Corpus Christi Juniors F.C Safeguarding

Corpus Christi Juniors Football Club

Safeguarding Policy

Corpus Christi Juniors Football Club Welfare Officer and Designated Safeguarding Officer

Kim Greenaway

Contact details- email kimccjfc@outlook.com

1. Corpus Christi Juniors Football Club acknowledged its responsibility to safeguard the welfare of every child and is committed to providing a safe environment for all. We recognise that a child is anyone under the age of 18 and subscribe to The Football Association’s (FA) Safeguarding Children Policy and procedures.

2. Corpus Christi Juniors Football Club endorses and adopts the following key safeguarding principles:

· The child’s welfare is, and must always be, the paramount consideration.

· All children and young people have the right to be protected from abuse regardless of their age, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, race, nationality, ethnic origin, colour, religion or belief.

· All suspicions and allegations of abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately; and

· Working in partnership with other organisations, children and young people and their parents/carers is essential. We acknowledge that every child or young person who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse. Corpus Christi Juniors Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club

3. Corpus Christi Juniors Football Club has a role to play in safeguarding the welfare of all children and young people by protecting them from physical, sexual or emotional harm and from neglect or bullying. It is noted and accepted that the FA’s Handbook (TheFA.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/fa-handbook) apply to everyone in football whether in a paid or voluntary capacity, including coaches/ mangers, volunteers, match officials, helpers on club tours, or medical staff or other club officials/helpers.

4. We endorse and adopt the FA’s Safer Recruitment guidelines and we will:

· Specify what the role is and what tasks are involved;

· Request identification documents;

· As a minimum meet and chat with the applicant and where possible interview people before appointing them;

· Ask for and follow up with two references before appointing someone; and

· Where eligible require an FA accepted DBS enhanced with barred list check, in line with the FA’s current Safeguarding Children’s Policy and Regulations

All current Corpus Christi Juniors Football Club members working directly in eligible roles with children and young people are required and hold current in-date DBS enhanced checks.

· If there are concerns regarding the appropriateness of an individual who is already involved or who has approached us to become part of Corpus Christi Football Club, guidance will be sort from the County Football Association (CFA). It is noted and accepted that The FA will consider the relevance and significance of the information obtained via the DBS process and that all suitability decisions will be made in accordance with the legislation and in the best interests of children and young people.

· It is accepted that The FA aims to prevent people with a history of relevant and significant offending from having contact with children or young people and the opportunity to influence polices or practice with children or young people. This is to prevent direct sexual or physical harm to children and to minimise the risk of ‘grooming’ within football.

5. Corpus Christi Football Club supports The FA’s Whistle Blowing policy ( as described in this section) which required any adult or young person with concerns about an adult in a position of trust within football can ‘whistle blow’ by contacting The FA Safeguarding Team on 0800 169 1863, by writing to The FA Case Manager at The Football Association, Wembley Stadium, PO BOX 1966, London SW1P 9EQ, by emailing Safeguarding@TheFA.com or alternatively by going direct to the Police, Children’s Social Care or the NSPCC. Corpus Christi Football Club encourages everyone to know about The FA’s Whistle Blowing Policy and to utilise it if necessary.

6. Corpus Christi Football Club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer – CWO (Youth Teams) in line with The FA’s role profile who has completed the Safeguarding Children and Welfare Officers Workshop by the CWO. The post holder will be involved with ongoing Welfare Officer training provided by The FA/or CFA. The CWO will liaise directly with the CFA Designated Safeguarding Officer and will be familiar with the procedures for referring any concerns. The CWO will also play a protective role in increasing awareness of respect, poor practice, and abuse amongst club members.

7. We acknowledge and endorse The FA’s identification of bullying as a category of abuse. Bullying of any kind is not acceptable at our club. If bullying does occur, all players and parents/carers should be able to access our anti-bullying policy and know that incidents will be dealt with appropriately. Incidents need to be reported to the CWO and in case of serious bullying the CFA Designated Safeguarding Officer may be contacted.

8. Codes of conduct for players, parents/spectators and coaches/managers (as required by CPSU Safeguarding Standards and included in this pack) have been implemented by Corpus Christi Football Club. In order to police these codes of conduct the club has clear actions it will take regarding repeated or serious misconduct at club level and acknowledges the possibility of potential sanctions which may be implemented by the CFA in more serious circumstances