CCF CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
It is the policy of CCF to safeguard the welfare of all people
attending its events by protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional
harm.
CCF is committed to ensure that all of its activities fall within expected child protection practices. This Child Protection Policy Statement gives our policy and routines for the various activities that we are involved in, but is something we will look to amend as appropriate should be feel that there is a gap in our policy or where legislation moves to require a change.
CCF holds a standard Public Liability Insurance Policy and all of its trainers and staff, whether regular or otherwise, are considered to be covered by this policy whilst operating in any school or at any event under the CCF umbrella. CCF does not cover trainers or staff where they teach in schools or work at tournaments where they are not under the CCF umbrella. Also, trainers are not covered by CCF when they work on a private small group or 1-2-1 session not directly arranged by CCF. CCF will often recommend trainers to families but do so, unless stated otherwise, on the basis there is no liability to CCF or its insurers for any incidents.
It should be noted that these policies apply to all of our junior activities. However with activities involving adults, CCF cannot guarantee that other entrants to competitions are ideal or CRB clear and cannot take responsibility for those people. Obviously CCF as an organisation will do all that is reasonably possible to protect juniors who play in senior events (as we wish to encourage them to do so) but as entry is open to anyone and they are "adult" events, we cannot assure everyone of the integrity of everyone taken part. However, we will take seriously any complaint made at such an event.
SCHOOL TRAINING POLICY
* CCF require all of its adult trainers
to undergo a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check at least every 3
years. CCF will do this check themselves unless a school that one of their
trainers is teaching in has insisted on doing another check for their own records,
in which case CCF will ask to inspect the relevant documentation to ensure that
the result is satisfactory for them to continue training or officiating under the CCF
umbrella and will accept that as the start of another 3 years till the next
check is required.
* Where a trainer is new to our training team and is not yet
CRB cleared, CCF will arrange a suitable chaperon who will shadow that trainer
in their activities until such time as their "clear" CRB check arrives
so that they may start coaching on their own. Obviously this will only
happen with prior consultation and agreement with the school they are training
in.
* CCF is happy to work with every school to ensure that their
Child Protection Policy works together with ours to the satisfaction of both
organisations.
* CCF trainers are expected to use school discipline
structures (which vary from school to school) in dealing with unruly behaviour.
This is both for the protection of the trainer and of the pupils, who should be
used to the measures that their school will take against them. Trainers
should be aware that disciplinary procedures and attitude towards discipline can
vary considerably from school to school.
* CCF trainers should ideally refrain from any physical
contact with any of its trainees. This can be difficult when some younger
children are by nature tactile or possibly upset and where the trainer must use
their judgment accordingly. Trainers are strongly advised to register any
concerns or such incidents with both the school office and the CCF office
immediately afterwards for their own protection, regardless of how
"minor" they may have been.
* CCF trainers are expected to be well presented and
professional whilst
teaching in schools under the CCF umbrella.
* In the event of a complaint being made by a school or an
individual against a CCF trainer, CCF will discuss with the school whether or not it is appropriate
for that trainer to continue. Obviously the nature and seriousness of the
accusation/incident will determine this decision. If appropriate and if the school
so request, that trainer will be temporarily substituted whilst
the incident is being investigated. If the incident/accusation is deemed
serious enough, for the protection of the child, the trainer and CCF, CCF will
call for police involvement and the trainer will be suspended from all CCF
activities pending the outcome.
JUNIOR TOURNAMENT STAFF
* Although nobody at a
tournament should have unsupervised access to children (by the very nature of
the event), CCF will only use adult staff with clear CRB checks less than 3
years old to run our events. However, please note that when we are running
events, we often use a team of young helpers who know the format of the event
and therefore can assist us in running them; these helpers are obviously not CRB
cleared, but are carefully chosen and well supervised as they work for the
tournament management team.
* Tournament Staff shall not place themselves in a 1-2-1
situation with a child. If they need to speak to a child, they should seek
the permission of the Senior Arbiter (or CCF Senior Officials) and an
appropriate adult as a witness.
* Tournament Staff are not responsible for the general safety of
children at events they are working at. Parents should read Conditions
of Entry for further details.
