Safeguarding

Binfield Football Club has adopted the best practice guidance from the Football Association and the Berks & Bucks FA.

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 Binfield FC endorses and adheres to The Football Association’s Safeguarding Children Policy.

Introduction & Definitions

Binfield FC 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. The Club 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.

The Club 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 Policy is supported by The FA’s Respect programme to address verbal abuse and bullying of youngsters by parents and coaches on the sidelines.

Principles

The Club’s 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.

WORKING WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND PARTNERS

The Club 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.

The Club’s 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

In line with FA affiliation requirements Binfield FC has appointed two Welfare Officers who abide by the Code of Conduct for volunteer Welfare Officers as detailed in the FA Safeguarding Children Policy 2015-2016 and The FA handbook Grassroots Football – Safeguarding Children.

Review & Updating

The Policy is reviewed/updated annually by the Club’s Managing Committee.

Scope

Binfield FC has a clear duty to provide children with appropriate safety and protection. As the welfare of the child is paramount, we are committed to providing safe equipment and facilities so that children may fully participate in a secure environment.

We promote ethical behaviour, providing children with a sense of being valued. On this basis, we aim to ensure safe recruitment practices are always followed, to establish the suitability of personnel to work with children.

KEY SAFEGUARDING ACTIONS

Safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility and Binfield FC has adopted a simple, easy to understand three part approach to make sure that children are able to take part in a safe, fun and enjoyable environment.

These are:

Getting the right people involved – From 2016/2017 all new volunteers within our Club will complete a volunteer application form as well as completing a Criminal Records Check BEFORE they become involved with the children.
Our Welfare Officers are notified when a new Coach, Manager or Assistant Manager is appointed within our Club and will carry out references and CRC checks

Creating a safe environment – We aim to have all our Managers, Coaches and Assistant Managers in the club qualified to a minimum Level 1 Coaching Course. This is in addition to ensuring that all have a current Safeguarding Children Certificate.

Codes of Conduct, education and regular training is provided on Best Practice and are all included in the Club’s Manager’s Handbook which is updated annually supported by managers’ briefings.

Promoting clear systems – Policies and procedures are in place within the club and concerns are directed to the Welfare Officer(s) who aim to deal with these quickly. The names and contact details of both of the Club’s Welfare Officers are on the website and in the Managers Handbook. From 2016 these details will be circulated to all managers, assistant managers and coaches prior to the start of the new season.

ALLEGATIONS REPORTING PROCEDURE

Allegations of possible child abuse must be reported to: Club Welfare Officer: Jenny Spender – binfieldfccwo@gmail.com

Allegations will be taken seriously and dealt with as soon as possible.

The Club Welfare Officer is responsible for conducting any investigation, in conjunction with other agencies if required, if abuse is alleged to have been committed by a member of the Club. Throughout this procedure, records will be maintained and kept securely and confidentially.

The Club Welfare Officer will make a report to the authorities on any allegation, which places a child in danger.