1. INTRODUCTION

This organisation recognises that all children and young people have a right to protection from abuse. Warrington Youth Rowing takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people. We will:

  • Respond swiftly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of abuse, and provide parents and CHILD / YOUNG PERSON (CYP hereafter) with the opportunity to voice their concerns
  • Have a system for dealing with concerns about possible abuse
  • Maintain good links with statutory CYP care authorities.

Effective safeguarding arrangements should aim to meet the following two key principles:

  • Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility: for services to be effective each individual and organisation should play their full part; and
  • A CYP centred approach: for services to be effective they should be based on a clear understanding of the needs and views of CYP.

 

  1. CONTEXT

CHILD / YOUNG PERSON – Anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. The fact that a child has reached 16 years of age, is living independently or is in further education, is a member of the armed forces, is in hospital or in custody in the secure estate, does not change his/her status or entitlements to services or protection.

 

  1. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this Child and Young People Safeguarding Policy are:

  • To explain the responsibilities the organisation and its Trustees, Managers and Coaching Staff have in respect of CYP safeguarding.

 

  • To provide Trustees and Coaches with an overview of CYP safeguarding

 

  • To provide a clear procedure that will be implemented where CYP safeguarding issues arise.

 

  1. THE ROLE OF Coaches

 

All Coaches working on behalf of the organisation have a duty to promote the welfare and safety of CYP.

Trustees and Coaches may receive disclosures of abuse and observe CYP who are at risk. This policy will enable people to make an informed and confident response to specific CYP safeguarding issues.

 

  1. ROLE OF DESIGNATED CYP SAFEGUARDING LEAD

The role of the designated lead is to deal with all instances involving CYP safeguarding that arise within the organisation. They will respond to all CYP safeguarding concerns and enquiries.

The designated CYP Safeguarding Lead for the organisation is The Trustee responsible for Safeguarding

 

  1. TYPES OF ABUSE

Abuse is form of maltreatment of a CYP. Somebody may abuse or neglect a CYP by inflicting harm, or by failing to act to prevent harm. CYP may be abused in a family or in an institutional or community setting by those known to them or, more rarely, by others (e.g. via the internet). They may be abused by an adult or adults or other CYP.

Examples:

PHYSICAL ABUSE – A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a CYP.  Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a CYP.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE – The persistent emotional maltreatment of a CYP such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the CYP’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a CYP that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the CYP opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate.  Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a CYP, though it may occur alone.

SEXUAL ABUSE – Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a CYP or young person to take part in sexual activities including Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE), which may not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the CYP is aware of what is happening.  The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving CYP in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging CYP to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a CYP in preparation for abuse (including via the internet).  Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other CYP.

NEGLECT – Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a CYP’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the CYP’s health or development.  Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a CYP is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:

  • provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment);
  • protect a CYP from physical and emotional harm or danger;
  • ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate care-givers); or
  • ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment.

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a CYP’s basic emotional needs.

 

  1. AWARENESS OF ABUSE AND NEGLECT

Warrington Youth Rowing will provide all Coaches with adequate safeguarding training in order to carry out their role and responsibilities under this policy. Individuals within the organisation need to be alert to the potential abuse of CYP both within their families and also from other sources including abuse by the schools, the coaches and other persons affiliated to Warrington Youth Rowing

All Coaches and Trustees of Warrington Youth Rowing should to respond to any suspected or actual abuse of a CYP in accordance with these procedures.  It is good practice to be as open and honest as possible with parents/carers about any concerns; however, you must not discuss your concerns with parents/carers in the following circumstances:

  1. a) delay in sharing relevant information with an appropriate person or authority would increase the risk of harm to the CYP or young person
  2. b) asking for consent may increase the risk of harm to the CYP, young person, you or anyone else.

 

  1. RESPONDING TO A DISCLOSURE OR ALLEGATION

Procedures following allegation or suspicion of abuse

 

The person responsible for dealing with allegations of abuse against a CYP is the Trustee responsible for Safeguarding.

 

It is important that CYP are protected from abuse. All complaints, allegations or suspicions must be taken seriously.

 

This procedure must be followed whenever an allegation of abuse is made or when there is a suspicion that a CYP has been abused.

 

You might have reason to believe that an CYP is subject to abuse. If an allegation of abuse is made by an CYP or a third party:

 

  • Listen carefully to the CYP. DO NOT directly question them giving them time and attention.

 

  • Allow the CYP to give a spontaneous account; do not stop a CYP who is freely recalling significant events.

 

  • Make a note of the time and date that the allegation was made, the time and date of the incident, who made the allegation, and the nature of the allegation.

 

  • Record only the facts, preferably in the language/words used by the person making the allegation, and will not ask any questions which may seem to be ‘leading’.

