Child Protection Policy

Child Safeguarding Policy

Background

Working with children and young people is a privilege. Children and young people have the right to thrive in safe and supportive environments within the play, active recreation and sports system.

Play, active recreation and sport are a vital part of life. They offer fun, great pride and a sense of achievement, and are a positive influence in the lives of many children and young people – building self-esteem, resilience, routine, teamwork and a sense of belonging. However, the wellbeing of children and young people in play, active recreation and sport also requires their safety and welfare to be covered.

To achieve this, Birkenhead City Cricket Club has embraced policies and practices that support and protect children and young people.

We acknowledge that everyone involved with Birkenhead City Cricket Club has a legal and moral responsibility to protect children and young people from abuse and neglect. Children and young people have a right to take part in cricket at Birkenhead City Cricket Club in a safe environment, and to receive the support they need if they are at risk or vulnerable.

Every childhood is important, and every child and young person has the same rights to enjoyment, to have their views considered, and to be free from abuse. All children and young people, regardless of their background, have the right to access the support they need. It is crucial that all children and young people are in the care of safe and skilled adults at Birkenhead City Cricket Club, who are supported, trained and guided by effective policies, procedures and standards.

The Purpose of This Policy

This policy gives details of Birkenhead City Cricket Club’s commitment to the protection of children and young people.

The policy:

1. Sets standards to protect children and young people, our staff, volunteers and contractors.
2. Contains procedures for our staff, volunteers and contractors to guide them in identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect, to meet our obligations under the Children’s Act 2014.
3. Creates a mandatory requirement for all staff, volunteers and contractors to report any concern about the safety of a child or young person – no matter how small they believe it may be – to one of our Child Safeguarding Representatives (CSRs).
4. Appoints our CSRs and sets out their role and responsibilities.
5. Provides details of the other procedures in place that are to be followed by all staff, volunteers and contractors at all times.
6. Ensures the club creates a safe environment, and that all staff know what to do if there are concerns about a child or young person.

Scope – Who Does the Policy Apply To?

Staff: This policy applies to all staff who are employed, volunteer, or are engaged or contracted by Birkenhead City Cricket Club, including board members. The term “staff” is used throughout this policy and its procedures to cover all the people named above.

Children and young people: This policy applies to all children and young people up to 18 years of age who are taking part in Birkenhead City Cricket Club activities. It also applies to any other children who may not be directly taking part in club activities, but with whom staff may have contact – such as child spectators or siblings.

Our Commitment

Birkenhead City Cricket Club wants all children and young people to have a positive and enjoyable experience of cricket, and is committed to providing a safe and child-centred environment where children and young people are protected from abuse that may occur inside or outside the organisation.

We do this by having a full range of standards, codes and policies, with trained and safe people working with children and young people. We are committed to embedding a culture of safeguarding and child protection that goes beyond compliance.

To Children and Young People

• We commit to always putting children and young people’s welfare first in every decision we make.
• We will ensure all children and young people feel respected, listened to, valued and encouraged to enjoy and participate in their sport, recreation or activity.
• We will appoint a Child Safeguarding Representative to ensure concerns are dealt with quickly, sensitively, effectively and consistently.
• We will provide safe people to work with children and young people.
• We will provide staff and volunteers who are well trained and confident to respond to any concerns for the safety of a child or young person.
• We will listen to and believe children and young people.

To Parents, Caregivers and Whānau

• We will support and respect the vital role parents, caregivers and whānau play in the lives of their children, while always making sure the safety of the child or young person is our priority.
• We will have open, transparent and honest communication with parents, caregivers and whānau about all aspects of their child’s welfare, as long as we can keep the child or young person safe while doing so.
• We will raise any concerns we have as soon as we have them, and offer referrals to community services that might help a family through times of difficulty and change.
• We will be available and approachable to listen to any concerns a parent, caregiver or whānau member may have about their child while they are involved in Birkenhead City Cricket Club activities.
• We will take every concern about a child or young person’s safety seriously, and respond consistently and effectively.
• We will provide staff and volunteers who are well trained and confident to respond to any concerns for the safety of a child or young person.

To Staff, Contractors and Volunteers

• We will ensure all staff are inducted into our child safeguarding culture.
• We will provide clear expectations, policies and procedures to support keeping children, young people, staff, contractors and volunteers safe and protected from harm.
• We will provide support and regular training to ensure these expectations can be met.
• We will provide adequate supervision so staff, contractors and volunteers always know who they can talk to, and the process involved if they have a concern about a child or young person.

Our Embedded Child Safeguarding Culture

Our safeguarding culture includes the following policies, procedures and supporting documents:

• Policy 1 – Child Safeguarding Policy
• Procedure 1 – Responding to Actual or Suspected Child Abuse or Neglect
• Procedure 2 – Responding to an Allegation of Child Abuse or Neglect by a Staff Member or Volunteer
• Procedure 3 – Responding to a Disclosure from a Child of Abuse or Neglect
• Appendix 1 – Child Concern Form
• Appendix 2 – Indicators of Abuse
• Appendix 3 – Body Map
• Policy 2 – Child Safeguarding Representative Policy
• Policy 3 – Information Sharing and Confidentiality Policy
• Procedure 4 – Information Sharing and Confidentiality Procedures
• Policy 4 – Privacy Policy
• Policy 5 – Code of Conduct for People Working or Volunteering with Children and Young People
• Policy 6 – Safer Recruitment Policy
• Procedure 5 – Procedures for Safer Recruitment of Employees and Volunteers
• Appendix 5 – Safer Recruitment Checklist for Staff and Volunteers
• Appendix 6 – Questions for Interviewers and Referees
• Appendix 7 – Screening Form
• Policy 7 – Media Policy (Photography, Filming and Use of Images of Children and Young People)
• Appendix 8 – Consent Form – Use of Imagery
• Policy 8 – Transportation of Children and Young People Policy
• Policy 9 – Billeting and Overnight Accommodation Policy
• Procedure 6 – Missing Child Procedure
• Policy 10 – Safe Use of Changing Facilities Policy
• Organisation Risk Assessment Form

Full details on this documentation are available from the Club General Manager via email office@birkenheadcricket.co.nz.