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Shebbear United
Football Club is committed to high standards of health and safety. It is
our policy, as a football club, to maintain these high standards and to
encourage all persons associated with the club (including players,
managers, coaches, parents together with those persons and supporters of
visiting teams) to provide a safe environment for the development of
those playing football.
While
there are inherent risks associated with any form of contact sport,
Shebbear United FC will ensure that these risks are minimised by:
•
Ensuring that training and playing venues are fit for the purpose
•
Ensuring that all equipment used during training and official matches is
well maintained and fit for purpose
•
Refusing to allow players to train or play without appropriate kit,
particularly shin-pads, boots appropriate for the paying surface or if
they are deemed unfit to play through health reasons
•
Ensuring people who hold recognised football coaching certificates will
oversee training and matches
•
Ensuring that at least one qualified First Aid person will be in
attendance at all training sessions and official matches and that a
fully equipped Medical Kit is available at all times
•
Maintaining “Family Details and Emergency Contacts” and ensuring
Managers/Coaches have access to these at all training sessions and
matches
• Holding
details of any disabilities and illness that a player may suffer from
and having procedures agreed with Parents and Guardians to treat any
conditions which may arise while playing or training
•
Ensuring that the recommendations concerned with duration of play are
adhered to, and that adequate rest breaks are allowed during training
and official matches
•
Maintaining Club Child Protection Policy and Code of Conducts and
ensuring that they are adhered to
The
safety of all persons associated with the club is of paramount
importance but particularly so, minors. While all managers, coaches,
referees and First Aiders will be the subject of checks to ensure
compliance to the club’s Child Protection Policy, parents need to
consider that many games are in public places and ensure their children
are aware of the possible associated dangers.
All Club
Officials are screened as to their appropriateness to have
responsibility for training children, however, parents and guardians
also have a responsibility to act on the decisions made on their
children’s behalf by the Club.
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The F.A. Child Protection Procedures and Practices Handbook place a
clear responsibility on clubs to ensure that they safeguard and promote
the welfare of all children.
The purpose of this policy is to inform all officials/parents about
these responsibilities and to enable everyone to have a clear
understanding of how they are to be carried out.
Our club follows the procedures contained in the F.A. Child Protection
Procedures and Practices Handbook - a guide to procedure and practice
for all F.A. Managers/Coaches. This club acknowledges that
Managers/Coaches are particularly well placed to notice outward signs of
abuse, changes in behaviour or failure to develop. We recognise the
important role we have in early recognition of the signs and symptoms of
abuse or neglect and appropriate referral procedures.
Child Protection
Responsibilities accepted by Shebbear United Football Club
Mike Edge
has been appointed as the CPR Officer.
Our club has adopted clear and sound policies on confidentiality and
will maintain all written evidence about child protection issues in a
secure place. It will provide accurate information to the F.A. and Devon
County Social Services, where appropriate, normally through the CPR
officer. The club will provide training and refresher meetings for club
Officials.
Key responsibilities
of the CPR Officer:
Ensure
that the F.A.'s Child protection procedures are followed within the club
Ensure
all Officers/managers/coaches/parents are aware of the procedures.
Ensure
the appropriate training and support is provided.
Decide
whether to take further action about particular concerns.
Report
to the F.A./Social Services/police when necessary.
CLUB PROCEDURES.
Any adult member of the club could be approached by a child needing help
or guidance. Likewise any Manager/Coach may be in a position to notice
or be concerned about physical/sexual abuse or neglect. If any Member is
concerned about a child they must inform the CPR Officer, unless the CPR
Officer is the cause for that concern. In which case they must inform
the club Chairman, and in the unlikely circumstance that the Chairman is
not available, then please contact the club Secretary.
Information regarding the concerns must be recorded by the CPR Officer
or other on the same day. The record must be a clear, precise, factual
account of the observations and must be signed and dated. The CPR
Officer will decide whether the matter should be referred to the
F.A./Devon County Social Services or if necessary the Police. Concerns
will not be discussed with the parents before the CPR Officer has
consulted with the authorities.
