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Conduct and Child Protection Policy
The interests of all participants under the age of eighteen will be of paramount importance, regardless of gender, ability, culture, language, racial origin or religious beliefs.
The Management Committee has approved this policy with a requirement that it is given high profile in terms of awareness.
It covers the four forms of abuse: physical, neglect, emotional and sexual.
The term “coach” in this policy is any paid full-time or casual employee, even when they are acting in an unpaid capacity. “Volunteers” is a term to include any adult helpers who may be Trustees, CKC members, teachers or parents. Volunteers will be given guidance in respect of any allegations made against them.
All volunteers and coaches are bound by this policy except when the activity is carried out in a school with a teacher in the supervisory capacity. In this case the normal school policy and procedures should be followed. Even then a coach may need to give specialist advice applying to the safe conduct of cricketing activities.
The principles adopted incorporate the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) “Fast Bowling Directive”, Safety Guidance On The Wearing of Cricket Helmets By Young Players” (February 2000), and the “ECB Coaches Code of Conduct” (September 2001).
The Management Committee will appoint members of a Conduct and Child Protection Panel (“Panel”) to consider and take appropriate action on all matters affecting conduct and child protection including (i) the potential involvement of adults in junior cricket activities and (ii) complaints. With responsibility for acting as a focal point and keeping volunteers aware of best practice, the Management Committee will also appoint a Child Protection Officer. The Child Protection Officer will be a member of the Panel and act as secretary to meetings of Panel members. All information including notes of conversations and decisions will be confidential and only be communicated on the basis of “need to know.”
Conduct
Capital Kids Cricket organisation expects high standards of conduct, both on and off the field from all their paid workers and volunteers. They have an important role to play by setting high standards of sportsmanship and conduct and leading by example. Parents / guardians and their guests are also expected to support matches and other activities in this regard by displaying integrity in relation to all aspects of conduct.
Players, volunteers, Capital Kids workers, members and officials, parents/guardians are expected to follow the codes of conduct shown in Appendix A.
Capital Kids may refuse to work with any children or adults in the event of unacceptable behaviour, including drug abuse, bullying, verbal abuse (so called “sledging”) and any other form of bad sportsmanship.
Health
Capital Kids Cricket wishes to support the development of young players of all abilities including, and whenever possible, those with health and learning difficulties. It is a requirement that appropriate medical advice is first obtained and the organisation shall rely on the information from schools and parents in this regard.
Wherever possible more than one adult should be in attendance when administering first aid to injuries. First aid equipment will be available at coaching and match venues. An accident report form is to be provided in each first aid kit. Schools or parents and guardians (as appropriate) should be informed of any injury or illness. Whenever there is potentially serious injury or illness, particularly if contagious illness is suspected, the Child Protection Officer or another member of the Panel should be immediately informed.
Paid coaches and volunteers will be encouraged to attend first aid courses.
Appendix B provides guidelines for dealing with an accident / incident, and local contact points.
Premises, Coaching and Playing Environment
Wherever practicable coaches and volunteers should avoid being alone with a child in the changing rooms or working with a child in completely unobserved areas.
Everyone involved in our activities has a responsibility towards safety. Coaching and playing areas will be made as safe as possible while recognising that accidents may happen.
Volunteers involved in coaching and team management will be encouraged to obtain recognised coaching qualifications.
All forms of cricket and related activities need to be properly supervised even when a soft ball is being used.
No child will be allowed to play hard ball cricket without appropriate adult supervision. Specifically, practise at the nets can only be conducted with the authority of coaches or other adult in charge, which is subject to the young cricketer’s abilities. Appropriate protective clothing and kit must be worn. Volunteers have the right to prohibit any child from playing or practising if they are not satisfied that this requirement is met. Where participants bring their own kit, Capital Kids cannot accept responsibility for the condition of the kit or for the loss of personal items of clothing and kit, which should be labelled with the member’s name.
Where children require help on dressing, two adults should supervise, whenever possible. It is also best practice, when feasible, that women should support girls in this way.
Notwithstanding the option (with parental authority) for players not to wear helmets, Capital Kids strongly advises that helmets be worn and provides these to children playing with a hard ball in matches or in practice sessions.
Transport
Most of our coaching takes place in schools. For out of school sessions, parents or guardians are responsible for the transport arrangements of their children to the venue of matches and practice sessions. Parental consent is required whenever volunteers and other adults transport a child. This will be by way of a written consent form for journeys but may be verbal approval for local trips. Although coaches and volunteers may help in the arrangement of transport, neither they nor Capital Kids can be held liable for any accident that occurs during the journey.
It is the responsibility of the school or parents and guardians (as appropriate) to ensure that children are supervised both at the time of dropping off and taking home i.e. when dropping off young children at the nets or other location. Children under twelve should not be left unsupervised in any location at any time.
