WIGAN BEST WELFARE OFFICER
Mrs Chrissy Morris
CHILD WELFARE POLICY
Wigan BEST Swimming Club complies with the ASA Child Protection Policy. A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (The Children Act 1989).
Wigan BEST Swimming Club recognises that it has a duty of care to safeguard from harm all children and young people involved in the Club’s activities.
Wigan BEST Swimming Club will ensure the safety and protection of all children involved in the Club via compliance with Child Protection Guidelines.
These Child Protection Procedures are based on the following principles:
- A child’s welfare is the paramount consideration.
- All children, regardless of age, any disability, gender, racial origin, religious belief or sexual identity have a right to be protected from abuse.
- All children and young people have the right to have fun, be safe and be protected from harm. The needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable must be taken into account.
All staff and volunteers involved with Wigan BEST Swimming Club are required to adopt best practice to safeguard and protect children from abuse and to minimise risk to themselves. All staff and volunteers are required to be checked via the Criminals Record Bureau.
Good Practice
- Avoid situations where teacher/coach/volunteers/club officials and child are alone. One to- one contact must never be allowed to occur on a regular basis.
- Ascertain the child’s and the parent’s/carer’s views about manual support for children who need this kind of help particularly when they are in the water.
- If it is necessary to do things of a personal nature for children who are young or who are disabled, make sure you have another adult accompanying you. Get the child’s consent if at all possible and consent from the parent/carer. Let the child know what you are going to do and why.
- Ensure that male and female teachers/coaches/club officials always accompany mixed teams.
- Ask parents/carers and/or nominated officials to be responsible for children in changing rooms.
- Do not allow any physically rough or sexually provocative games, or inappropriate talking or touching by anyone, in any group you have responsibility for.
- Be aware of people who don’t appear to be relatives or friends of children who are swimming, but seem to spend a lot of time videoing or photographing them.
- Ensure parents are informed/aware that they are responsible for their children before and after training sessions.
If you have Concerns about the Welfare of a Child
Remember, it is not your responsibility to decide whether a child is being abused or not, but do act if you are concerned. Make a detailed note of what you have seen or heard and do not delay in passing on the information.
If you are a member, or the parent/carer or friend of a member of Wigan BEST Swimming Club, you should:
- Tell the Club Welfare Officer, Chairman, Club Secretary or Coach unless you suspect them of being involved) OR
- Ring Swimline on 0808 100 4001 – Swim Line is the ASA’s own Helpline where you can talk to someone who understands both swimming and the requirements of child protection. If you need urgent advice you have the option to transfer to the NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 5000 OR
- Contact the local Social Services Department or, in an emergency, the Police. If a Child tells you that he or she is being abused
- React calmly so as not to frighten or deter them.
- Reassure them that you are glad that they told you.
- Don’t promise to keep it to yourself.
- Explain that you need to make sure that they will be safe and may have to pass on the information to someone trusted to deal with it appropriately.
- Listen to what the child says and please take it seriously.
- Only ask questions if you need to clarify what the child is telling you – do not ask the child about explicit details.
- Do not ask leading questions – a leading question is one that pre-supposes the answer e.g. ‘Did John hit you?’
- Make a detailed note of what the child has told you and don’t delay in passing on the information.
What is Child Abuse?
There are five main types of abuse:
Physical Abuse: this is just what the term implies – someone physically hurting or
injuring a child.
Sexual Abuse: forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual
activities, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening.
Emotional Abuse: occurs when a child is not given love, help and encouragement and is
constantly derided or ridiculed or perhaps ignored. It can also occur
when a child is over protected.
Neglect: usually means the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical
and psychological needs, resulting in the serious impairment of the
child’s health or development. It could also mean failing to ensure they
are safe or exposing them to harm.
Bullying: this is deliberate hurtful behaviour, usually repeated over a period of
time, where it is difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves.
Bullying can be verbal, written or physical.