INTRODUCTION
Fulham Football Club acknowledges and accepts it has a responsibility for the well being and safety of all children and young people who are under the Club’s care or utilising the Club’s facilities. It is the duty of all adults working at the Club to safeguard the welfare of children and young people by creating an environment that protects then from harm.
The wellbeing of children and young people is paramount for all staff and accordingly, they must make themselves aware of the Club’s Safeguarding Children Policy. Where appropriate, the following guidelines will be supplemented by in-service training and additional guidance.
RULES & REGULATIONS
Fulham Football Club is governed by the rules and regulations set out in the 1989 Children Act, FA Safeguarding Children Rules and FA Premier League Rules.
The Club is fully committed to ensuring that the best practice recommended by these bodies is employed throughout the Club.
The Club also has a responsibility to maintain regular dialogue with the Local Safeguarding Children Board.
AIMS & KEY PRINCIPLES
The aims of Fulham Football Club’s Safeguarding Children Policy are:
To safeguard all children who interact with the Club. To demonstrate best practice in the area of safeguarding children. To develop a positive and pro-active welfare programme to enable all children and young persons to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment. To promote high ethical standards throughout the Club.
The key principles underpinning this policy are:
The child or young person’s welfare is, and must always 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 origin, religious beliefs or sexual identity. All allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to efficiently and appropriately. To encourage parents and other members of the child or young person’s family to be involved in a relationship with the Club. To ensure that coaches, parents and other adults who come in contact with children and young people provide good role models of behaviour.
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
Safeguarding Children Programme
The Club has an ongoing commitment to employing a programme of activities which cover all areas of the business. The programme will regularly be reviewed and updated according to any needs that may be identified.
Children’s Services Officer / Safeguarding Officers
The Club has a Children’s Services Officer (“CSO”) who has overall responsibility for the safeguarding of children at the Club and a number of Safeguarding Officers who work within various areas of the business. These Officers have special responsibilities, and are the focal point, for safeguarding children in their nominated area.
Anybody with concern about a child’s welfare should contact a Safeguarding Officer for advice in the first instance – details can be found at the end of this policy.
HUMAN RESOURCES & DISCLOSURE
Recruitment
As part of Fulham Football Club’s recruitment and selection process, offers of employment to positions which involve working with children and young people are subject to a satisfactory CRB disclosure and appropriate references. See below for details of the Club’s CRB procedures.
Staff Training
All staff working in direct contact with children shall be required to complete the FA workshop on Safeguarding Children. Details of those satisfactorily completing this course are retained by the Human Resources Department.
Health and Safety
Fulham Football Club's Health and Safety Policy gives guidance to those whose roles involve working with children and young persons. Where a child or young person is involved, a risk assessment must take account of their particular vulnerabilities which will include the safeguarding of children. The risk assessment should set out what arrangements are in place for their care and supervision, examples of such risk assessments can be found in the Premier League Rules.
Staff Briefing
A Staff Briefing Note giving guidance to all Club employees is provided on joining the Club. Whenever possible staff will avoid situations where they are in one to one contact with children. When physical intervention is necessary to restore safety, restraint will not continue any longer than is absolutely necessary.
CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU
Fulham Football Club is registered, via the Premier League, with the Criminal Records Bureau (“CRB”). The CRB provides a disclosure service for organisations. CRB disclosures enable employers to undertake more thorough recruitment and selection procedures for positions which involve working with children and young people.
PROCESS FOR CRIMINAL RECORDS BUREAU CHECKING
New Appointments
All staff who are offered a position which involves working with children and young people will be required to undertake a CRB Disclosure. All employment offers are subject to the outcome of the screening process and when applicable, this is set out in their Offer of Employment. Until such time as their Disclosure certificate has been received, the member of staff will not be left unsupervised with children and young persons.
Fulham Football Club is committed to the equal opportunities of its staff and therefore if a positive Disclosure is received it will not result in an instant dismissal from employment.
