CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

POLICY STATEMENT ON SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN

The values held by Messingham Bowls Club are:

Messingham Bowls Club recognises that all children have a right to protection from abuse.  Messingham bowls Club takes seriously its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people. We will:

• Respond swiftly and appropriately to all suspicions or allegations of abuse and neglect
• Provide parents and children with the opportunity to voice their concerns
• Have a system for dealing with concerns about possible abuse and neglect

THE POLICY

Messingham Bowls Club recognises that many children and young people today are the victims of physical, emotional, sexual abuse and/or neglect. Accordingly, Messingham Bowls Club has adopted the following policy guidelines. The policy sets out agreed guidelines for responding to allegations of abuse/neglect, including those made against staff and volunteers. These guidelines have been prepared in accordance with North Lincolnshire Children’s MARS Policies and Procedures. They will be kept under review and be supported by appropriate training.

The policy applies to all staff and volunteers who act on behalf of Messingham Bowls Club and who work with children. Every individual has a responsibility to inform the designated person in respect of child protection or their deputy of concerns relating to safeguarding children. The designated person should decide if the concerns should be communicated to North Lincolnshire Children’s Services or the police. However, all staff and volunteers can contact North Lincolnshire Children’s Services directly if necessary.

DEFINITIONS OF ABUSE (Working Together 2018)

A concern should be raised if any of the following circumstances have or are happening to a child:

• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Sexual abuse (including Child Sexual Exploitation)
• Neglect

PHYSICAL ABUSE

A form of abuse which may involve hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, or scalding, drowning, suffocation or otherwise causing physical harm to a child. Physical harm may also be caused when a parent or carer fabricates the symptoms of, or deliberately induces, illness in a child.

EMOTIONAL ABUSE

The persistent emotional maltreatment of a child such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the child’s emotional development. It may involve conveying to a child that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate, or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person. It may include not giving the child opportunities to express their views, deliberately silencing them or ‘making fun’ of what they say or how they communicate. It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children. These may include interactions that are beyond a child’s developmental capability, as well as overprotection and limitation of exploration and learning, or preventing the child participating in normal social interaction. It may involve seeing or hearing the ill-treatment of another. It may involve serious bullying (including cyber bullying), causing children frequently to feel frightened or in danger, or the exploration or corruption of children. Some level of emotional abuse is involved in all types of maltreatment of a child, though it may occur alone.

SEXUAL ABUSE

Involves forcing or enticing a child or young person to take part in sexual activities, not necessarily involving a high level of violence, whether or not the child is aware of what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including assault by penetration (for example, rape or oral sex) or non-penetrative acts such as masturbation, kissing, rubbing, and touching outside of clothing. They may also include non-contact activities, such as involving children in looking at, or in the production of, sexual images, watching sexual activities, encouraging children to behave in sexually inappropriate ways, or grooming a child in preparation for abuse (including via the internet). Sexual abuse is not solely perpetrated by adult males. Women can also commit acts of sexual abuse, as can other children.

CHILD SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Child sexual exploitation is a form of child sexual abuse. It occurs where an individual or group takes advantage of an imbalance of power to coerce, manipulate or deceive a child or young person under the age of 18 into sexual activity (a) in exchange for something the victims needs or wants, and/or (b) for the financial advantage or increased status of the perpetrator or facilitator. The victim may have been sexually exploited even if the sexual activity appears consensual. Child sexual exploitation does not always involve physical contact; it can also occur through the use of technology.

NEGLECT

The persistent failure to meet a child’s basic physical and/or psychological needs, likely to result in the serious impairment of the child’s health or development. Neglect may occur during pregnancy as a result of maternal substance abuse. Once a child is born, neglect may involve a parent or carer failing to:

• Provide adequate food, clothing and shelter (including exclusion from home or abandonment);
• Protect a child from physical and emotional harm or danger.
• Ensure adequate supervision (including the use of inadequate caregivers); or
• Ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment

It may also include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a child’s basic emotional needs.

