The introduction of this Child Protection Policy should be seen as a clear signal that the Club is determined to ensure all necessary steps are taken to protect those children and young people who participate in youth football within all age groups.
Welfare and protection
It is essential that those children and young people attracted to and participating in football are in a safe and enjoyable environment.
In striving to attain this, The Football Association has the following objectives:
A requirement that all bodies affiliated to The Football Association as Charter Standard Organisations, affiliated through the County Associations, which provide the opportunity to work with children and young people up to the age of eighteen, include in their rules a policy statement concerning child protection. To provide ongoing development and training opportunities to all organisations as mentioned above. To provide ongoing development and training opportunities:
For members of the F A Coaches Association. As an integral part of all F A Coach & Medical Education courses and courses for Referees. In staff development courses for members of The F A Premier League & The Football League.
Through the County Football Association structure.
Through the process of attaining and maintaining the Charter Standard Award.
The aims of the FA Child Protection Policy are:
To develop a positive and pro-active position in order to best protect all children and young people who play football, enabling them to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment. To deliver quality assured child protection training and build a network of tutors to facilitate this delivery, in conjunction with, and supported by the NSPCC. To demonstrate best practice in the area of child protection.
To promote ethics and high standards throughout football
The key principles underpinning this Policy are that:
The child’s welfare is, and must be the paramount consideration. All children and young people have a right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, disability, culture, language, racial region, religious beliefs or sexual identity. All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately. Working in partnership with children and young people and their parent/carers is essential. Social Services Departments have a statutory responsibility to ensure the welfare of children and young people. The Football Association is committed to working together with Social Services
Departments and Local Area Protection Committees (ACPA) in accordance with their procedures.
The Football Association’s Regulations on child protection are defined in the FA Handbook and are:
Any act, statement, conduct or other matter which harms a child or children, or poses or pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute behaviour which is improper and brings the game into disrepute. In these Regulations the expression “Offence” shall mean any one or more of the offences contained in Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and any other criminal offence which reasonably causes The Association to believe that the person accused of the offence poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children. Upon receipt by Association of: Notification that an individual has been charged with an Offence, or Notification that an individual is the subject of an investigation by the Police, Social Services or any other authority relating to an Offence, or
Any other information which causes The Association reasonably to believe that a person poses or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children
The Association shall have the power to order that the individual be suspended from all or any specific football activity for such a period and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit. In reaching its determination as to whether an order under Regulation 2 should be made The Association shall give consideration, inter alia, to the following factors:
Whether a child is or children are or may be at risk of harm. Whether the matters are of a serious nature. Whether an order is necessary or desirable to allow the conduct of any investigation by The Association or any other authority or body to proceed unimpeded. The period of an order referred to in 2 above shall not be capable of lasting beyond the date upon which any charge under the rules of The Association or any Offence is decided or brought to an end. Where an order is imposed on an individual under Regulation 2 above, The Association shall bring and conclude any proceedings under the Rules of The Association against the person relating to the matters as soon as reasonably practicable. Where a person is convicted of is made the subject of a caution in respect of an Offence, that shall constitute a breach of the Rules of The Association and The Association shall have the power to order the suspension of the person from all or any specific football for such period (including indefinitely) and on such terms and conditions as it thinks fit. For the purpose of these Regulations, The Association shall act through its Council or any committee or sub-committee thereof, including the Board.
Notification in writing of any order referred to above shall be given to the person concerned and/or any club with which he is associated as soon as reasonable practicable.
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