Should a positive Disclosure be received, a risk assessment will be carried out by the Head of Human Resources and either the CSO, a Safeguarding Officer or relevant Head of Department, to assess the information contained within the Disclosure certificate. The member of staff may also be asked to attend an interview prior to an employment decision being made.
New Appointments who already have a Disclosure Certificate
If a new member of staff has been CRB checked by their previous employer, the Club may not ask that person to undertake another check. However, the original Disclosure certificate must be shown to the Head of HR and it must be dated within six months of the employee’s start date at the Club.
Existing Staff
Priority is being given to those who come into contact with children and young people. All staff who have one to one contact with children and young people will be CRB checked.
Temporary Staff and External Consultants
The Club will ensure that all temporary staff and external consultants sign a Self Declaration form and will not have unsupervised access to children and young persons during their employment with the Club.
ACADEMY DEPARTMENT
Fulham Football Club’s Academy is committed to the welfare and safety of all Children, both within the Academy and at the Club as a whole. The Academy also realises the importance of communication and works closely with parents, carers and landladies to ensure that the wellbeing of all children is paramount.
Transport
When children are being transported on behalf of the Club they shall be accompanied by the Team Manager, Coach or Tour Leader. In exceptional cases where a child / children need to be transported unaccompanied by a parent, guardian or nominated staff member, this will be with an approved travel company, or by a member of staff who has a satisfactory CRB disclosure, and in either case only with the specific prior consent of their parent or guardian. Although outside of the sphere of responsibility for local education authorities, the Club also provides a duty of care for young persons when travelling on behalf of the Club.
Accommodation
If required to stay overnight on any Club event, the child will be accompanied by a nominated staff member who has been CRB checked and has undertaken Safeguarding Children training. Should a parent prefer to accompany and stay overnight with their child then a request shall be made to the Club. In any event, written parental / guardian consent will be sought before a child or young person is asked to stay unaccompanied overnight in accommodation.
Landlords/Ladies
Prior to the commencement of an agreement between the Club and a landlord / lady a CRB check is carried out and references from previous employers / local authorities are sought. A house visit is also conducted by the Education Manager and a guidance manual is distributed.
Equal Opportunities
Fulham Football Club is committed to providing equal opportunities for all employees, players and supporters. In addition to the policy and procedures adopted by the Club as a whole, the Academy has a specific policy relating to its activities. A copy of this policy can be obtained from the Academy Safeguarding Officer.
Data Protection
In addition to the Data Protection policy adopted by the Club, the Academy has a specific policy relating to the protection of academy related data, including players’ personal, technical and academic information. A copy of this policy can be obtained from the Academy Safeguarding Officer.
USE OF IMAGES
The Club takes its guidance on the use of images from guidelines issued by the FA and Premier League. All photographs are taken by Club officials who have been briefed by the Club’s Safeguarding Officer responsible for the activity being photographed.
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Before taking photographs of children and young people, parental consent is sought in writing at the start of the season or prior to the event. Parents/carers are responsible for informing the Club of any change of circumstances within the Season which may affect consent.
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Parents and carers will be informed of how the image will be used. The Club will not allow an image to be used for something other than that for which it was initially agreed.
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All children and young people featured in Club publications will be appropriately dressed.
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Were possible, the image will focus on the activity taking place and not a specific child / young person.
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Where appropriate, images represent the broad range of youngsters participating safely in football.
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Designated Club photographers will undertake a CRB check, attend a Safeguarding Children workshop and will be personally responsible for keeping up to date with the latest guidelines on the Use of Images policies from the Premier League. Club Identification will be worn at all times
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Children and young people who are under a court order will not have their images published in any Club document.
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No images of children and young persons featured in Club publications will be accompanied by personal details such as their school or home address.
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Recordings of children and young people for the purposes of legitimate coaching aids are only filmed by Club officials and are stored safely and securely at the Club’s training ground.
