HRFU

.

CLUB WELFARE POLICY

1          General

1.1     At Trojans, taking part in our sport of Rugby should be a positive and enjoyable part of children and young people’s lives.

1.2     Trojans, and all those associated with the club, recognise our collective and individual responsibility to safeguard and promote the interests and well being of the children and young people with whom we are associated.

1.3     Every allegation/suggestion, however it may be made, of harm or abuse to a child or young person, while associated with Trojans must be reported to the Club Welfare Officer.  The Club Welfare Officer’s name and contact details will be prominently displayed on the Rugby notice board.

1.4     Anyone under the age of 18 should be considered as a child or young person for the purposes of this document.

1.5       The welfare of all children and young people is paramount.

1.6     All children and young people, regardless of age, gender, ability, race, religion, ethnic origin, nationality, social status or sexual orientation should be able to enjoy the game in an environment safe from abuse of any kind.

1.7     It is the responsibility of child protection professionals to determine whether abuse has taken place but it is everyone's responsibility within the sport of rugby union to report concerns.

1.8     All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately as per RFU/RFUW Policy and Procedures.

1.9      Working in partnership with parents/carers is essential for the protection of young people.

1.10    The RFU/RFUW recognises the roles and responsibilities of statutory agencies in relation to safeguarding children/young people and promoting their welfare, and is fully committed to complying with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Children's Boards.

2          Under this policy the Club will:

2.1      Appoint a Welfare Officer (plus an Assistant Welfare Officer to undertake the role in the absence of the designated person) who will act as the first point of contact for concerns about the welfare of young people (see Appendix 1 for Terms of Reference);

2.2      Publish a Child Protection Policy within the Club.

2.3      Ensure that all officers and committee members are aware of their responsibility in this area and that the Club responds to any indication of poor practice or abuse in line with RFU/W Policy.

2.4      Implement a policy of Best Practice for all adults working with young people (see Appendix 2).

2.5     Ensure that all relevant members who have regular supervisory contact with children or a management responsibility for those working with young people undertake an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure (see para 5.1)

2.6     Identify a disciplinary panel which, where necessary, is able to manage cases of poor practice as identified by the RFU Child Protection Officer (see Appendix 3).

3            Prohibited practices

Coaches, managers or volunteers including all professional staff must never:

3.1     Take young people to their own home or any other place where they will be alone with them;

3.2     Spend any amount of time alone with young people away from others;

3.3     Take young people alone on car journeys, however short;

If it should arise that such situations are unavoidable they should only take place with the full knowledge and consent of someone in charge in the Club and/or a person with parental responsibility for the young person. In exceptional circumstances where a coach, manager or volunteer cannot obtain the consent of the someone in charge in the Club and/or person with parental responsibility for the young person then if it is in the welfare interest of the young person, paragraphs 3.1and 3.3 do not have to be followed. If this occurs the adult must record the occurrence with the Club welfare officer.

3.4     Engage in rough, physical games, sexually provocative games or horseplay with children/young people;

3.5     Take part as a player in any dynamic contact games or training sessions with young people. If there is a need for an adult to facilitate learning within a coaching session through the use of coaching aids e.g. contact pads, this should be done with the utmost care and with due regard to the safety of the young players;

3.6     Share a room with a young person unless the individual is the parent/guardian of that young person;

3.7     Engage in any form of inappropriate sexual contact and/or behaviour;

3.8     Allow any form of inappropriate touching;

3.9     Make sexually suggestive remarks to a young person even in fun;

3.10   Use inappropriate language or allow young people to use inappropriate language unchallenged;

3.11   Allow allegations by a young person to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon;

3.12    Do things of a personal nature for a young person that they can do for themselves unless you have been requested to do so by the parents/carer (please note that it is recognised that some young people will always need help with things such as lace tying, adjustment of  Tag belts, fitting head guards and it is also recognised that this does not preclude anyone attending to an injured/ill young person or rendering first aid)

3.15    Depart the rugby Club or agreed rendezvous point until the safe dispersal of all young people is complete;

3.16    Cause an individual to lose self esteem by embarrassing, humiliating or undermining the individual;

3.17    Treat some young people more favourably than others; or

3.18    Agree to meet a young person on their own on a one to one basis.

4            Positions of Trust

4.1     All adults who work with young people are in a position of trust which has been invested in them by the parents, the sport and the young person. This relationship can be described as one in which the adult s in a position of power and influence by virtue of their position. Sexual intercourse or touching by an adult with a child under the age of 16 years is unlawful, even where there is apparent consent from the child.

4.2       A consensual sexual relationship between an adult in a position of trust within the rugby setting and a child over 16 years of age is contrary to the Policy and Procedures for the Welfare of Young People in the Sport of Rugby Union.

4.3       Adults must not encourage a physical or emotionally dependant relationship to develop between the person in a position of trust and the young person in their care.

4.4       All those within the organisation have a duty to raise concerns about the behaviour of coaches, officials, volunteers, administrators and professional staff which may be harmful to the children, young people in their care, without prejudice to their own position.

5          CRB Disclosure

5.1       All adults who have ‘regular supervisory contact with young people’ must undertake CRB disclosure within eight weeks of their appointment to a position which involves regular supervisory contact with young people.

These adults will include;

• Club administrators.

• All coaches/assistant coaches

• Team Managers

• All Referees who regularly officiate mini/midi and youth games

• Welfare Officers

• First Aiders/Physiotherapists

5.3       CRB disclosures must be conducted through the RFU Child Protection Department who have jurisdiction to deal with any matter arising from any such disclosure.

