Child Welfare Policy

1. Introduction
a. Luctonians Sports Clubs Ltd and Luctonians Youth Sport (here after referred to as the Club) recognises the need to ensure that all young persons who have cause to visit the Club or use the Clubs facilities either as members of the Club or visitors to the Club have a right to have all their human rights respected and will do every thing possible to ensure the physical and psychological health and safety of such young persons. The Club will also ensure that all young persons’ equity and diversity are respected.

b. This Child Protection Policy is written and prepared with the above statement in mind and as a means of giving guidance to all in respect of how to achieve the above by providing a secure and safe environment for all young persons to flourish and feel comfortable in.
This Policy should be read in conjunction with comparable publications produced by the sport’s National Governing Body

c. This Child Protection Policy will be applicable to any Child or Young Person who is a member of Luctonians Youth Sport whilst on Club premises, or other places where the Club has control over and to any Child or Young Persons who is a member of the Club whilst away from the Club but under supervision of Club Personnel. The Policy will equally apply to any other Child or Young Persons whilst on Club premises, or other places where the Club has control over and to any other Child or Young Person who is under supervision of Club Personnel

d. For the purpose of this Policy a Child or Young Person is any one who is under the age of 18 years of age at the commencement of any rugby season (1st of September). All references to Child or Young Person or any person under 16 shall be construed accordingly

2.  The Club 
a. The Club will appoint a Child Protection Officer to oversee and implement this policy.
This will be an appointed post and not an elected officer. The Club will appoint a person who is suitable to the role and has an understanding of these issues.

b. The Club will ensure all relevant support is given to the Child Protection Officer.

3. The Child Protection Officer
a. The appointed Child Protection Officer will be responsible for the implementation of this Policy. It will be the Child Protection Officer’s duty to ensure that this Policy is reviewed at the end of each rugby season and to recommended and implement any necessary changes.

b. The Child Protection Officer will be responsible to ensure action as out lined in this Policy is undertaken as and when necessary

4. Coaches / Team Managers
a. Each age group’s rugby will be supervised by a coach with a recognised National Governing Body coaching qualification.

b. Each coach will have signed a document stating they have been provided with, have read, understood and agree to governed by the Club’s code of ethics and conduct for all coaches and managers.

c. Each age group / team will have a Manager responsible for the administration and non-coaching matters of the young persons in that group. This person will be over the age of 21 and will have also have the same commitment as at 2.2.

d. The Manager will have also have a good working knowledge of this Policy and will be the first person to be contacted if there are concerns about any young person in his age group / Team.

e. Where as it is preferable for the Coaching and Age Group / Team Managerial responsibilities to be split between two separately identified individuals there is nothing to prevent the responsibilities being held by the same person.

5. Parents 
a. It is required that all parents who have young persons as members of Luctonians Youth Sport supply all relevant information to Club Officials as required and is necessary for the Club to be able to adequately care and respond to the need of the individual.

b. Parents will authorise Club Officials to act as Loco In parents when they, the parents, are not present. They will have signed the relevant consents authorising Club Officials to act in the manor that officials see fit for the health and safety of their children.

c. Parents are encouraged to enjoy the hospitality of the Club whilst there and to respect and obey the Parents Code of Conduct that will be displayed in the Club House and will have been made available to every Parent.

d. Parents will be encouraged not to use extreme behaviour either on the side of the pitches or in the Club House whilst young persons are about.

e. If any parent has a compliant or concern about any aspect of the Club they are encouraged to contact the appropriate age group / team manager in the first instance and then the designated Child Protection Officer or Junior Section Chairman if the problem cannot be resolved by the former.

f. If there is any cause for concern with a young person it will be the Age Group / Team Managers or if deemed appropriate an other Club Official to contact the parent(s) of that person to inform them of there concerns. This will be done as soon as practicable unless there is justifiable reason why such a course should not be undertaken.

7. Parents will also conform to the Spectators code of conduct.

6. Young Persons Under the Age of 18 years
1. Any young person on Club Premises who is under 16 years of age or is a member of Luctonians Rugby Football Club Junior Section is requested to conform to the 3 following rules:
Respect your self
Respect other people
Respect other people’s property.

7. Visitors and others Over 18 years
1. All visitors to Luctonians or any other Person over the ages of 18 are asked to respect the contents of this policy in respect of Children and Young Persons and conduct them selves accordingly whilst Children and young persons are present.

2. Whilst at Luctonians all person as requested to conform to the Spectators code of conduct whilst the Club is primarily engaged in the function of hosting Children and Young Persons.

8. Breaches of this Code
1. Where a breach of this code is identified it will be reported immediately to the relevant age group / team Manager, or Child Protection Officer or Other Club Official for immediate action

2. Where the concerns are in relation to a specific named child or young persons the person receiving the complaint will inform the Clubs Child Protection Officer Immediately, who will start to make enquiries and take the necessary action. All information and action taken and reasons for action taken will be recorded in a written form and will be made immediately available to any subsequent investigating body.

3. If the concerns are in relation to the Child Protection Officer himself or any other Club Official the information will immediately be passed to the appropriate and nominated National Governing Body Official.

4. Where the concerns are for a named adult who is believed or suspected of endangering the physical or mental health or safety of any child or young persons then the Child Protection Officer will ensure that all information and action taken and reasons for action taken will be recorded in written form and will be may immediately available to any subsequent investigating body. The Child protection Officer will at the earliest opportunity report the matter to Social Service for their consideration and directions.

5. Any breaches in this Policy that could amount to a criminal offence will be dealt with in the same way as any other criminal offences. Nothing in this Policy will negate responsibility to deal with criminal matters as such

6. In all dealing with breaches of this Policy the Child Protection Officer or other person dealing with the breach will adhere to the responsibilities set out in 3.6 above.

7. Confidentiality  
1. All information provided from any source to the Club for the purpose of complying with this Child Protection Policy will be kept confidential and will only be disclosed to a person who has a need to know and who with needs information to ensure the health and safety of the young person.
2. Any information disclosed about a child or young person held by the Club to other persons who do not fall with in the category 7.1 above would only be done with the consent of a parent or guardian.