INTRODUCTION
As volunteers or employees in Sledge Hockey we will all come into contact with young people who are vulnerable to abuse. This abuse may occur within the sport or in other environments, and perpetrators could include parents, carers, professionals, fellow volunteers, or other young people.
The BSHA has a duty of care to safeguard all children involved in Sledge Hockey from harm and will aim to fulfil this duty by the adherence of all clubs to the policies and procedures detailed within this document.
The abuse of young people will undoubtedly provoke strong emotions for many who find themselves involved in such a case. It is important to recognise and disclose these feelings. The BSHA is committed to the protection of young people who take part in the sport and to supporting club personnel to protect young people at all times.
The BSHA will support anyone who reports, in good faith, any concern for the welfare of a young person.
Where an allegation is made against a member of club personnel, it may be in the best interests of all parties to suspend that individual from involvement with the sport whilst investigations take place. Irrespective of the findings of any Police or Social Services investigation, the BSHA Committee will consider all cases individually any may still decide that it is in the best interests of the sport that the individual is not reinstated.
Definitions: For the purposes of this document the term ‘young person/people’ will be used to refer to participants of Sledge Hockey who are aged under 18. The term ‘parent/carer’ will be used to represent anyone who has caring responsibilities for the child. The term ‘club personnel’ will refer to volunteers, staff, and coaches working with young people.
CATEGORIES OF CHILD ABUSE
Abuse is typically described by the use of four categories: physical, sexual, emotional, and neglect. It is important to remember, however, that these types of abuse are not mutually exclusive, and also that the examples given are not exhaustive.
- Neglect
The persistent failure to meet a young person’s physical and psychological needs, likely to result in the impairment of their health or development. It can include the failure to provide adequate food, shelter or clothing, failing to protect them from danger or harm, or failure to access appropriate medical care.
- Sexual harm
Forcing, enticing or inciting a young person to take part in any sexual activity, whether or not this involves direct sexual contact. This could include direct sexual activity, but also acts such as showing pornographic material to children.
- Physical harm
May include acts such as hitting, slapping, burning, shaking or suffocating the victim. It can also involve a parent fabricating or inducing illness in a young person. Forcing a young person in sport to train beyond their capabilities could also constitute physical harm.
- Emotional Harm
Can include causing a young person to feel worthless, unloved, afraid or important only if they meet another person’s needs. It can involve over-protection, prevention from normal social interaction, or exposure to the ill-treatment of others. Within sport emotional harm may occur where the expectations of parents or coaches are unrealistic and the young person is consistently unable to meet them.
INDICATORS OF ABUSE
The indicators detailed here are to assist with the assessment of a child, and the decision as to whether to take further action arising from any concerns. The presence of one or more does not constitute proof that abuse is occurring and must be considered in the context of the child’s social and medical background.
Physical harm:
Most children will suffer cuts and bruises are part of their normal life, and injuries must be viewed in the wider context of the child’s medical and social history, stage of development, and the explanation given for the injury. Most accidental bruises will be seen on the ‘bony’ parts of the body, e.g. elbows, knees, shins, and will usually be on the front of the body. Injuries to the ‘soft’ parts of the body, such as cheeks, abdomen, buttocks, back and thighs are less likely to be accidental
Signs of abuse may include:
- Unexplained bruising, marks, or injuries on any part of the body
- Multiple bruises in clusters, particularly on the upper arm or outside of the thigh
- Burns, including cigarette burns and scalds
- Human bite marks
- Broken bones.
Changes in behaviour which may indicate physical abuse include:
- Fear of parents being asked for an explanation
- Aggressive behaviour or temper outbursts
- Reluctance to be touched or approached
- Reluctance to get changed in sight of others
- Depression or withdrawn presentation
- Running away from home.
Emotional Harm:
Changes in behaviour indicative of emotional abuse may include:
- Neurotic behaviour, e.g. hair twisting, rocking etc.
- Inability to play
- Fear of making mistakes
- Sudden speech disorder
- Self-harm
- Fear of parent being approached about their behaviour.
- Developmental delay.
Sexual harm:
Physical signs of sexual abuse may include:
- Pain, itching, bruising, bleeding, discharge or infection in genital area
- Sexually transmitted disease or pregnancy
- Discomfort when walking or sitting
- Stomach pains.
Changes in behaviour which might be indicative of sexual abuse could include:
- Sudden and unexplained changes in behaviour, such as becoming aggressive or withdrawn
- Fear of being left with a specific person or group.
