Safeguarding Children
POLICY STATEMENT
The welfare of children and young people is paramount to Hillsborough JFC. We aim to provide an environment which values and protects all children and young people at every level of football regardless of age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
At Hillsborough JFC, we are committed to protecting children and young people involved in football from inappropriate behaviour and all types of abuse.
The Children (NI) Order 1995 is based on a clear and consistent set of principles designed with the common aim of promoting the welfare of children and young people. Children and young people have the right to be safe.
Hillsborough JFC staff and volunteers have a duty to ensure that this fundamental principle takes precedence over all other considerations. Hillsborough JFC endeavours to safeguard children and young people in its care by:
- valuing them, listening to and respecting them
- recognising and communicating to all staff and volunteers that children have the right to be protected from all forms of abuse and harm
- providing a safe physical environment for our children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance
- appointing a Child Welfare Officer to oversee the implementation and development of safeguarding best practice following carefully the procedures for recruiting, vetting and selecting staff and volunteers and providing effective management for staff and volunteers through supervision, support and training
- ensuring that all staff and volunteers are vetted in a timely fashion and managed at all times in accordance with Access (NI) guidelines
- creating and maintaining an anti-bullying environment and ensuring that we have a policy and procedure to help us deal effectively with any bullying that does arise
- disseminating the required code of behaviour to everyone involved in the Club, and ensuring the code is adhered to at all times
- recording and storing information professionally and securely and sharing information about safeguarding best practice with everyone involved in Club activities
- educating staff and volunteers about the signs and indicators of abuse and how to respond appropriately
- ensuring that all allegations of abuse are responded to promptly, in a confidential manner and in line with statutory and Irish Football Association (Irish FA) guidelines
- sharing information about concerns with safeguarding agencies that need to know, and involving children and young people and their parents or guardians if appropriate
- reviewing Hillsborough JFC’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures every three years to ensure it reflects current statutory and Irish FA requirements
Scope
This policy document covers all functions of Hillsborough JFC and applies to all staff and volunteers – in particular those who engage in regulated activity with children and young people.
Policy Review
Hillsborough JFC has a responsibility to ensure the implementation of all policies required to govern the organisation, including its safeguarding policy. The Club is committed to reviewing its safeguarding policy and procedures every three years, or following a major change in legislation or practice advice, to ensure adherence with all government legislation and best practice guidelines.
KEY PRINCIPLES
This document offers guidance on how best to embed and promote the following principles. The safety and welfare of every child and young person is paramount and must take precedence over all other considerations at all times.
Children and young people have the right to be treated equally, to be believed and to be protected from abuse and harm regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial origin, religious beliefs or sexual orientation.
Staff and volunteers have a moral and statutory duty of care towards children and young people in their care.
Hillsborough JFC will continuously work to ensure that all children and young people can enjoy the positive benefits of football by participating in an environment that is safe and free from harm. Any behaviour that compromises the safety and wellbeing of children and young people must be reported immediately. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and acted upon in line with statutory and Irish FA guidelines.
CORE VALUES
Equality
Hillsborough JFC is committed to promoting the importance of equality so that every child and young person involved in Club activities is presented with an opportunity to participate in the game regardless of their – or their parent’s or guardian’s – race, skin colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or other status.
Confidentiality
Hillsborough JFC staff and volunteers should adhere to the principles of confidentiality except where the information relates to the safety and welfare of a child or young person, in which case, the information must be reported to the Child Welfare Officer or, when appropriate, to the relevant statutory organisation/s. Considerations of confidentiality must never be allowed to override the rights of children and young people to be protected from harm.
Staff and volunteers have a responsibility to ensure that information pertaining to a child protection concern is communicated on a ‘need to know’ basis only, with the welfare of the child or young person remaining paramount. Hillsborough JFC will make every effort to ensure that confidentiality is maintained when an allegation is being investigated.
Integrity in Relationships
Any staff member or volunteer who interacts with children and young people is deemed to be in a position of considerable trust and influence. Staff and volunteers are responsible for ensuring that all children and young people who engage in Club activities are treated with integrity and respect – which is their right as defined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989).
All decisions and actions pertaining to the welfare and development of a child or young person should reflect this principle. Staff and volunteers must never use their position of trust for personal gain or to exercise an inappropriate influence. Any form of abusive behavior, including bullying, towards a child or young person is unacceptable. All staff and volunteers are required to challenge and report any inappropriate behaviour with or towards a child or young person.
Fair Play
Football should be conducted in an atmosphere which promotes fair play. Hillsborough JFC is committed to the European Code of Sports Ethics, which defines fair play as: much more than playing within the rules. It incorporates the concepts of friendship, respect for others and always playing within the right spirit. Fair play is defined as a way of thinking, not just a way of behaving. It incorporates issues concerned with the elimination of cheating, gamesmanship, doping, violence (both physical and verbal), exploitation, unequal opportunities, excessive commercialisation and corruption.
(European Sports Charter and Code of Ethics, Council of Europe, 1993)
Every person who engages in Hillsborough JFC activities has a responsibility to promote and adhere to the principles of fair play. Any behaviour that compromises the principle of fair play, and thus brings the Club into disrepute, will be treated seriously and appropriately sanctioned.
Competition
Competition is an essential part of football and, when conducted in the right manner, can contribute to a child or young person’s development. Through competition, children and young people learn respect for opponents, officials and laws of the game. Too often, competitive demands are placed on children and young people too early, resulting in increased pressure and consequent drop-out from football altogether. Staff and volunteers have a responsibility to ensure that competitive standards are age-appropriate. Competition and results must never over-ride the welfare of children and young people in our care.
Hillsborough Boys JFC
Hillsborough Girls FC