Appendix 1

Welfare Officer Role Description

To act as a point of contact in all issues relating to the welfare of young people and to ensure all appropriate documentation and forms are completed in accordance with the RFU/RFUW policy and procedures for the welfare of young people in rugby union.

Liaise with the appointed Assistant Welfare Officer

Ensure the club has a child protection policy and implementation plan

Ensure codes of conduct are well publicised and adhered to

In consultation with the county welfare officer ensure all reported incidents are managed at the appropriate level in line with RFU procedures

Maintain records of CRB checks and ensure that all adults who have regular contact with young people undertake CRB disclosure.

Ensure all relevant club members are aware of training opportunities

Ensure all parents are aware of the club policy on child protection and the correct protocols for voicing concerns

Be aware of local social services and area child protection committee contacts

Sit on, or report to, relevant committees

If you have an immediate concern relating to the welfare of a young person please phone the RFU child protection line: 020 8831 6655.  Alternatively email: childprotection@therfu.com

Appendix 2

Best Practice for all adults working with young people

It is the aim of the RFU/RFUW that all young people enjoy the game in a safe enjoyable setting. The following paragraphs set out Good Practice Procedures which all those involved in the delivery of the game of rugby union to young people should adhere to.

1          They must always be publicly open when working with young people. They must avoid situations where the adult and an individual child are alone and/or unobserved, e.g. individual skill session after a team training session. They must work in pairs and never alone with a group or individual.

2          Rugby is a physical game. Situations will occur when, in order to teach or coach certain techniques, it is necessary to make contact with the player. However the following must apply:

• Parents and young players must be made aware of situations in which this may happen when they join the club.

• Physical handling must only be used for safety reasons or where there is no other way of coaching the technique and always with the permission of the child/young person and their parent/carer.

3          Any contact or touching which is inappropriate (not directly related to the coaching context) or is aggressive is poor practice and is unacceptable.

4          If groups are to be supervised in changing rooms, always ensure that individuals work in pairs, and that gender is appropriate. Children/young people must not change at the same time or in the same place as adults.

5          Where mixed teams compete away from home they must always be accompanied by at least one male and one female adult.

6            Volunteers and professionals must respect the rights, dignity and worth of all and treat everyone with equality.

7          Coaches must place the well-being and safety of the player above the development of performance. This means that coaches must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Avoid overplaying of players (particularly talented players). All players need and deserve equal opportunity to play and to rest.

• Remember that children/young people play for fun and enjoyment and that winning is only a part of it.

• Motivate youngsters through positive feedback and constructive criticism.

• Ensure that contact skills are taught in a safe, secure manner paying due regard to the physical development of young players.

• Never allow young players to train/play when injured. If unsure, err on the side of caution.

• Ensure equipment and facilities are safe and appropriate to the age and ability of the players.

8        At least one coach per age group must hold a current RFU coaching award or a recognised award. All other coaches should hold a current RFU coaching award or be working towards one.

9        Coaches must keep up-to-date with knowledge and technical skills and should be aware of their own limitations. Coaches must only work within the limitations of their knowledge and qualifications.

10       Coaches must ensure that the activities which they direct or advocate are appropriate to the age, maturity and ability of the players.

COACHES' CODE OF ETHICS

1          All rugby coaches must respect the rights, dignity and worth of every child and young person with whom they work and treat them equally.

2          All rugby coaches must place the physical and emotional well being of all young players above all other considerations, including the development of performance.

3          The relationship that a rugby coach develops with the players with whom they work must be based on mutual trust and respect.

4          All rugby coaches must ensure that all activities undertaken are appropriate to the age, maturity, experience and ability of the players.

5          All rugby coaches will encourage young players to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.

6          All rugby coaches should clarify with the young players (and their parents/carers) what is expected of them both on and off the rugby field and also what they are entitled to expect from the coach.

7          All rugby coaches should work in partnership with others within the game (officials, doctors, physiotherapists, sports scientists) to ensure the well-being, safety and enjoyment of all young players.

8          All rugby coaches must promote the positive aspects of the sport e.g. Fair Play. Violations of the Laws of the Game. Behaviour contrary to the spirit of the Laws of the Game or relevant regulations or the use of prohibited techniques or substances must never be condoned.

Appendix 3

CLUB PROCEDURES TO MANAGE CASES OF POOR PRACTICE

Poor practice is defined as any behaviour which contravenes RFU/RFUW Codes of Conduct (Fair Play Codes) or RFU/RFUW Guidance for Good Practice.

1      Once an incident is reported to the Club Welfare Officer he/she should consult with the RFU Child Protection Officer in order to ascertain whether the allegation is to be investigated/dealt with as poor practice, bullying or abuse.

2      Once the incident has been identified by the RFU as poor practice and in consultation with senior club officials (Club Chairman/Youth Chairman) a decision will be made whether or not to suspend, temporarily, the person accused. Each case will be considered on its merit.

3        A disciplinary hearing may be called. The panel should be made up of three club members with regard to the following criteria:

• No person who has been involved in bringing the case to the disciplinary hearing should sit on the panel.

•   Senior management of the club must be represented.

•   As the case relates to poor coaching practice, experience in this field must be represented.

•   The CB Welfare Manager can be invited.

4      The accused will be advised of receipt of the report and provided with both copies of the reports and all witness statements.

5        The accused will be invited to attend any disciplinary hearing.

6       The accused must be given sufficient advance notice of the disciplinary hearing.

7        The accused must be given the opportunity to offer his/her side of the events and call witnesses.

E-Mail  web@trojansrugby.co.uk or phone the Club on 023 8061 2400 (Bar) 023 8061 3068 (Admin)      

This page last updated:  01 December, 2011