CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Table Tennis Scotland
Contents
1. Table Tennis Scotland’s child protection officer
2. Table Tennis Scotland’s Child Protection Policy
3. Table Tennis Scotland will identify any risks to children participating in our activities.
4. Table Tennis Scotland Code of Conduct for adults & care givers
5. Table Tennis Scotland will support all adults working with children in our organisation to attend ‘Safeguarding & Protecting Children’ or other basic child protection awareness workshops.
6. Table Tennis Scotland’s ‘recruitment and selection’ procedure for new staff/volunteers
7. ‘Responding to concerns’ procedures to ensure that staff/volunteers get the appropriate help for a child to challenge the inappropriate conduct of any adults within the organisation.
8. ‘Disciplinary’ procedure to ensure the organisation can deal with any inappropriate conduct or child abuse and if necessary refer any individual to Disclosure Scotland for consideration on the Children’s List.
9. Procedure to review any child protection concerns which have arisen to ensure procedures are followed and appropriate action taken in the best interests of the child.
10. ‘Safe in Care’ guidelines that are appropriate for the organisation’s activities, e.g. trips away from home, physical contact, adult to child ratios, ICT and social media.
1. TABLE TENNIS SCOTLAND CHILD PROTECTION OFFICER
Table Tennis Scotland will:
· Ensure there are policies, procedures, systems, structures, resources and personnel in place to promote the welfare and protection of children taking part in Table Tennis Scotland events
· Actively work jointly with parents/carers and other agencies through joint planning, training and monitoring of their arrangements for the protection of children.
· Ensure there are quality assurance mechanisms in place to monitor, review and evaluate arrangements for the protection of children.
The Child Protection Officer (Senga thomson) for Table Tennis Scotland will:Responsibilities
§ Lead on the effective implementation of policy and procedures throughout the sport.
§ Implement the SGB child protection policy and procedures within national organisation.
§ Encourage good practice by promoting and championing the child protection policy and procedures.
§ Monitor and review the child protection vulnerable adult policy and procedures to ensure they remain current and fit for purpose.
§ Regularly report to the Board as appropriate.
§ Raise awareness of the SGB Child Protection Officer role to parents/carers, adults, and children involved in the organisation.
§ Raise awareness of the Code of Conduct for working with children/vulnerable adults to parents/carers, adults and children involved in the organisation.
§ Challenge behaviour which breaches the Code of Conduct.
§ Keep abreast of developments in the field of child protection by liaising with the Safeguarding in Sport service, attending relevant training or events and subscribing to the Safeguarding in Sport newsletter.
§ Organise/signpost appropriate training for all adults working/volunteering with children in the organisation.
§ Respond appropriately to disclosures or concerns which relate to the well-being of a child.
§ Maintain confidential records of reported cases and action taken.
§ Where required liaise with statutory agencies and ensure they have access to all necessary information.
§ Support affiliated clubs and their Club Child Protection Officers.
Person Specification
§ The ability to build relationships with the Board members, parents/carers, children and adults working/volunteering with children within the organisation.
§ An interest in the well-being of children and in safeguarding and child protection matters.
§ A willingness to challenge opinion, where necessary, and to drive the child protection agenda.
§ Strong listening skills and the ability to deal with sensitive situations with integrity.
§ The confidence and good judgment to manage situations relating to the poor conduct/behaviour of others towards a child.
Skills/Experience
§ Attend relevant training to fulfil the role of SGB Child Protection Officer.
§ Experience of working with children.
2. TABLE TENNIS SCOTLAND CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Table Tennis Scotland is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children in its care. It recognises the responsibility to promote safe practice and to protect children from harm, abuse and exploitation. For the purposes of this policy and associated procedures a child is recognised as someone under the age of 18 years.
Staff and volunteers will work together to embrace difference and diversity and respect the rights of children and young people.
This document outlines Table Tennis Scotland’s commitment to protecting children.
These guidelines are based on the following principles:
· The welfare of children is the primary concern.
· All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, socio-economic status, religious belief and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from all forms of harm and abuse.
