SAMPLE POLICY STATEMENT FOR SPORTS CLUBS / ORGANISATIONS
SAMPLE POLICY STATEMENT FOR SPORTS CLUBS / ORGANISATIONS (Sample 1)
Executive Statement
Protecting children from abuse is a responsibility of all those who come into contact with them.
We in _____________________________________________________________(Name organisation)
are committed to practice which protects children from harm. Information contained in this document will help to create an understanding and direction for staff, officials, coaches, volunteers, members, parents, children and young people involved in ________________________________________ (sport), and affiliated regional and local clubs.
________________________________________ ________________________
Head of Organisation Date
Policy Statement
_________________________________________ is committed to ensuring that the safety, welfare and well-being of children are maintained at all times during their participation in activities run by _____________________________________________ and its member bodies.
_____________________________________________ aims to promote a safe environment for all children and to assist all staff, officials, coaches, members and volunteers to recognise child abuse and neglect and follow the appropriate notification procedures when reporting alleged abuse.
Rationale
The focus of the policy and guidelines is the prevention of child abuse in the sporting environment.
This policy and guidelines will assist ____________________________ in establishing co-ordinated strategies for dealing with the problem of child abuse and neglect in a responsible, effective and consistent manner.
Objectives
Through the development of this policy
_________________________________________ objectives are to:
Adopt child protection guidelines through a code of conduct for all staff
Provide information to assist staff and volunteers in recognising and responding to all forms of child abuse
Provide direction to all staff and volunteers regarding their legal responsibilities under child protection legislation
Follow procedures for recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers
Scope of Policy
The Child Protection Policy of ____________________________________ are applicable to all management and staff (paid, voluntary, permanent or casual) of ________________________________and its affiliated regional/local clubs.
Implementation of Legislation
In order to implement the child protection policy _____________________________________(name or organisation) will undertake to:
Implement strategies and procedures that focus on the best interests of children and meet the requirements of child protection legislation
Promote a safe and supportive environment for all children and young people participating in activities which come under our umbrella
Increase awareness and emphasise the importance of child protection issues in a sporting environment to all those involved with the activities of _________________________________________ This includes administrators, coaches, officials, athletes, parents and their children
Ensure that all staff/volunteers of _________________________________________ are aware of their responsibilities arising.
Expectations
_________________________________________ expects that all administrators, coaches and officials whether paid or unpaid, who participate in organised sport under the banner of this Organisation will commit to the above.
Policy Review
_________________________________________ Child Protection and Intervention Policy and Guidelines will be reviewed annually and updated in line with any legislative changes that have significant impact on the manner in which child protection and intervention issues are to be dealt with.
Signed __________________________________________ Date ____________________ Head of Organisation
Adapted from New South Wales Dept of Sport & Recreation Child Protection
Child Protection Policy Statement (Sample 2)
Insert name of your organisation)
____________________________________________________________________
is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment
for children and young people to practice
(Insert sport or activity here):
____________________________________________________________________
We do this by:
• Recognising that all children have the right to freedom from abuse.
• Ensuring that all our staff and volunteers are carefully selected and accept responsibility for helping to prevent the abuse of children in their care.
• Responding swiftly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of abuse, and providing parents and children with the opportunity to voice any concerns they may have.
• Appointing a Children’s Officer who will take specific responsibility for child safety and act as the main point of contact for parents, children and outside agencies.
• Ensuring access to confidential information is restricted to the Children’s Officer or the appropriate external authorities.
• Reviewing the effectiveness of our Child Protection Policy and activities each year at the Annual General Meeting.
Our Children’s Officer is:(Insert name and contact details here):
____________________________________________________________________
Policy Document for sports Clubs or Governing Body’s in Northern Ireland (sample 3)
The sample policy document statement as advised by the Sports Council Northern Ireland in the ‘Code of Ethic and Good Practice for Children’s Sport ’ can be found on www.sportni.net.
These samples can be used or a club / organisation can develop their own following these guidelines about what a policy statement sets out.
• Who the policy applies to, meaning that it relates to staff, volunteers, parents, children under 18.
• What the club / organisation wishes to convey to its members and the whole community.
• Why the club / organisation feels this issue is important.
• How in general terms is the club / organisation going to fulfil this stated responsibility.
The policy should:
• State the purpose and function of the club / organisation
• Briefly refer to associated documents:
- Recruitment
- Recording
- Reporting
- Anti-bullying
- Training
- Health & safety
- Etc
• Cite legislation or guidance e.g.
- The sports club / organisation’s national or international guidelines on child protection.
- The Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport
- Our Duty to Care
- The Children (NI) Order 1995
- The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Recognise that the policy and procedures apply to all the children/staff/volunteers/parents.
• Set out broad but practical objectives, goals that can be achieved. Provide an understanding of why the procedures that flow from the policy are important i.e. recruitment etc.
