CHILD PROTECTION GUIDELINES 

This code of conduct details the types of practice required by anyone working under the auspices of Kilwinning Community Sports Club when in contact with children or vulnerable adults.

The types of practice are categorised into good practice; practice to be avoided; practice never to be sanctioned; and safe practice in unforeseen circumstances.

Kilwinning community sports club insist upon the following good pracice with children and vulnerable adults:

For sports activities involving children or vulnerable adults: 

• Make sports activities fun, enjoyable and promote fair play.
• Always work in an open environment e.g. avoid private or unobserved situations and encourage an open environment for activities.
• Treat all children and vulnerable adults equally, with respect and dignity.
• Put the welfare of each child or vulnerable adult first before winning.
• Be an exvellent role model including not smoking or drinking alcohol in the company of children or vulnerable adults.
• Give enthusiastic and constructive feedback rather than negative criticism.
• Ensure that any form of manual or physical support is required for a child or vulnerable adult, it is provided openly and the child or vulnerable adult is informed of what is being done.   If it is known that the child or vulnerable adult will require physical assistance prior to an activity, their parent/guardian's consent must be obtained before they participate.
• For educational instructions they should first be delivered verbally; secondly role modelled; and thirdly and only if necessary with hands on – which must be accompanied by telling the child or vulnerable adult where you are putting your hands and why.   If it is known prior to a programme that hands on assistance will be required, the parent/guardian's consent must be obtained before they participate in the programme.
• Maintain an appropriate and safe distance from children and vulnerable adults e.g. do not have an intimate relationship.
• Build balanced relationships based on mutual trust that empowers children to share in the decision making process.
• Involve carers and parents wherever possible.
• Recognise the developmental needs and capacity of children and vulnerable adults; avoid excessive training or competition and either pushing them against their will or putting undue pressure on them.

• All parents/guardians of children under 16 should complete medical consent forms before participating in a sports activity programme.
• Be aware of any medicines being taken by participants or pre-existing injuries.
• Keep a written record of any injury that occurs, along with details of any treatment given.

For taking and transporting children or vulnerable adults away from home:

• Request written parental/guardian consent if staff are required to transport young people in their cars or minibuses.
• Ensure all vehicles are insured.
• Whilst acknowledging that some gender abuse can occur, ensure where possible, if a mixed group of children or vulnerable adults are taken away, the group has a male and female member of staff accompanying them.
• All reasonable safety measures are taken, e.g. children in the back seats, safety belts, staff ratios etc.

• The following practice should be avoided.   If cases arise where these situations are unavoidable, they should only occur with the full knowledge and consent of someone else in the club and/or the child's or vulnerable adults parents/guardians.   E.g. a child sustains an injury and needs to go to hospital or a parent/guardian fails to arrive to pick up a child at the end of a session.
• Avoid having “favourites” this could lead to resentment and jealousy by other children or vulnerable adults and could be a cause for false allegations.
• Avoid spending excessive amounts of time alone with children away from others.   Ensure that if children or vulnerable adults are taken away, adults avoid entering children's rooms unless in emergency situations or a health and safety issue arises.   Avoid taking children to your home.

• Never engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games, including horseplay.
• Never allow or engage in any form of inappropriate touching.
• Never allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged.
• Never make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even in fun.
• Never reduce a child to tears as a form of control.
• Never allow allegations made by a child to go unchallenged, unrecorded or not acted upon.
• Never invite or allow children to stay at your home unsupervised.
• Never do things of a personal nature for children and vulnerable adults that they can do for themselves.

Reporting

It is important if any of the following incidents should occur, that they are reported.   Parents/guardians should be informed of the incident.

Report, note and inform if the following occur:

• If you accidentally hurt a child or vulnerable adult.
• If a child or vulnerable adult seems distressed in any manner.
• If a child or vulnerable adult misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done.
• If a child or vulnerable needs to be restrained.