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IF YOU SUSPECT ABUSE

1. You must report concerns as soon as possible to Mr. Andrew Clark Designated Child Protection Person on 01724 762561 who is nominated by Messingham Bowls Club to act on their behalf in referring allegations of suspicions of abuse or neglect to North Lincolnshire Children’s Services. In the absence of the designated person, the matter should be brought to the attention of the deputy designated person Mr. Keith Sylvester on 01724 762414. If it is an emergency, and the designated person(s) cannot be contacted, then North Lincolnshire Children’s Services or the police should be contacted at the numbers given below. For further information, refer https://www.northlincscmars.co.uk
2. If the suspicions relate to the designated person, then the deputy, North Lincolnshire Children’s Services or the Police should be contacted.
3. Suspicions should not be discussed with anyone, other than those named above.
4. It is the right of any individual to make direct referrals to North Lincolnshire Children’s Services. However, this policy should be followed where possible.

RECORDING

1. Write down exactly what the child has said in their own words. Write down the conversation held, where it was held, when and what was happening beforehand. Alternatively write down what you have observed, details of any witnesses, location, and your specific concern if you believe that a child has been abused or neglected. Record dates and times of the events and when the record was made. Keep all notes secure.Report your discussion as soon as possible to the designated person.
2. Allegations against staff or volunteers will be investigated following local procedures. For further information see the Children’s MARS Managing Allegations procedures

MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS

Any records relating to child welfare concerns or concerns about possible risk posed by employees or volunteers will be kept in a locked cupboard with access limited to the Club Secretary and Chairman. Records will only be kept for the statutory minimum period and then will be destroyed by shredding. For concerns raised and acted upon, a record will be kept until the child is 25 years old. For concerns not acted upon, a record will be kept for 6 years after the child has ceased association with the organization. For concerns regarding staff or volunteers they will be kept on their personal file until retirement age 67 years or for 10 years whichever is longer.

E SAFEGUARDING AND ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY FOR ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT

The club has no electronic equipment available and personal computers are only used for necessary club business in accordance with our GDPR. Photographs may not be taken without written consent prior to them being taken.

WHISTLE BLOWING PROCEDURES

Anyone who raises concerns that they believe to be genuine will be treated fairly and where

Possible confidentially and they will suffer no repercussions for raising those concerns. If anyone feels unable to raise their concerns within the organization then they can contact one of the agencies listed below.

We will follow Bowls England Whistle Blowing Guidelines, a copy of which are available with the club policies held by the Club Secretary.

CONTACT INFORMATION

CONTACT DETAILS FOR YOUR ORGANISATION

Messingham Bowls Club, Northfield Road Messingham DN17 3SA.

Club Secretary Andrew Clark 41 Knightsbridge Road, Messingham, Scunthorpe DN17 3RA 01724 762561

DESIGNATED /SENIOR CHILD PROTECTION PERSON FOR YOUR ORGANISATION,

Mr. Andrew Clark 41 Knightsbridge Road Messingham Scunthorpe North Lincolnshire DN17 3RA . 01724 762561

DEPUTY DESIGNATED CHILD PROTECTION PERSON FOR YOUR ORGANISATION

Mr. Keith Sylvester 34 Wendover Road Messingham DN17 3SW. 01724 762414. Club Chairman

NATIONAL OR SUPPORT BODY FOR OUR ORGANISATION

Bowls England Riverside House, Milverton Hill, Royal Leamington Spa, Warks 01926 334609

NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE CHILDREN SERVICES

Church Square House, Church Square, SCUNTHORPE DN15 6XQ

01724 296500 OR 01724 296555 [EXTENDED HOURS]

POLICE NON-EMERGENCY 101

POLICE EMERGENCY 999

LOCAL AUTHORITY DESIGNATED OFFICER, INDEPENDENT REVIEWING SERVICE 01724 298293