· Child protection is everyone's responsibility.
· Children have the right to express views on all matters which affect them, should they wish to do so.
· Organisations shall work in partnership together with children and parents/carers to promote the welfare, health and development of children.
Table Tennis Scotland will:
· Promote the health and welfare of children by providing opportunities for them to take part in Table Tennis Scotland activities safely.
· Respect and promote the rights, wishes and feelings of children.
· Promote and implement appropriate procedures to safeguard the well-being of children and protect them from abuse.
· Recruit, train, support and supervise its staff, members and volunteers to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children from abuse and to reduce risk to themselves.
· Require staff, members and volunteers to adopt and abide by this Child Protection Policy and these procedures.
· Respond to any allegations of misconduct or abuse of children in line with this Policy and these procedures as well as implementing, where appropriate, the relevant disciplinary and appeals procedures.
· Observe guidelines issued by local Child Protection Committees for the protection of children.
· Regularly monitor and evaluate the implementation of this Policy and these procedures.
Review
This Policy and these Procedures will be regularly reviewed:
· In accordance with changes in legislation and guidance on the protection of children or following any changes within Table Tennis Scotland
· Following any issues or concerns raised about the protection of children within Table Tennis Scotland
· In all other circumstances, at least every three years.
3. IDENTIFY AND MANAGE RISK
RISK ASSESSMENT
Table Tennis Scotland will carefully examine the risk involved in the context of any activities that could cause harm to other people. Measures will be put in place to identify and decide whether reasonable precautions are in place to prevent harm.
Opportunities will be provided for children to participate safely and that appropriate procedures will be implemented to safeguard their wellbeing. The organisation is aware of the areas of risk and is adequately equipped to assess these risks.
¨ making sure children and are safe
¨ protecting staff and volunteers
¨ making sure to comply with legislation
¨ reducing or removing liability
¨ giving our sport a good reputation.
As outlined in section 5 of the Children (Scotland) Act 1995 states that if you are 16 or over and have children in your care or control, then you must do what is reasonable in all circumstances to safeguard their health, welfare and development.
Ownership
We will be responsible for children taking part in our activities and take all reasonable measures to make sure they are safe from harm. We fulfil this duty by:
1. Accepting we have this duty.
2. Agreeing policies, procedures and practices which tell us what action we need to take in order to keep children and vulnerable adults safe from harm.
3. Telling all relevant persons about safe practices; for example, through training.
4. Putting them into PRACTICE.
5. Ensuring they are being followed and reviewing them.
DEFINITIONS
HAZARD Any situation or any practice which might cause harm.
HARM This includes harm which is not physical.
A child may be harmed in a number of ways;
for example, emotional, physical and/or sexual
abuse, neglect, intentional/inappropriate restraint, harassment or bullying,
carelessness which amounts to neglect or failure to
attend to essential health and safety requirements.
RISK The chance that someone could be harmed, and an indication of how serious the harm might be.
Identify & Manage the Risk
CONDUCTING A RISK ASSESSMENT
1 IDENTIFY WAYS IN WHICH CHILDREN AND ADULTS COULD BE HARMED, i.e. HAZARDS2 DECIDE WHO MIGHT BE HARMED AND HOW
3 EVALUATE THE HAZARDS AND DECIDE ON PRECAUTIONS
4 RECORD YOUR FINDINGS AND ACT ON THEM
5 REVIEW YOUR RISK ASSESSMENT AND UPDATE IF NECESSARY
4. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ADULTS AND CARE GIVERS
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN IN SPORT
Table Tennis Scotland supports and requires all members to observe the following standards of practice, including verbal and non-verbal actions when involved in activities with children.
All concerns about breach of this Code of Conduct will be taken seriously and responded to in line with Table Tennis Scotland’s Complaints Policy[*], Performance Management[*], Disciplinary Procedure and/or Procedure for Responding to Concerns about Child Abuse[*].
GOOD PRACTICE· Make sport fun, enjoyable and promote fair play.
· Treat all children equally, with respect, dignity and fairness.
