SHEFFIELD UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB - U18 Player Safeguarding Children Policy
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SHEFFIELD UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB
U18 Player Safeguarding Children Policy
This policy sits alongside the Sheffield United Safeguarding Policy.
Safeguarding Officer – Sue Beeley
Academy Head of Education and Welfare – Mark Wilgose
Women & Girls Section Safeguarding Officer- Kay Adkins
Contents –
Introduction
Safeguarding Objectives of Sheffield United Football Club
Making Children Safe
What is meant by ‘harm and abuse’
Dealing with and reporting allegations of abuse
If possible abuse is reported
Due to the number of areas in which safeguarding issues are likely to occur a
number of additional documents are in place including:
• Anti bullying Policy
• Transport Policy
• Tour and Tournaments Policy
• Accommodation Policy
• School Release Policy
• Trialist Strategy
• Images Policy
• SUFC Assessment Centres Guidance
• Trialist Guidance
• Recruitment Policy
• Whistle Blowing Policy
• Communication Guidance
• Sexting Policy
There is also a Complaints Procedure in place.
A Social Media Policy continues to be developed for the whole Football Club.
1
Reviewed: August 2018
Review Date: July 2019Introduction
This document sets out the general policy of Sheffield United Football Club
regarding the protection, from harm and abuse, of all children and young
persons who are registered with the Sheffield United Football Club. Trialists
with the club, along with any child or young person that is engaged in any
activity including Assessment Centres organised by the Academy, the RTC
the Women’s Development Squad and U18 players in Senior Squads are also
covered by this policy. The policy fully supports and complies with the
Safeguarding Policy of the F.A. and the EFL and the Policy, Procedures and
Practices documents of the Football Association. Additionally, our
Safeguarding Policy fully meets the guidelines provided by Sport England.
Sheffield United Football Club believes that concern for the general well being
and welfare of all children and young persons who are registered as an U18
Player is of a paramount importance in developing the young players of the
future, and in providing the setting for a proper concern of Safeguarding
Children. Sheffield United Football Club recognise that children and young
people living away from home are particularly vulnerable and the importance
of responsibility and trust that is placed on them by all students and trialists
and their families. It will seek to respond to that responsibility by encouraging
best practice in Safeguarding Children matters carried out in a spirit of
partnership and openness with all players, their families, and the local
agencies that carry the statutory responsibility for Safeguarding Children.
Sheffield United Football Club aims to promote and support good outcomes in
terms of health, development and educational achievement alongside football
and sporting excellence. It also recognises the significance of ethical cultural
diversity for all of it’s young players.
The Chief Executive Officer has day to day overall responsibility for Sheffield
United and ratifies all policies on behalf of the Board and ensure that
safeguarding is a priority across all areas of the Club.
2
Reviewed: August 2018
Review Date: July 2019Safeguarding Objectives of Sheffield United Football Club - Working
with U18 players
The Club:
• Promotes and supports good outcomes in terms of health,
development and educational achievements of its players.
• Enables parents and other members of the student’s family to be as
involved as is practicable in a working partnership with the Club.
Parents Evenings / Parental Forums will be available to assist in this.
• Recognises the significance of ethnic and cultural diversity, and
provides equity training for members of staff (Guidance taken from the
Club’s Equality, Inclusion and Diversity Policy).
• Acknowledges its responsibility to set high football, academic and
social standards.
• Expects that all adults having contact with students will provide good
models of behaviour, be honest and take the feelings of others into
account. The Club fully supports the FA’s ‘Respect’ campaign.
• Seeks opportunities for celebrating player’s success, whether that be in
a football, educational, or social environment. We will always recognise
achievement, effort and good behaviour.
• Recognises that good behaviour will be achieved if all those involved in
working with U18 players have a clear and mutual understanding of
what is expected of them. Codes of Conduct for players, parents,
coaches etc should all be adhered to.
• Provides a disciplined environment where students will work together
taking pride in themselves and their surroundings.
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Reviewed: August 2018
Review Date: July 2019Making Children Safe
The safeguarding of the child must be the first priority for all the staff and
volunteers at the Sheffield United FC.
The Academy the Safeguarding Officer, the Head of Education & Welfare and
the Women & Girls Safeguarding Officer are the designated persons to whom
any sign of child abuse should reported. The designated persons will liaise
with the Senior Managers and the Sheffield United Senior Safeguarding
Person. Additionally, they will be supported so as to carry out their role
effectively and will be appropriately trained. All relevant issues will be
discussed with appropriate personnel and appropriate action will be jointly
agreed.
All potential staff and volunteers at Sheffield United FC will be checked as to
their suitability to work with children as specified by the Football Association
criteria for the registration of Football Academies & RTC’s. All staff requiring a
check will have undergone a FA CRC through the Disclosure and Barring
Service.
Sheffield United FC will ensure that all staff and volunteers who are in close
contact with children will have completed the FA Safeguarding Children
workshop (or relevant equivalent dependent on their role). It is possibly to
reduce situations in which abuse can occur and help to protect
staff/volunteers by promoting good practice. All Sheffield United Football Club
staff, volunteers and scouts (working with the U18’s) should carry ID cards.
Staff will be made aware of this policy and its’ procedures and know that any
issues need to be referred to the appropriate Safeguarding Officer. All parents
will be informed about this policy and practices through the appropriate
booklet and relevant web site.
All staff and volunteers should ensure that players and parents have access
to the appropriate Safeguarding Officer and be aware that all incidents are
acknowledged and logged.