In relation to the transporting of children, coaches and volunteers must have a valid driving license and (i) where practicable, try to avoid giving a lift to a single child; (ii) ensure that vehicles are roadworthy and insured; (iii) ensure that children wear seatbelts and where possible sit in a back seat.
Screening Procedures
Panel members will be responsible for advising the Co-ordinator of Capital Kids Cricket on the suitability of prospective volunteers within the context of this policy. They will be entitled to rely on the screening procedure described below and any other information in their possession.
Screening includes a procedure of self-disclosure from volunteers who are regularly in close contact with children or who have access to information about them. This will be a mandatory requirement for coaches and regular volunteers. There will be borderline cases, for example the many helpers whose involvement is occasional and not on a regular basis.
A coach or volunteer covered by this requirement must be given a copy of this policy document and make a declaration in the prescribed form to the Child Protection Officer on certain information about criminal convictions, sanctions and Social Services Department listings. When fully implemented, coaches and volunteers will also be required to obtain a certificate of criminal record checks from the Criminal Records Bureau. This will not apply to practising teachers where these checks are carried out as a condition of their employment.
Coaches and volunteers with recognised coaching qualifications are responsible for attending approved refresher courses, keeping registrations and related insurance cover up to date and informing the Child Protection Officer of any relevant matters relating to their suitability to coach.
Complaints Procedures
All complaints should be reported to and investigated by the Child Protection Officer or another Panel member. Adults or children who wish to make a complaint may prefer first to talk to a teacher or appropriate adult who will pass on the information. Complaints must be considered by a minimum of three Panel members who will determine the appropriate action to be taken. Where the Panel decides on disciplinary action the Co-ordinator of Capital Kids Cricket will be consulted first. Coaches and volunteers subject to disciplinary action have the right to appeal in writing to the Management Committee, who may cancel, increase or vary any penalty. Unless and until there are reasonable grounds to believe that a criminal offence may have been committed, the decision of the Management Committee will be regarded as final.
Panel members are not responsible for determining whether or not abuse has taken place but to consider the substance of complaints and decide on the most appropriate response.
The name of the Child Protection Officer will be given to schools, organisations, and parents/guardians.
Appendix A
Codes of Conduct
Coaches and volunteers are asked to:
Observe the Conduct and Child Protection Policy,
Consider well-being and safety before performance;
Consider only activities appropriate to age, ability and experience;
Avoid exerting undue influence over players to obtain personal benefit or reward;
Value enthusiasm and good conduct as well as ability;
Develop appropriate working relationships with players, their teachers, clubs and their families, based on mutual trust and respect;
Promote the “Spirit of Cricket”
Display consistently high standards of behaviour and appearance.
Players are asked to be fair and help everyone to enjoy the game.
Teachers or Parents/ Guardians are asked to:
Discuss the child’s needs and progress with the coach.
Bring any relevant concerns to the attention of the coach or the Child Protection Officer or another Panel member.
Encourage your children to learn and observe the laws of cricket.
Recognise and encourage fair play. In matches clap incoming batsmen and applaud good performances of both sides.
Help your children to recognise good performances, not just good results.
Discourage unfair play and arguing with officials. Support and help team managers and appointed volunteers; avoid questioning or criticism of their judgement in public.
Encourage but never force your children to play.
All adults are expected to act as good role models for the children
Appendix B
Guidelines for Dealing with an Incident / Accident / Injury
Stay calm but act swiftly and observe the situation - is there danger of further injuries?
Listen to what the injured person is saying.
Where possible, alert a first-aider who should take appropriate action. In the event of an injury or incident requiring specialist treatment, call the emergency services.
Deal with the rest of the group and ensure that they are adequately supervised.
Do not move someone with suspected major injuries unless there is danger of further injury. Wait for the emergency paramedics.
Contact the injured player’s parents / guardians / relatives. Ask the school to do this if it is a school-based activity.
Complete an Incident Report Form for all Injury, Illness and other Incidences.
Any major injury or illness and any incident relating to alleged abuse, theft or damage to property must be reported to the Child Protection Officer or another Panel member as soon as possible.
Capital Kids Cricket: Child Protection Panel
Conduct and Child Protection
CKC has an established policy on these important issues. Copies are available from John Smith (cricket co-ordinator) and on the club’s website, http://www.capitalkids.co.uk
If you want to discuss a problem you can with any of the adults listed below. Information will be confidential and only discussed with people who may be able to help. If you have a concern it is best to seek advice or report it to one of the panel. It is better to be safe than sorry.
John Challinor (Child Protection Officer) 0208 985 6917
Panel members:
Mike Chapman 01708 701262
Chris Winn 020 8940 1062
Fergus Munro 020 8348 2268
William Greaves 020 7226 2705
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