- Running away from home
- Sexual knowledge inconsistent with age or developmental level
- Sexualised behaviour, language or drawings
- Self harm or eating disorders
- Bedwetting
- Substance misuse
- Unexplained source of money
Neglect:
Physical signs of neglect may include:
- Constant hunger, theft of food from other children
- Always being dirty or smelly
- Loss of weight or being always underweight
- Forming indiscriminate attachments to others
- Recurring infections
- Poor educational performance
- Developmental and/or speech delays
- Weather / season/ activity inappropriate clothing
Changes in behaviour which might be indicative of neglect could include:
- Complaining of being tired all the time
- Having few friends / reluctance to invite friends to the home
- Mentioning being left alone or unsupervised.
Young people with disabilities can be at increased risk of becoming victims of abuse for a number of reasons, including; the potential for an increased number of people being involved in their personal care; that they may have communication difficulties which make it more difficult for them to disclose what is happening to them; that their disability might be used as an explanation for injuries, frequent absence through illness, changes in behaviour etc.
GOOD PRACTICE WITHIN SPORTING ACTIVITIES
It is the responsibility of every club to ensure that all club personnel have been appropriately checked through the Criminal Records Bureau and that this is updated at relevant intervals. Each club should designate a Child Protection Officer who will take responsibility for records checks, induction and training of club personnel, and advice and recording of incidents, concerns and reports.
Whilst it is recognised that at some times players and club personnel may be alone or in close physical contact, adults are advised to take all possible steps to avoid situations which may give rise to suspicions or allegations. This will generally involve working in pairs wherever possible, and ensuring that parents/carers are present to undertake any personal care (such as dressing or going to the toilet) that the young person needs. Parents will ideally remain present throughout all activities. If parents are not to be present, full emergency contact details should be obtained, medical details of the young person should be on file, and the parent should have signed a consent form for a named, CRB-checked club official to be responsible for the child. All mixed gender activities should be attended by mixed gender club officials. At no time should adults and children share changing or showering facilities during organised activities.
Club personnel should ensure that their behaviour sets a good example to young people and that they treat all participants equally and with respect and dignity. The welfare of the young person should always be prioritised above sporting success. Feedback given to young people should always be constructive, rather than negative.
Photographing or filming of participants should be carried out in line with the policy operated by the home venue. Clubs should seek written consent of parents before any images of young people are published. It is known that some individuals will use sporting events or venues in order to take photographs or footage of young people and all personnel should be vigilant in this respect and report any concerns to venue staff.
Parents, carers and club volunteers and staff should be made aware of the procedures in place, and the duty to report any concerns to the relevant authorities and utilise suspensions and exclusions where appropriate.
Young People Participating in Senior Training and Competition
It is recognised by the BSHA that in order to develop future GB players it will sometimes be appropriate for junior players to participate in senior training and competition. Where this takes place the following principles should be applied:
- Coaches should take steps to ensure that the young person has reached a level of skill and maturity which enables them to safely participate at senior level.
- Adult participants must set a positive example to younger team members, ensuring that they are not exposed to inappropriate language or behaviour.
- Young people must be accompanied by parents at all times or otherwise supervised at all times by a person who has a full CRB clearance.
The BSHA will, in the future, develop an assessment process to guide selection which will become part of this guidance.
RECRUITMENT OF VOLUNTEERS
All club personnel should be required to complete an application form which will include their current contact details, recent addresses, other identities and a self-disclosure about any criminal record. Arrangements should be made to obtain information from the Criminal Records Bureau.
New club personnel should receive induction in which they are made aware of the BSHA and club Codes of Conduct and Child Protection Policies and Procedure and any training needs are identified.
HOW TO DEAL WITH SUSPICIONS OR ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE
If a child is in immediate danger any disclosure should be reported to the Police and Social Services.
Any disclosure of abuse made by a young person should be reported to the club’s Child Protection Officer and to the relevant Social Services Department either immediately in the event of any current danger, or within 24 hours if the disclosure is of something which has taken place in the past but is not ongoing.
Each club should have a designated Child Protection Officer who can be contacted to discuss any concerns which are not linked to a disclosure. A decision can then be taken on whether the suspicion should be further reported to Social Services or Police.
All reports made to Social Services or Police and any allegations concerning misconduct by club personnel should be reported to the BSHA Child Protection Officer.