Staff dealing with incidents will be guided by the local authority Safeguarding
Board, the Department of Health publication Working Together to Safeguard
Children (2018), the Children’s Act 1989 & 2004 and the FA guidelines on
Safeguarding Children.
Sheffield United FC recognises the responsibility to assist our partner
agencies including schools and colleges in their statutory duty under the
Prevent Strategy to support the Government’s Anti-Terrorist Agenda. This is
not to prevent participants from having political and religious views and
4
Reviewed: August 2018
Review Date: July 2019opinions but about supporting young people so they act in non-extremist
ways.
If anyone has any concerns or questions relating to welfare issues they can
email the Sheffield United Football Club Child Protection Officer at
CPO@sufc.co.uk .
Sheffield United also has a Whistle Blowing Policy in place.
You should also be aware of the following local and national help line number
in case you feel a need for them –
Childline 0800 1111
NSPCC 0800 800 500
Sheffield Safeguarding Children Board details can be found at :
https://www.safeguardingsheffieldchildren.org.uk/welcome/contact-
us.html
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Reviewed: August 2018
Review Date: July 2019What is meant be “harm and abuse”?
Abusive neglect is when a child has been severely neglected to the extent
that the health and development has impaired.
In the football environment, neglect might also occur if a coach or manager
fails to ensure children are safe, or exposes them to undue extremes of
weather or risk of injury.
Physical injury not only includes actually harming the child but also activities
which could cause an injury and the failure to prevent physical injury.
In the football environment, physical abuse might also occur if the nature or
intensity of training exceeds the capacity of the child’s immature and growing
body, (e.g. over training) and also if coaches encourage children to take
performance enhancing drugs.
Sexual abuse includes both actual and likely exploitation of the child.
In the football environment, sexual abuse might also occur if inappropriate
physical contact takes place e.g. inappropriate supporting, inappropriate
treatment or inappropriate touching of children.
Abusive situations can arise when adults misuse their power over children.
Emotional abuse is when persistent or severe ill treatment or behaviour
cause or is likely to cause damage to the child’s emotional or developmental
well being - for example persistent bullying, discrimination, the withholding of
approval or verbal attacks which lead to the child’s loss of confidence and self
esteem.
In the football environment, emotional abuse might also include situations
where parents or coaches subject children to constant criticism, bullying or
unrealistic pressure to perform high expectations.
Bullying will be covered in a separate policy.
Grooming when someone builds and emotional connection with a child to
gain their trust for purposes of sexual abuse, sexual exploitation or trafficking.
Children and young people can be groomed online or face to face, by a
stranger or someone they know e.g. a family member, friend or professional.
Groomers may be male or female and of any age.
This could be identified in football by coaches showing preferential treatment
of a young player and spending excessive, one to one time with them.
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Reviewed: August 2018
Review Date: July 2019Dealing with and reporting allegations of abuse
You can be alerted to the possibility of abuse by -
• A child telling you something.
• A third party telling you their concerns.
• Observing something that causes you concern.
It is not the responsibility of anyone working for the football club to decide
whether or not abuse is taking place but it is your responsibility to take action
however small your concern.
If a child starts to disclose, the response should be as follows :-
As the disclosure starts remember:
• Any questions you ask should be open ended and not directed.
• You should make it clear that the young person does not need to say
any more but that you will need to talk to someone else (Child
Protection Coordinator)
• Reassure and support.
If a full disclosure is made to you:
• Listen to what is being said
• Accept what is being said (children rarely lie about abuse)
• Alleviate guilt, e.g. it’s not your fault, you are not to blame, you are not
the one responsible, you are not alone.
• Do not guarantee anything to the young person, e.g. you must not
promise to keep anything between you and the child to yourselves but
instead should say you will only do what will, in the long term, be in the
child’s best interest. Don’t say ‘It will be alright’.
• Avoid
- Leading questions
- Criticising
- Projecting yourself onto the child
- Putting words into the child’s mouth
What to do next:
• Record the conversation (date, time, place, what has been said, what
is seen, behaviour, drawings etc.).
7
Reviewed: August 2018
Review Date: July 2019• Refer the disclosure straight away to the appropriate Safeguarding
Officer.
If possible abuse is reported
We will follow the procedures set out in the procedure manual produced by
Safeguarding Children Board. The following principles will apply:-
The Safeguarding Officer will ask for a brief written factual statement from the
person making the report. There is a standard Safeguarding Children Incident
Form on which any concerns or incidents can be recorded.
Those managers with safeguarding responsibility and SUFC Senior
Safeguarding Person will liaise to ensure that procedures are correctly
followed.
The Safeguarding Officer consult and take advice from the FA Child
Protection team, the Police / Social Services keeping a note of the persons to
whom concerns were passed. If the one of the Safeguarding Officers is not
available you should take the responsibility yourself to notify Police / Social
Services.
The Safeguarding Officer and appropriate staff members along with the
Police/Social Services will decide how to involve the parents.
Records will be kept separately and securely in a confidential file marked
‘Child Protection’ in the Safeguarding Officer’s Office. All information will be
dealt with confidentially and shared only with the people who need to or who
must know. Care must be taken to indicate the sensitivity and confidentially of
information.
The Safeguarding Officer should provide guidance and appropriate support to
any member of staff or volunteer who makes a report of suspected abuse.
Parents should be supported and guided by their own area Social Services
Safeguarding Children Team.
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Reviewed: August 2018
Review Date: July 2019You can also read