GENERAL POLICY
* Generally, CCF staff will
be in a group supervised situation (whether in a school or running a tournament)
and therefore should not be in a one-to-one situation with any child.
Should circumstances arise where a member of staff is left on their own with a
single child, then the trainer should seek to move themselves and the child to
an area where they are with or close to another adult as soon as is possible.
* In the event of CCF staff transporting children between
venues, adults should do all they can to ensure they are not left alone in a car with a
single child who is under the age of 16 (and especially of Primary School age).
* Any drivers must ensure they have the necessary seating
safety requirements before agreeing to transport children in their vehicles.
INCIDENTS / COMPLAINTS
* CCF will take seriously
any complaint made against a member of its staff and will seek to act quickly to
bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion as this is in everyone's
interests. Any complaints made should be directed to Rev Howard Curtis as
the head of the CCF organisation, unless the complaint has been made against
him, in which case it should be directed to Rachel Burley as his assistant or
Emma Freeman as the Office Manager.
* CCF will also look into complaints of bullying or mis-treatment
by other competitors or individuals attending one of its events. However,
it must be noted that where issues relate to the actual playing of the match the
the Laws of Chess may be the relevant documentation to refer to when making
judgment and in some cases, the Laws of Chess will be used to resolve the issue.
* In the event of a serious complaint being made which CCF
feels is outside of its remit to investigate, then the police will be asked to
deal with the matter and CCF will work with the police to ensure that the
investigation is thoroughly and accurately carried out.
* If CCF decides that an internal investigation is appropriate
(this does not prevent parents/carers chosing to take the matter further should
they feel it appropriate), then it will seek to obtain all of the facts from all
of the parties involved to bring the matter to a conclusion as quickly as
reasonably possible.
1) immediately inform the CCF Manager (Rev Howard Curtis) or Office Manager (Emma Freeman) or the CCF Supervisor in charge of the event.
2) record the facts in writing as you know them and give a copy to the appropriate official as above.
3) ensure that the child has access to an independent adult.
4) ensure that no situation arises which could cause further concern.
5) ensure access to confidential information is restricted to appropriate officials.
1) allow the child to speak without interruption, accepting what is said.
2) alleviate feelings of guilt and isolation, while passing no judgement for or against either the child or the accused party/parties.
3) advise that you will try to offer support, but that you must pass the information on as appropriate.
4) same steps as 1 – 5 above
1) Immediately inform the the CCF Manager (Rev Howard Curtis) or Office Manager (Emma Freeman) or the CCF Supervisor in charge of the event.
2) record the facts as you know them and give a copy to the appropriate official as above.
3) try to ensure that no-one is placed in a position which could cause further compromise.
Do put the guidelines into practice
Do treat everyone with respect
Do provide an example you wish others to follow
Do plan activities which involve more than one other person
being present or at least are within sight or hearing of others. This applies to
such activities as one-to-one training and travelling to or from chess events.
Do respect a young person’s right to privacy
Do have separate sleeping accommodation for adults and young
people.
Do provide access for young people to talk to identifiable
responsible adults about any concerns they may have. Deal with any concerns in a
sympathetic and appropriate manner.
Do encourage young people and adults to feel comfortable and
caring enough to point out attitudes or behaviour they do not like
Do avoid situations that compromise your relationship with
young people and are unacceptable within a relationship of trust.
Do remember that someone else might misinterpret your actions,
no matter how well-intentioned
Do recognise that caution is required even in sensitive moments
of counselling
Do recognise that children with differing abilities have
differing requirements.
Do recognise that children from different backgrounds may have
differing values.
Do NOT permit abusive peer activities (e.g. bullying,
ridiculing)
Do NOT play dangerous physical contact games with young people
Do NOT have any inappropriate physical or verbal contact with
others
Do NOT allow yourself to be drawn into inappropriate attention
seeking behaviour such as tantrums
Do NOT show favouritism to any individual
Do NOT make suggestive remarks or gestures even in fun
Do NOT let suspicion, disclosure or allegation of abuse go
unrecorded or unreported
Do NOT rely on just your good name to protect you
Do NOT believe ‘it could never happen to me’