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The Child Protection Policy

INTRODUCTION

Read Cricket Club recognises that it has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of children and preventing their abuse. The Club recognises that for the procedure to be effective it is important that all Junior Coaches, Managers and assistants together with paid employees receive adequate training and supervision to ensure that the needs and welfare of children are paramount.

BACKGROUND

The Police and Social Services have the primary responsibility in the field of Child Protection. The Children Act of 1989 places a duty on local authorities to take steps to protect children in appropriate circumstances and gives certain powers to the Police so that they can take action to protect children. The Act defines a child as a person under the age of 18. The English Cricket Board (E.C.B.) together with other sporting bodies has produced principals and guidelines for all clubs to follow with regards to Child Protection. Read Cricket Club has adopted these guidelines and will provide copies for all adults who have been appointed to work with young people at the Club. Further copies are available on request from the Club's Child Protection Officers.

WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE

It can involve any one or more of the following: Neglect, Physical Injury, Sexual Abuse or Emotional Abuse.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Read Cricket Club is committed to working with the Area Child Protection Committee (A.C.P.C.) and to complying with their procedures. It recognises that it has a responsibility towards children who are members or visiting the Club to safeguard and promote their welfare and to take appropriate decisions about how this can be achieved. It is not the Club's responsibility to investigate abuse.

Nevertheless, every member of the Club has a duty to act if there is a cause for concern and to notify appropriate agencies so that they can investigate and take any necessary action.

The Club should also consider the implications of any issue raised and consider whether it is necessary to take further action itself or to review or amend its procedures.

In the first instance all suspicions of Child Abuse should be reported within 48 hours to the named Child Protection Officer or if s/he is not available to the reserve.

The nominated Child Protection Officer is W Eastham. The Child Protection Officer will report all genuine concerns to the A.C.P.C. and to the Club Chairman.

TRAINING/SECURITY CLEARANCE

In line with E.C.B. guidelines all coaches working with children will have had appropriate Child Protection training before they are allowed to work with young people on their own. In line with national and E.C.B. guidelines it is the Club's policy to ensure that all adults working with children in a supervisory capacity have been vetted by the currently agreed procedures.

REVIEW AND MONITORING OF THE PROCEDURE

It will be the responsibility of the Child Protection Officers and the Junior Committee to review and monitor the policy and procedures on an annual basis. The Club will work with the E.C.B. to ensure that any national changes to policies and procedures are reflected in the Club's practice.