The Football Association / NSPCC Child Protection Helpline 0808 800 5000

Background

The FA Child Protection Procedures and Practices Handbook places 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 coaches / managers of Tottenham Hotspur Ladies FC about these responsibilities and to enable everyone to have a clear understanding of how they are to be carried out.

The club follows the procedures contained in the FA Child Protection Procedures and Practices Handbook - A guide to procedure and practice for all FA coaches / managers.

This club acknowledges that coaches / managers 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 Tottenham Hotspur Ladies FC

• Vicky McLucas is the Tottenham Hotspur Ladies FC’s designated officer with responsibility for child protection matters. 
• The 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 FA and Social Services, where appropriate, normally through the designated CPO officer.
• The club will provide training and yearly refresher meetings for coaches / managers to ensure that their skills and expertise are up to date.

The designated Child Protection Officer

Key responsibilities of this role are to:

·        Ensure that the FA’s child protection procedures are followed within the club.

·        Ensure that all coaches / managers are aware of these procedures.

·        Ensure that appropriate training and support is provided.

·        Decide whether to take further action about particular concerns.

Vicky McLucas

Child Protection Officer

Club Procedures

Introduction

Any adult member of the training staff could be approached by a child needing help or guidance. Likewise any coach / manager may be in a position to notice or be concerned about physical or sexual abuse or neglect.

If any coach / manager is concerned about a child they must inform the designated Child Protection Officer, unless the designated trainer is the cause of that concern.

In which case, they must inform the Development Officer, Glenn Weaver.

Information regarding the concerns must be recorded by the coach / manager on the same day. The recording must be a clear, precise, factual account of the observations and must be signed and dated. The designated trainer will decide whether the concerns should be referred to the FA / Social Services. Concerns will not be discussed with the parents before the designated coach / manager has consulted with the FA / Social Services.

When to be concerned

Coaches / Managers should take note if any of the following are observed:

·        Any injury that is not typical of the bumps and scrapes normally associated with children's activities.

·        Regular occurrence of unexplained injuries.

·        Confused or conflicting explanations of how injuries were sustained.

·        Significant changes in behaviour or attitude.

·        Sexual behaviour which is unusually explicit or inappropriate to the child’s age.

·        A recounting of an experience by a child in which they have been significantly harmed.

Glenn Weaver

Development Officer

Dealing with a Disclosure

The following points give guidance on how trainers should deal with disclosures made to them:

·        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 into what may have happened.

·        Never ask questions such as "Did he do X 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 designated trainer, unless he is the subject of the allegation, to avoid repetition of the details.

·        Be especially careful to distinguish between fact and opinion. Note also any noticeable non-verbal behaviour.

·        Reassure the child but do not make promises that you cannot keep. 

·        Reassure 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 coaching staff at any stage has concerns for their own safety, especially owing to having made a referral, they should immediately involve the Child Protection Officer who will promptly involve the FA / Haringey Social Services, or if necessary the Police.