SAMPLE POLICY STATEMENT FOR SPORTS CLUBS/ORGANISATIONS
This sports club/organisation is fully committed to safeguarding the well being of its members. Every individual in the club/organisation should, at all times, show respect and understanding for their rights, safety and welfare, and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the organisation and the guidelines contained in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport.
The sample policy statement above must be written into the Constitution of the club/organisation (Governing body).
SAMPLE CHILD PROTECTION POLICY FOR AN ORGAINSATION (GOVERNING BODY)
A Governing Body of Sport is the organisation recognised by the respective international federation as being responsible for the administration of a particular sport on a countrywide basis or the national body responsible for national games. The Governing Body is responsible for overseeing the adoption and implementation of this Code by all its affiliated members.
To maximise compliance with the Code it is suggested that each Governing Body of Sport should:
• ensure that the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport is adopted, agreed to, implemented and signed up to by all members
• amend, as necessary, its Constitution to reflect a safe and clearly defined method of recruiting, selecting and managing
• appoint a National Children’s Officer/Designated Person (See 2.8/9). S/he should be a member of the Executive Committee
• ensure that effective disciplinary, complaints and appeals procedures are in place
• have in place procedures for dealing with a concern or complaint made to the Statutory Authorities against a committee member or a Sports Leader. Regulations should stipulate that a Sports Leader who is the subject of an allegation, which has been reported to the Statutory Authorities, should stand aside while the matter is being examined. S/he should be invited to resume full duties when and if appropriate internal disciplinary procedures are completed.
• ensure that all sports clubs with child members are fully affiliated and signed up to the Governing Body’s constitution
• be represented by appropriate personnel at all education/training workshops dealing with the Code
• where children are involved in representative teams, designate an appropriate senior officer in the Governing Body as the person with responsibility for following the guidelines of the Code
• review its child protection procedures regularly through open discussion with its members, Sports Councils and Statutory Authorities
• promote contact with representatives of the Statutory Authorities. The building of these relationships will contribute to the creation of an environment in which education and knowledge of child protection issues and procedures are widely known
• examine and take appropriate action in response to any reports or observations of unusual incidents (high rate of transfers, dropouts) received from clubs
SAMPLE CHILD PROTECTION POLICY FOR A CLUB
To ensure that best practice is being followed, all sports clubs should work closely with their Governing Body of Sport. In promoting best practice in children’s sport and in implementing this Code at club level each club should:
• adopt and implement the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport as an integral part of its policy on children in the club
• have its constitution approved and adopted by club’s members at an AGM or EGM
• promote the voice of the child, in particular through meetings and the AGM. One parent/guardian should have one vote for all their children under 18 years of age, where relevant
• ensure that the Club Management Committee is elected or endorsed by registered club members at each AGM
• adopt and consistently apply a safe and clearly defined method of recruiting and selecting Sports Leaders(See 3.5)
• clearly define the role of committee members, all Sports Leaders and parents/guardians
• appoint at least one Children’s Officer as outlined at 2.8.1 in this Code. In the event that a club caters for both boys and girls, one Children’s Officer of each gender would ideally be appointed
• have a Designated Person to act as liaison with the Statutory Authorities in relation to the reporting of allegations or suspicions of child abuse. (See 5.12) Any such reports should be made according to the procedures outlined in this Code
• ensure best practice throughout the club by disseminating its code of conduct, including the disciplinary, complaints and appeals procedures in operation within the club to all its members. The club’s code of conduct should also be posted in all facilities used by the club
• have in place procedures for dealing with a concern or complaint made to the Statutory Authorities against a committee member or Sports Leader or other members of the club. Regulations should stipulate that a Sports Leader who is the subject of an allegation, which has been reported to the Statutory Authorities, should stand aside, while the matter is being examined. S/he should be invited to resume full duties when and if appropriate internal disciplinary procedures are completed
• ensure that relevant Sports Leaders report to the Club Management Committee on a regular basis
• encourage regular turnover of committee membership while ensuring continuity and experience
• develop effective procedures for responding to and recording accidents
• ensure that any unusual activity (high rate of drop-out, transfers, etc.) is checked out and reported by the Club Chairperson to the Governing Body of Sport
• ensure that all club members are given adequate notice of AGMs and other meetings
• ensure that all minutes of all meetings (AGMs/EGMs/, Committee) are recorded and safely filed.
THIS APPROACH IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING UNDERPINNING PRINCIPLES
• children’s involvement in sport be an enjoyable experience
• the safety of children should always be the paramount concern of those adults responsible for providing sporting opportunities at whatever level an individual adult is involved
• based on a child-centred ethos which place the needs of the child at the centre of activities taken
• all adults have a responsibility to be aware of child protection as an issue
• Sports Leaders should be properly recruited and managed and that appropriate training should be made available to them