· Involve parents/carers wherever possible.
· Build balanced relationships based on mutual trust.
· Include children in the decision-making process wherever possible.
· Always work in an open environment, wherever possible. Avoid private or unobserved situations.
· Put the welfare of each child first before winning or achieving performance goals.
· Be an excellent role model including not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of children.
· Give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
· Recognise the developmental needs and capacity of children.
· Avoid excessive training and competition, pushing children against their will and putting undue pressure on them.
PRACTICE TO BE AVOIDEDIn the context of your role within Table Tennis Scotland , the following should be avoided:
· Having ‘favourites’ – this could lead to resentment and jealousy by other children and could be misinterpreted by others.
· Spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others.
· Entering children’s bedrooms on trips away from home, unless in an emergency situation or in the interest of health and safety. If it is necessary to enter rooms, knock and say that you are coming in. The door should remain open, if appropriate.
· Where possible, doing things of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves.
UNACCEPTABLE PRACTICEIn the context of your role within Table Tennis Scotland , the following practices are unacceptable:
· Engaging in sexually provocative games, including horseplay.
· Engaging in rough or physical contact unless it is permitted within the rules of the game or competition.
· Forming intimate emotional, physical or sexual relationships with children.
· Allowing or engaging in touching a child in a sexually suggestive manner.
· Allowing children to swear or use sexualised language unchallenged.
· Making sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun.
· Reducing a child to tears as a form of control.
· Allowing allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.
· Inviting or allowing children to stay with you at your home.
· A Coach and/or other leader sharing a room alone with a child.
Sign-up:
I have read and agree to abide by this Code of Conduct
I have also read and agree to abide by the Table Tennis Scotland Child Protection Policy, Procedures and Guidelines.
Name of staff member/volunteer:
Date signed:
Witnessed by:
(Child Protection Officer, if possible)
Date signed:
5. Table Tennis Scotland will support all adults working with children in our organisation to attend ‘Safeguarding & Protecting Children’ or other basic child protection awareness workshop.
TRAINING WORKSHOPS
Table Tennis Scotland will support adults working with children and vulnerable adults and provide access to the Child Protection workshops listed below.
Safeguarding & Protecting Children, sportscoach UK workshop (SPC)
This 3-hour workshop is suitable for coaches and volunteers who may come in to contact with children. This workshop explores the Code of Conduct for those in contact with children and provides basic information on recognising child abuse and responding to concerns. It is recommended that all coaches and volunteers working with children and young people attend this workshop.
Safeguarding & Protecting Children 2, sportscoach UK workshop (SPC 2)
This 3-hour workshop reflects on practice, is aimed primarily at coaches and builds on knowledge gained on the ‘Safeguarding & Protecting Children’ workshop (SPC). Outcomes for delegates include increasing awareness, helping recognise the signs of abuse and poor practice and helping to deal sensitively and effectively with issues that arise. In order to keep knowledge up-to-date in this area, it is recommended that individuals first attend the SPC workshop and follow this up with SPC 2 every two to three years.
6. PROCEDURE FOR THE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION OF STAFF/VOLUNTEERS IN REGULATED WORK WITH CHILDREN
Table Tennis Scotland will take all reasonable steps to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from undertaking regulated work with children. Further, we recognise that we have a legal duty under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007 to ensure that individuals who are barred from regulated work with children are not engaged (either paid or unpaid) in regulated work with children within Table Tennis Scotland.
This recruitment and selection procedure has two functions. It:
1. Provides Table Tennis Scotland with an opportunity to assess the suitability of the individual for a particular regulated work role with children.
2. Provides the prospective employee or volunteer with an opportunity to assess the organisation and the opportunities available.
The following recommended procedure will be completed for all positions deemed to be regulated work with children within Table Tennis Scotland .
1. Advertising
All forms of advertising used to recruit and select staff/volunteers for regulated work with children will include the following:
· The aims of Table Tennis Scotland and, where appropriate, details of the particular programme involved.
· The responsibilities of the role.