welfare Officer

Workshop

• Willingness to update skills and knowledge and attend in-service training

facilitated by The FA or the local County FA

• Has signed up to and agree to abide by the Code of Conduct for volunteer Welfare

Officers

Desirable

• Knowledge of child protection issues
• Knowledge of safeguarding children legislation
• Relevant football knowledge/understanding

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:-

• Club material (Newsletter, poster, advertising materials)
• Club Website, Club Facebook page, Twitter feed, Coaches Facebook page
• Training purposes
• Within local or national media.

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:

• React calmly so as not to frighten the child or young person;
• Ensure the immediate safety of the child or young person;
• Tell the child or young person that he or she is not to blame and that he or she was right to tell

* Take what the child or young person says seriously;

• If the child or young person needs immediate medical treatment, take them to hospital or telephone for an ambulance, inform doctors of concerns and ensure that they are aware that this is a child protection issue as it is their responsibility to refer this on appropriately to the Police or Children’s Services;
• When speaking with the child or young person keep any questions to the absolute minimum. Ask only what is necessary to ensure a clear understanding of what has been said;
• Re-assure the child or young person but do not make promises of confidentiality or outcome, which might not be feasible in the light of subsequent developments;
• In the event of suspicion of sexual abuse try to avoid the child bathing or showering until given permission to do so. Washing can destroy valuable evidence;
• Take a detailed written record of what the child said to you and complete an ;Incident File Note’ (IFN)

*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;

• Inform the parents/carers unless you feel by doing so would put the child in any further danger or harm. If this is the case then contact the Club Welfare Officer . If they are unavailable contact First Contact or the Police for guidance

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:-

• Bullying Policy
• Whistleblowing policy
• First aid Policy

Remember

Safeguarding is EVERYONE’S responsibility!!