Club personnel may feel uncomfortable about reporting concerns, fearful of causing dispute with parents/carers, or concerned that the child may be taken into care. These concerns must always be recognised as reasonable but are not reasons to withhold information from the relevant authorities or for delay in reporting concerns.
If the suspicion arises from concerns about the young person’s appearance or behaviour it may be appropriate to make enquiries with the parent or carer and then to make a further judgement based on any explanation which is offered.
Confidentiality must be maintained at all times, and information kept secure and disseminated only to those with a need to know.
WHAT TO DO IF ABUSE IS DISCLOSED
1) Receiving the information
- Remain calm. A shocked or angry reaction might cause the young person to abandon the disclosure.
- Try to find a quiet place to go, but take care not to make a big deal out of this or take a long time. Confirm to the young person that you want to listen to what they have to say in a quiet place. This should ideally not be somewhere that you are totally alone with the young person.
- Don’t make promises to keep the information secret or in confidence. The young person must be aware that you will have to pass the information on.
- Reassure the young person that they have done the right thing in making the disclosure.
- Listen and observe. Record what is said, using the young person’s own words, but do not probe for further details. This could jeopardise any future investigation and/or prosecution of the perpetrator.
How to obtain and record information
It is important not to ask leading questions, i.e. questions which suggest the answer.
It is also important to remember that you are not investigating, and that all you require is basic details of the allegation being made.
Use the TED method to establish what the young person is telling you:
ü Tell me what happened
ü Explain to me what he/she did
ü Describe what you saw / felt
Make your recording using the young person’s own words.
2) Now that I suspect abuse, what do I do?
Consider urgency:
- Is immediate medical help required (i.e. ambulance)?
- Is there an immediate risk to the young person if he/she leaves your presence? (call Police on 999). Only the Police have the power to remove a child from their parent or carer without a Court Order.
- What if it there is no immediate risk?
Contact Police using their non-emergency number and contact Children’s Services.
- Transfer the information to the BSHA Incident Reporting Form as soon as possible, and pass this to the club’s Child Protection Officer.
- Inform the young person of what you will do next and who else will be informed.
- Under no circumstances should the alleged abuser be challenged or informed of the disclosure. This could place the young person in further danger.
3) What will Children’s Services do next?
- If needed, arrange emergency accommodation for the young person.
- Check for previous concerns.
- Liaise with the police to investigate the concerns
- Contact schools and health professionals involved with the child to obtain information.
- Visit the family / assess the child
- Organise examination by a paediatrician if required.
Common concerns about reporting
- Am I doing the right thing?
Yes. The welfare of the child comes first and full investigation by the authorities will prove or disprove the allegation/concern.
- The parent / carer will know who made the report.
They will. Parents and carers should be made aware when joining the club that there is a duty to refer any concerns.
- Nothing will be done.
Your concerns will always be investigated by Children’s Services.
- The children will be taken away from their parents.
Children’s Services have a duty to keep families together wherever possible. Children are only removed where this is proven to be in their best interests. This must be evidenced to a Court which must then grant a Care Order.
- I can’t believe it could happen in this family.
Abuse can take place in any family and abuse is most often perpetrated by a relative. Working with a family for a long time can impair our judgement.
- It will ruin my relationship with the parents.
The welfare of the young person must come first.
APPENDIX 1 – CONTACT DETAILS FOR ADVICE AND REPORTING
NSPCC 24 Hour Child Protection Helpline – 0808 800 5000. The helpline accepts anonymous calls and can assist with decisions as to whether to report concerns to Police and Social Services.
North East Lincolnshire Council, Referral & Assessment Team: 01472 325151, Out of Hours contact: 01472 325555.
Humberside Police: 0845 60 60 222
Wolverhampton City Council, Duty & Assessment Team: 01902 555392, Out of Hours Emergency Service 01902 552999.
West Midlands Police: 0845 113 5000
Cardiff City Council, Intake & Assessment team: 029 2053 6400, Emergency Duty Team (Out of Hours Service) 029 2044 8360.
South Wales Police: 101
Hull City Council, Central Duty Team: 01482 448879, Emergency Duty Team (Out of Hours service) 01482788080
Humberside Police: 0845 6060222
Acknowledged sources
NSPCC – http://www.nspcc.org.uk
Child Protection in Sport Unit – http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/cpsu
East Riding of Yorkshire Children’s Services.
