Penkridge Cricket Club

Child Protection Policy

Penkridge Cricket Club is committed to ensuring that all young people who play cricket have a safe and positive experience. To this end the club has adopted the ECB 'Safe Hands - Cricket's Policy for Safeguarding Children' and any future versions of the Policy.

For more information on the ECB's 'Safe Hands' policy click here
For the 'Safe Hands' document click here

The ECB Policy Safe Hands requires that any Coach, Umpire, Scorer, Junior Team Manager, team first aider or any other listed individual has to complete a Vetting Check. This Vetting Check for almost all cricket participants is in the form of a CRB check. These posts also require the individual to complete a Self Declaration Form at the same time as completing the CRB Application Form. 

Policy Outline

1. Introduction

This policy document is based on the guidelines set down in the ECB Document 'Safe Hands - Welfare of Young People in Cricket'. All Young People at Penkridge Cricket Club (PCC) regardless of age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, ability or disability have the right; 

1.                    To be protected

2.                  Enjoy their cricket in a safe environment 

Adults working for PCC with Young People will; 

1.                   Adhere to the standards set out in this document.

2.                 Provide a safe and positive and fun cricketing experience for Young People.

3.                 Will be educated in the best practice when working with young people.

4.                 Will be familiar with this document and have access to the ECB Welfare of Young People Cricket Policy via PCC Youth Development officer. 

The Management Committee for PCC; 

1.                   Fully endorse the contents of this document.

2.                 Ensure any allegations or suspicions relating to Young People will be dealt with swiftly and appropriately. 

2.    Good Practice  

·                     Ensure that cricket is fun, enjoyable and fair play is promoted.

·                     Treat all young people equally with respect and dignity.

·                     The welfare of the Young Person comes before winning.

·                     Do not use bad language, smoke or drink while in charge of young people.

·                     Work in an open environment both physically and emotionally e.g. encourage participation.

·                     Give enthusiastic and constructive feedback.

·                     Ensure proper records are kept and are at hand if required (including accident and injury).

·                     Ensure physical contact should be appropriate and with the Young Persons permission.

·                     Always follow-up allegations made by a young person in accordance with the guidelines in the ECB Welfare of Young People Cricket Policy.

·                     Keep your technical skills, qualifications and insurances up to date.

·                     Always inform a parent if:

• You accidentally hurt a young person.
• A young person seems distressed in some manner.
• A young person misunderstands or misinterprets something you have done.

3.    Poor Practice

·                     Never spend time alone with young people way from others

·                     Never take Young People to your home where they will be alone with you

·                     Never engage in rough, physical or sexually provocative games

·                     Never share a room with a young person (tours etc)

·                     Never make sexually suggestive remarks to a young person.

·                     Never allow inappropriate language to be used unchallenged

·                     Never do things of a personal nature for a young person that they should do themselves

·                     Never transport Young People in your car alone

·                     Never transport Young People if you are not insured, your car has not a valid MOT or you are disqualified from driving  

4.   ECB Welfare Incident Form 
This is part of the Welfare of Young People Cricket Policy document and therefore can be obtained via the Youth Development Officer and must be completed if any of the best practice guidelines above are breeched. 

5.    Photography or use of video 
Parents permission should be sought before young peoples pictures are put on the web-site. Video analysis plays a big part in the coaching of a young cricketer however parent’s permission should be sought before doing taking Video footage of their children and the footage should be stored. This will be obtained on membership forms.  Full guidelines on the use of photography are included in the ECB guidelines.

6.    Changing Facilities

·                     Children changing rooms under the age of 10 should be supervised at all times by staff of the same gender of the players. 

·                     Adults should not shower with children under 16

·                     If young people do not wish to shower in public they should be put under no pressure to do so. Encourage them to do so at home.

7.    Guidance for parents 
Parents should be made aware that;

·                                 PCC encourage coaching staff to be appropriately qualified and aware of all child protection issues

·                                 PCC encourage parents to get involved with the club.

·                                 If a parent/carer is late the club will:

• Attempt to make contact with the parent/carer
• Wait with the young person (preferably accompanied by other adults)
• Not send a child home with another person without prior permission
• Remind parents/carers re late collection
• At a last resort inform social services or the police  

8. Use of alcohol or illegal substances 
Young people will not be allowed to drink alcohol, smoke or take illegal substances while at PCC. 
Adults should not drink alcohol, smoke or take illegal substances while in charge of young persons. 

9.    Indicators of abuse 
Through training PCC coaches will be able to recognise situations where children may have been abused, and guidelines exist to help them assist the young person in an appropriate manner and are set out in full in the ECB policy document.  

10.   Bullying and Harassment 
Similarly to the case with abuse PCC staff will be able to recognise situations were this is occurring and is obviously at odds with our policy of providing an environment where young people can enjoy their cricket.  

11.  Recruitment 
PCC ask all staff to declare their suitability for working with children via an internal form and an initial self declaration form.

12.   Visibility 
PCC will ensure that all members and parents within the club are aware of this document and the obligations that go with it. 

 
What to do if you have Child Protection concerns

If you have Child Protection concerns you should: 

·                                 Report any information or concerns to your Club Welfare Officer

·                                 Ensure that you have obtained as much information about your concerns or an incident as possible

·                                 Complete an Incident Reporting Form and submit it to the County Welfare Officer  

Safe Hands - Incident Reporting Form (172 KB)   

·                                 Ensure that any umpire reports or statements accompany this information

·                                 Contact the Police / Ambulance / Children’s Social Care immediately if any child is in danger or has been hurt at the club and then report the matter to the County Welfare Officer

League Discipline

Until the introduction of the ECB Safeguarding Policy it was the responsibility of a League to discipline any person who had offended against a person regardless of age.
However, with the introduction of the ECB Safe Hands Policy it is not the responsibility of those in cricket to determine whether abuse of a child or young person has taken place but it is their responsibility to report it.
Any incident that takes place during the course of a cricket match that results in verbal, physical or sexual assault on a person under the age of 18 years must be referred to the County Welfare Officer for advice. An Incident Reporting Form must be completed.