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Any instances of inappropriate images in football should be reported to a Safeguarding Officer.
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The Club does not put young player profiles with images and personal information on its website.
MASCOTS
The Club will only allow children to be matchday Mascots once parental consent has been obtained. A signed image consent form is also required before any images are published in the Club’s matchday programme.
No photographs of Mascots featured in Club publications will be accompanied by personal information about the child, such as their school, home address or local sports team.
Whilst at Craven Cottage, Mascots are accompanied at all times by a member of staff who has a valid CRB Disclosure Certificate. Staff who are responsible for Mascots on a matchday are also required to undertake the FA Three Hour Safeguarding Children Workshop.
COMMUNITY SPORTS TRUST
The FA Charter Standard
Although Fulham Football Club Community Sports Trust (“CST”) ensures full compliance with the FA Charter Standard, it endeavours to adhere to the rules and guidelines issued by the FA Premier League with regard to safeguarding children.
Parental Consent
The CST will make every effort to obtain parental consent for all activities using the FA Premier League’s Parental Consent Form. The CST will do everything it can to safeguard children in its care but recognise that in some circumstances, due to the nature of the work carried out, obtaining parental consent for activities is not always possible.
Children who are not picked up on time
The CST has procedures in place for children whose parents do not collect them from an activity at a specified time. All parents / carers are made aware that their children should be met no later than 30 minutes after an activity has finished.
Should the child not be collected within 15 minutes, coaching staff have emergency contact numbers and communication with the Community office to seek alternative numbers if necessary. In the event that a child is not collected on time, a minimum of 2 coaching staff and/or responsible adults will wait at the venue until the parent / carer arrives.
Coaching in Schools
Fulham CST is committed to using the power of football to encourage children and young people to enjoy the benefits of sport and healthy living and will frequently run coaching sessions within local schools and education centres.
It is the responsibility of the school to obtain parental consent and carry out the relevant risk assessments before an activity takes place and the CST will carry Public Liability Insurance. The above information is set out in a written Service Level Agreement with the school which is signed prior to the event taking place.
CRB
In accordance with the procedures detailed above, all Fulham CST staff undergo a CRB check every three years.
Activities for Disabled Persons
The CST carries out all activities for disabled persons under the guidelines of the Disability Discrimination Act and in accordance with the Club’s Disability Policy.
GUIDELINES IN THE EVENT OF CONCERN
Highlighting Concern
Although the Club is committed to doing the utmost to safeguard children from harm there may be occasions when concern is raised over the treatment of a child.
“Child abuse” and “neglect” are generic terms encompassing all ill treatment of children as well as cases where the standard of care does not adequately support the child’s health or development. Children may be abused or suffer neglect through the infliction of harm, or through the failure to act to prevent harm. Abuse can occur in a family or an institutional or community setting. The perpetrator may or may not be known to the child.
Recognition – Signs of Abuse
There are five main forms of abuse identified as follows, should you have any concern that abuse is occurring you should contact a Club Safeguarding Officer immediately.
Physical Abuse
Physical abuse may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, burning or scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of, or deliberately causes ill health to a child whom they are looking after. A person might do this because they enjoy or need the attention they get through having a sick child. Physical abuse can be caused through omission or the failure to act to protect.
Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, whether or not the child is aware of, or consents to, what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative acts such as rape, buggery or oral sex or non-penetrative acts such as fondling. Sexual abuse may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, pornographic material or watching sexual activities, or encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways. Boys and girls can be sexually abused by males and/or females, by adults and by other young people. This includes people from all different walks of life.
Neglect
Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter and clothing, failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger, or the failure to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment. It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.
Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve making a child feel or believe that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.
Bullying
Bullying is not always easy to define and can take many forms. The three main types are: physical, verbal and emotional. For further guidance in this area refer to the Academy Bullying Policy.