When To Be Concerned
Officers/Managers/Coaches should report if any of the following are
observed.
Injury
not typical of those associated with children’s activities.
Regular
occurrence of unexplained injuries.
Confused
or conflicting explanations of how injuries were sustained.
Significant changes of attitude or behaviour.
Sexual
behaviour which is unusually explicit or inappropriate to the child’s
age.
A
recount of an experience by a child in which they have been
significantly harmed.
Dealing with a
disclosure
Do not
promise confidentiality.
Explain
who you will have to tell, and why.
Listen
to what is being said, without displaying shock or disbelief.
Accept
what is being said.
Allow
the child to talk freely, limit any questions to a minimum.
Seek
only to clarify and strictly avoid leading the child or adult who has
made the approach by making suggestions, or introducing your own ideas
on what may have happened.
Never
ask questions such as "Did he/she do xxxx to you?" Instead use a
minimum number of questions of the "Tell me what happened" type.
If it is
an adult making the approach and it becomes obvious that they are making
a significant allegation concerning either abuse or neglect, you may
feel it appropriate to stop them, and refer to the CPR Officer (unless
he/she is the subject of the allegation) to avoid repetition of the
details.
Be
especially careful to distinguish between fact and opinion.
Note
also any non-verbal behaviour.
Reassure
the child, but do not make any promises, that you cannot keep.
Assure
the child, that what has happened is not their fault.
Stress
that the child has done the right thing, by telling you.
Do not
enter the child’s account by condemning or criticising the perpetrator.
BY FOLLOWING CORRECT
PROCEDURES YOU ARE PROTECTING YOURSELF AND THE CLUB.
IF ANY MEMBER OF THE CLUB AT ANY STAGE HAS CONCERNS FOR THEIR OWN
SAFETY, ESPECIALLY OWING TO HAVING MADE A REFERRAL, THEY SHOULD
IMMEDIATELY INVOLVE THE CPR OFFICER WHO WILL PROMPTLY INVOLVE THE F.A.,
DEVON COUNTY SOCIAL SERVICES AND THE POLICE IF NESSESARY.
THE FOOTBALL
ASSOCIATION - NSPCC PROTECTION HELPLINE NUMBER IS FREEPHONE 0808 800
5000
This Helpline is open 24 hrs a day, every day (including Xmas and bank
holidays).
FOR DEAF USERS : TEXTPHONE 0800056 0566
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Shebbear
United Football Club - Equality Policy
As the governing body
of the game, The Football Association is responsible for setting
standards and values to apply throughout the game at every level.
Football belongs to, and should be enjoyed by, anyone who wants to
participate in it.
The FA’s commitment
is to eliminate discrimination whether by reason of gender, sexual
orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour,
religion or belief, ability or disability.
The FA is also committed to promoting equality by treating people fairly
and with respect, by recognising that inequalities may exist, by taking
steps to address them and by providing access and opportunities for all
members of the community.
The following policy should be at the heart of your club’s activities.
Equality Policy for Clubs The aim of this policy is to ensure that
everyone is treated fairly and with respect and that Shebbear United
Football Club is equally accessible to them all.
Shebbear United Football Club is responsible for setting standards and
values to apply throughout the club at every level. Football belongs to
and should be enjoyed by, anyone who wants to participate in it.
Our commitment is to confront and eliminate discrimination whether by
reason of gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality,
ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability and to
encourage equal opportunities.
This policy is fully supported by the Club Officers who are responsible
for the implementation of this policy.
Shebbear United Football Club, in all its activities will not
discriminate, or in any way treat anyone less favourably, on grounds of
gender, sexual orientation, marital status, race, nationality, ethnic
origin, colour, religion or belief, ability or disability. It means
that Shebbear Football Club will ensure that it treats people fairly
and with respect and that it will provide access and opportunities for
all members of the community to take part in, and enjoy, its activities.
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