CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Introduction
All organisations have a duty of care for young people and a responsibility to protect them from harm. Young people have a lot to gain from Netball. Their natural sense of fun and spontaneity can blossom in positive sporting environments, which promote progress in a child-centred way. Netball provides an excellent medium in which young people can learn new skills, become more confident and maximise their own unique potential. Every child who participates in Netball should be able to do so in a fun and safe environment. Parents/Guardians also have a right to believe that the organisations to which they entrust their children are safe.
England Netball has based its guidelines on Child Protection on the following core values and principles:
Core Values
- All young people’s Netball experiences must be guided by what is best for that young person.
- Adults interacting with young people in Netball should do so with integrity and respect for the child.
- All young people’s Netball should be conducted in an atmosphere of fair play.
- Young people’s Netball should be conducted in a safe, positive and encouraging atmosphere.
- Adults who take a responsibility for young people in Netball have a duty to ensure that they are competent to provide safe and rewarding experiences for those in their care, through appropriate training and education.
Principles
- The welfare of young people is paramount.
- All people, but especially young people, whatever their culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief or sexual identity, have the right to protection from abuse.
- All incidents of poor practice, suspicions and allegations should be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately.
- It is the responsibility of child protection experts to determine whether or not abuse has taken place, but it is everyone’s responsibility to report any concerns.
England Netball (EN) recognises its responsibilities under the terms of the Race Relations Act 1976, Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Children Act 1989 and the
Disability Discrimination Act 1996
United Netball adopts England Netball’s Guidelines on Child Protection and works in accordance with the following policy:
Policy Statement
United Netball Club recognises that is has a duty of care to safeguard and promote the interests and well-being of children within the club. United Netball Club will take all reasonable practical steps to protect all children involved in the club from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment.
A child is defined as a person under the age of 18 (Children Act 1989)
Policy Aims
The aim of United Netball Club’s Child Protection Policy is to offer safeguards to young people, coaches, competition officials, volunteers and other players whilst maintaining high standards of professionalism and good practice.
Policy Implementation
United Netball Club will:
- provide a safe environment for all its members
- select, train and supervise volunteers to raise awareness of the need to provide an appropriate duty of care and promote the implementation of its policies and procedures.
- respect the rights, wishes and feelings of young people
- respond to any allegations or suspicions of abuse or poor practice swiftly and appropriately
- have disciplinary and appeals procedures in place to deal with incidences of poor practice
- require coaches, umpires and volunteers to sign up to a code of conduct to safeguard the welfare of young people and protect themselves from false allegations.