For more detailed information on the five main forms of abuse refer to The Football Association Child Protection Procedures and Practices Handbook. The information above has been taken from this source an can be found on the FA website.
RESPONDING TO A REPORT OR SUSPICION
Where possible a Club Safeguarding Officer should be contacted as early as possible, however it is recognised that an individual may need to respond to a situation immediately. With this in mind the following guidelines offer help and support in responding to abuse or a suspicion of abuse:
Do:
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treat any allegations extremely seriously and act at all times towards the child as if you believe what they are saying.
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tell the child they are right to tell you.
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reassure them that they are not to blame.
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be honest about your own position, who you have to tell and why.
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tell the child what you are doing and when, and keep them up to date with what is happening.
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take further action – you may be the only person in a position to prevent future abuse.
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write down everything said and what was done.
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seek medical attention if necessary.
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inform parents/carers unless there is suspicion of their involvement.
Don’t:
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make promises you cannot keep.
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interrogate the child – it is not your job to carry out an investigation – this will be up to the police and social services, who have experience in this.
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cast doubt on what the child has told you, don’t interrupt or change the subject.
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say anything that makes the child feel responsible for the abuse.
DOING NOTHING IS NOT AN OPTION; IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ACT.
Make sure you tell a Club Safeguarding Officer immediately, they will know how to follow this up and where to go for further advice.
RECORDING ALLEGATIONS OR SUSPICIONS
The Safeguarding Officer will immediately report any allegation to the CSO, who will ask for a written factual statement from the person making the report.
If the report involves an allegation about another member of staff, that person will also be asked to write a brief report. Any statement made by the child or young person should be reported in their own words. These reports should be confined to facts and should not include any opinion, interpretation or judgement.
The Club will ensure that any child concerned is immediately removed from any possible risk of harm.
Investigations into possible abuse will require careful management. The CSO should seek the advice of The Football Association Safeguarding Children Team, Social Services or the Police before setting up an internal inquiry and take their advice on informing the child or young person’s parents. In any case of suspected abuse, as soon as the local Social Services Department has been informed, the Club must provide a report to the FA Head of Safeguarding Children, the FA Premier League Head of Safeguarding Children and inform the Club’s Managing Director.
Confidentiality
There is always tension and caution around issues of confidentiality. The advice for all staff at Fulham Football Club is that no guarantee of confidentiality can be given to a child or young person (although this does not necessarily mean that the parents of the young person have to be told).
A child or young person should never be pressured to give information or show physical marks unless they do so willingly. If they chose to show markings, two members of staff should be present.
There are actions which staff have to and are obliged to take once we are aware of a problem. Undertakings of confidentiality should not be given either to the person making the allegations or to the person being interviewed. A matter is confidential on a need to know basis and nobody should have any reservations about referring a safeguarding children issue to a Club Safeguarding Officer. The key issue is that the welfare of the child is protected.
CHILDREN’S SERVICES’ OFFICER & SAFEGUARDING OFFICERS
Jenny Christey - Children’s Services’ Officer / Assistant Club Secretary
T: 020 8336 7420
E: jchristey@fulhamfc.com|
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Safeguarding Children Mobile: 07917 598300
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Fulham FC - 0870 442 1222
Nick Worth, Danny Jacquart, Vicky Peter, Mark Maunders, Jan Seymour, Steve Hea, Leighton Jones, Geoff Noonan, Phil Roger, Lee Hagger, Soye Briggs, Eugene Dwaah
EXTERNAL CONTACT DETAILS
FA Premier League
Kate Coleman
Safeguarding Children Manager
T/F: 020 7864 9119/9219
E: kcoleman@premierleague.com|
The Football Association
Sue Law
Head of Safeguarding Children
T/F: 020 7745 4649/5649
E: sue.law@thefa.com|
THE FA / NSPCC HELPLINE: 0808 800 5000 / Textphone: 0800 056 0566
For further advice and information on the FA Child Protection Guidelines, please visit www.thefa.com/goal|