Child Protection

Policy and Procedure for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults

Policy

The Club accepts that it has an obligation to provide a duty of care to protect members who are children or vulnerable adults, to safeguard their welfare, irrespective of age, gender, racial origin, religious belief, sexual identity or disability, while involved in club activities.

The Club will take all reasonable practical steps to protect such members from harm and discrimination and will respond appropriately to all reported suspicions and allegations.

The Club recognises that the key to good practice is having an awareness of the principles required to promote a safe environment. The Club will adopt the Guidance Notes on Good Practice, Poor Practice and Abuse as set down in Section 2 of the Document Child Protection in Cycling issued by British Cycling and endorsed by Cycling Time Trials, and other leading national cycling organisations. Link to this document http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/web/site/BC/bcf/policies.asp

The Committee's responsibility is to ensure suitable procedures exist to meet this policy statement.

Procedures

In the absence of an appointed Club Welfare Officer, the Club General Secretary and Chairman of the Club Committee shall fulfil this role. Further, the Club Committee will determine as required which Club members need Criminal Records Bureau checks or to complete a Self Declaration Form (any costs incurred to be met by Club).

Any concerns about the welfare of any child or vulnerable adult should be reported in writing to the Club Welfare Officer who will then initiate an investigation into the allegations and report the findings to the Club Committee.

The Club Welfare Officer shall be responsible for making a detailed report to the Club Committee at the time of any disclosure of concern. This information should be written in factual format and avoid any opinion or hearsay. It is not the responsibility of the General Secretary, Chairman of the Committee or the Committee to determine whether or not abuse has taken place.

It is the responsibility of the Club Committee to report any concerns about the welfare of a child to the designated National Child Protection Officer (NCPO) of British Cycling (BC) as defined in the Guidance Notes (4: Responding to Disclosure, Suspicions and Allegations, paragraph 4.2 - Reporting Procedures). The NCPO will be responsible for referring the allegation to the Social Services Department in accordance with the procedures laid down in the Document Child Protection in Cycling. The Club Welfare Officer shall also notify the National Secretary of Cycling Time Trials (CTT) of any allegation reported to the NCPO of British Cycling.

British Cycling and all national cycling organisations who are parties to the Document Child Protection in Cycling have given a commitment that all suspicions will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately through laid down suspension, disciplinary and appeals procedures.

Where time is of the essence and the NCPO or the nominated deputy is unavailable, the Club Committee shall instruct the Club Welfare Officer to contact the NSPCC Help Line, the Duty Officer at Kent County Council Social Services or Child Protection Personnel within Kent Police.

The Club Committee has the power to suspend any member of the San Fairy Ann Cycling Club accused of alleged abuse while the appropriate authority is investigating the matter.