Taunton Canoe Club Child Protection and Vulnerable Adults Policy 2007

Policy Statement

Taunton Canoe Club has a duty of care to safeguard all children and vulnerable adults involved with the club from harm. A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989). The needs of children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account. The club will ensure the safety and protection of all involved with the club through adherence to this policy and guidelines adopted by the club.

Policy Aims

• To provide children, young people and vulnerable adults with appropriate safety and protection whilst in the care of the club
• To allow all coaches and volunteers to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues

Good Practice Guidelines and Club Ethics

All personnel should be encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behaviour in order to promote children’s welfare and reduce the likelihood of allegations being made. The following are common sense examples of how to create a positive culture and climate:

• Making sport fun, enjoyable and promoting fair play
• Coaches and volunteers must respect the rights, dignity and worth of everyone whilst in the care of the club. Everyone must be treated equally, within the context of his or her activity, regardless of age, sex, ethnic origin, religion, or political persuasion
• Always work in an open environment (e.g. avoiding private or unobserved situations and encouraging open communication with no secrets)
• Always put the welfare of the each person first, before winning or achieving goals
• Building balanced relationships based on mutual trust, which empowers people to share in the decision-making process
• Maintaining a safe and appropriate distance with people
• Coaches are to keep up to date with technical skills and qualifications
• Being an excellent role model – this includes not smoking or drinking in the company of young people
• Giving enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism
• Recognising the developmental needs and capacity of people – avoiding excessive training or competition and not pushing them against their will
• Securing parental consent in writing to act in loco parentis, if the need arises to administer emergency first aim and/or other medical treatment

Practices never to be sanctioned:

• Allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching
• Allow people to use inappropriate language unchallenged
• Make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun
• Reduce a child to tears as a form of control
• Fail to act and record any allegations made by a child
• Do things of a personal nature for people, that they can do for themselves
• Invite or allow children to stay with you at your home unsupervised

Incidents that must be reported/recorded:

If any of the following occur, you should report this immediately to the club Child Protection Officer and record the incident. You should also ensure the parents of the child are informed:

• If you accidentally hurt a person
• If he/she seems distressed in any manner
• If a person appears to be sexually aroused by your actions
• If a person misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done

Use of Photographic/filming equipment at sporting events

There is evidence that some people have used sporting events as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage of young people in vulnerable positions. All coaches and volunteers should be vigilant and any concerns should be reported to the club Child Protection Officer.

There is no intention to prevent videoing as a coaching aid; however, children and their parents/carers should be made aware of this and their consent obtained.

In line with the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit and BCU recommendations, we require any person who wishes to engage in video or zoom photography to register with the club prior to carrying out such photography.

Responding to allegations or suspicions

It is not the responsibility of anyone working in the club, to decide whether or not child abuse has taken place. However, there is a responsibility to act on any concerns by reporting these to the appropriate officer or the appropriate authorities.

The club will assure all coaches and volunteers that it will fully support and protect anyone, who in good faith, reports his or her concern that a colleague is, or may be, abusing a child.
This also includes allegations of bullying

Any concerns should be reported to the club Child Protection Officer, who will follow the club Child Officer Procedure and Guidelines set down and agreed by Taunton Canoe Club.

This policy is to be reviewed annually.

Policy agreed by Taunton Canoe Club Annual General Meeting 27th February 2007.

Signed by Mr Colin Sands (Chair)

Date 27/02/2007

Review Date: Annual General Meeting 2008