 

  • Report the allegation to The Trustee responsible for Safeguarding immediately – and the person making the allegation will be made aware that this will happen. The person making the allegation will also be made aware that the The Trustee responsible for Safeguarding cannot promise not to speak to others about the information they have shared.

 

If, however, there is a clear and immediate danger to an individual then confidentiality will be broken, and priority given to the safety of that individual.

 

Reassure the CYP that:

  • you are glad they have told you;
  • they have not done anything wrong;
  • what you are going to do next.

Explain that you will need to get help to keep the CYP safe.

CYP should not be required to provide multiple accounts of events within the organisation

YOU MUST:

  • Treat all CYP with respect
  • Ensure that, whenever possible, there is more than one adult present during activities which CYP or at least that you are within sight or hearing of others
  • Respect a CYP’s right to personal privacy
  • Recognise that caution is required when you are discussing sensitive issues with CYP
  • Operate within the organisation’s principles and guidance and any specific procedures
  • Challenge unacceptable behaviour and report all allegations/suspicions of abuse.

YOU MUST NOT:

  • Have inappropriate physical or verbal contact with CYP
  • Allow yourself to be drawn into inappropriate attention-seeking behaviour/ make suggestive or derogatory remarks or gestures in front of CYP
  • Reach conclusions about others without checking facts
  • Either exaggerate or trivialise safeguarding issues
  • Show favouritism to any individual

 

  1. WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU SUSPECT ABUSE

You may become concerned about a CYP for a number of reasons, for example:

  • They have not spoken to you or avoid speaking to you
  • They are upset
  • Because of your observations, or
  • You are given information from another party about a CYP.

It is good practice to ask a CYP why they are upset or how a cut or bruise was caused, or respond to a CYP wanting to talk to you. This practice can help clarify concerns and result in appropriate action.

If you are concerned about a CYP you must share your concerns. Initially you should talk to the School Lead and their Safeguarding Department or Warrington Youth Rowing Trustee Responsible for Safeguarding. You should make a note of your concerns and any actions agreed following your discussion with the School Lead and Safeguarding Department or Warrington Youth Rowing Trustee responsible for Safeguarding.

 

 

  1. CONTACTING AGENCIES

 

In the instance of a disclosure / allegation or a suspicion with the CYP’s permission (or the permission of the person making the allegation) Warrington Youth Rowing will contact the school then if deemed necessary social care services or the police.  If the CYP refuses permission (or it is not possible to get permission) it will be explained that the seriousness of the situation is such that we will need to consider breaching our principle of client confidentiality.  The Trustee responsible for Safeguarding will immediately contact the national NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 where experts will advise on the most appropriate course of action to take.

 

 

 

  1. PROTECTING CYP FROM ABUSE AND COACHES FROM ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE

 

The Trustee responsible for Safeguarding is responsible for making sure any CYP safeguarding issues are responded to properly.

All Coaches should:

  • Know about signs and symptoms of abuse
  • Know about how abusers (perpetrators) behave
  • Ask about training if you don’t know these things
  • Report any allegations to the Trustee responsible for Safeguarding
  • Know how to respond if a CYP talks to them about abuse.
  • Make sure they have a copy of the Child and Young Person Safeguarding Policy and have understood it
  • Be informed about help lines and other sources of help for CYP

 

No Trustee or Coach representing Warrington Youth Rowing will:

 

 

  • visit a CYP in their home unless on an official pre-arranged visit.
  • transport a CYP alone in their car unless prior arrangements have been made with the Trustee responsible for Safeguarding or the School even in a medical emergency when an ambulance should be called
  • make any comments with sexual overtones
  • allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form
  • allow a CYP to use inappropriate language unchallenged
  • lend money to or borrow money or possessions from a CYP
  • agree to make any purchases, or undertake any financial transactions, on behalf of the CYP

 

  1. SAFE RECRUITMENT

 

In accordance with Warrington Youth Rowing standard procedures all Coaches, including temporary appointments will be subject to recruitment and vetting process with the following elements:

  • They will complete of an application form and identity details will be verified against the relevant identification.
  • Two references will be taken up before there are engaged to commence their role.
  • They will be interviewed by the appropriate Trustees of Warrington Youth Rowing.
  • Reasons for gaps or inconsistencies in employment / volunteering will be identified
  •  They will be checked with the Disclosure and Barring Service.
  • They will not have unsupervised access to CYP unless this is within the remit of their role and as specified in the agreement.
  • Appropriate advice will be sought about recruiting someone with a criminal record.
  • There will be a specified supervised probationary period for people new to Warrington Youth Rowing.

 

 

Status / Version Date Revised Author Review Date Signed By
3 30/7/2018 JA/RS   RS