Club Commitment to Child Welfare
The Term “Child” or “Children” refers to all young people under the age
of 18 years.
The Welfare of Children is everyone’s responsibility and all children
and young people have a right to have fun, be safe and be protected from
harm.
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Child Protection Policy
Staines SC has, through it’s constitution, committed to adopt the
ASA “Child Protection in Swimming” Guidelines and Procedures, in it’s
entirety and without exception.
The Document is frequently revised and updated by the ASA, and all
future amendments will be adopted immediately upon publication.
This is not just limited to changes to this document, but all successor
documents published by the ASA or any or all of it’s successors.
These Guidelines and Procedures affect ALL Members of Staines SC
- the Coaching Staff, Committee Members, Swimmers and Parents - and
everybody should make themselves aware of the content of these documents.
The document can be found in the
Child Protection Section of the ASA Website.
Please also refer to the
ASA / NSPCC Publications – “In at the Deep End” and “Safe Sport Away”.
Teachers and Coaches, employed by Staines SC, are required to support
optimum Child Protection practice through attending the ASA / Sports
Coach UK Good Practice and Child Protection Workshops &/or their successor
Workshops.
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Child Welfare Officer
Staines SC is required to have appointed a Child Welfare Officer,
at all times, who is responsible not only for the day-to-day liaison
with the ASA, but also for creating any specific additional policies
as they affect the Club.
The Child Welfare Officer is also responsible for implementation
of these policies and has the highest authority to intervene in every
matter relative to Staines SC, and to take any action necessary to fulfil
the requirements of that Role.
The safe guarding of any child associated with Staines SC is of paramount
importance, and the Child Welfare officer is charged with Risk Assessing
every facet of the Club and to act to minimise / eliminate such risks
at the earliest opportunity.
The Child Welfare Officer is also responsible for raising awareness
of good child protection practice(s) among the Members as defined above.
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Specific Policies – Staines SC
The Following additional Policies have been approved and form part
of the Staines SC Child Protection Policy : -
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CRB Checks
All Coaches, Teachers, Poolside Volunteers and any person who
has one-to-one contact with a child, within the remit of the Club,
will be asked, and will be expected, to complete a Criminal Records
Bureau check.
This is simply a disclosure application form that is submitted
by the Club and is renewable every 3 years.
For those with existing CRB Clearance, this should be made known
to the Child Welfare Officer.
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Coaches Swimming
Following reference to the ASA Legal section, it has been agreed
that NO Coaches are to be allowed to swim in the same Lanes as swimmers
as part of lessons under their control.
With regards to Coaches swimming as a participant in a programmed
swimming session, NO coaches are to swim in the same lane as a Junior
at any time. Junior Members, for the avoidance of doubt, are those
members Under 16 years of age.
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Collection of Swimmers
Coaches are required to ensure that any Junior members still
awaiting collection, after a session, are duly collected before
they depart.
To avoid this instruction being abused by parents, if after 15
minutes there are still swimmers with no parents in attendance,
the Coaches are required to confirm with each Junior Swimmer : -
who is to collect them and / or what arrangements are in place for
that collection.
The Coaches duty of care ends at the point when this is established,
except in situations where the Coach does not feel comfortable with
the information tendered, whereupon they will be required to remain
until collection has been completed.
They must then submit full report of the event to the Committee
for review, at the next committee meeting.
The Committee will take action where this is being abused.
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Teachers Entering Water at Matthew Arnold Pool
Teachers and assistants should try and avoid actual contact with
children unless it is part of a rescue or first aid.
In some circumstances the teacher and/or assistants are required
to be present in the water for safety reasons, for example when
one or more children cannot put their feet on the bottom of the
pool without submerging their head. In these circumstance all adults
present in the water should still try to avoid direct contact with
the children, if contact has to be made then this should be limited
to the arms below the elbow or legs below the knees and should only
be done if the child is in difficulty, for example the loss of a
floating aid. If possible, where contact has to be made, it must
be done in full view of any other adults present in the pool in
a way which clearly indicates the reason for the contact. If other
assistance has to be provided, for example the child is swimming
in circles with a floating aid, it is perfectly acceptable to pull
the floating aid in order to guide the child in the correct direction
or to the edge of the pool.
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Current Child Welfare Officer is –
David Taylor
Telephone - 07976 292840
If you are concerned, or have concerns, regarding the
Welfare of a Child:
Tell a Club Officer, such as the “Child Welfare Officer”,
“Club Chairman”, “Club Secretary”, “Coach” or any “Committee Member”.
Or
Ring “Swimline” on 0808 100 4001
Or
Ring “NSPCC Child Protection Helpline on 0808 800 500
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