Child Protection Policy
Go Football Academy is committed to creating a safe, positive, and nurturing environment for all children participating in our programs. We recognise our duty of care and responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of all young players, ensuring their safety, protection, and well-being at all times.
Go Football Academy is fully committed to safeguarding the welfare of all children involved in our activities. We expect all staff, volunteers, and parents to share this commitment and work together to ensure a safe environment for all young players.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to:
- Protect children and young people who participate in our activities.
- Provide staff, volunteers, and parents with the overarching principles that guide our approach to child protection.
Scope
This policy applies to all staff, volunteers, and anyone involved in the activities organised by Go Football Academy.
Key Principles
1. Welfare of the Child: The welfare of the child is paramount. All children, regardless of age, gender, disability, race, religion, or sexual orientation, have the right to protection from abuse.
2. Safe Environment: We strive to provide a safe and secure environment where children can participate in football activities without fear of harm.
3. Staff and Volunteer Training: All staff and volunteers must undergo child protection training and understand their responsibilities in safeguarding children. Regular updates and refresher courses will be provided.
4. Code of Conduct: All staff and volunteers are expected to adhere to a strict code of conduct, which includes treating all children with respect, maintaining appropriate boundaries, and acting as positive role models.
5. Recruitment and Vetting: All staff and volunteers working with children must go through a thorough recruitment process, including background checks (e.g. DBS checks), interviews, and reference checks to ensure they are suitable to work with children.
Reporting Concerns
1. Recognising Signs of Abuse: Staff and volunteers must be vigilant and be aware of the signs of abuse, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, and neglect.
2. Reporting Procedures: Any concerns about a child's welfare should be reported immediately to the Child Protection Officer, Farhan Kharawala at farhan@gofootball.academy or 07539 793111 in the first instance.
3. Confidentiality: Information regarding child protection concerns will be treated with the utmost confidentiality and shared only on a need-to-know basis with appropriate authorities.
Response to Disclosures
If a child discloses that they are being harmed:
- Listen carefully and stay calm.
- Do not promise to keep secrets; explain that you must share this information to help them.
- Record the disclosure accurately and report it to the Child Protection Officer immediately.
Partnership with Parents and Guardians
We believe in maintaining open and honest communication with parents and guardians. We encourage them to be involved in their children's activities and to raise any concerns they may have with us.
Review and Monitoring
This policy will be reviewed annually or sooner if there are changes in legislation or guidance. Feedback from staff, volunteers, parents, and children will be considered to improve our safeguarding practices continuously.
This policy was last updated on 27/08/24.
Contact Information
For any child protection concerns, please contact:
- Child Protection Officer (CPO): Farhan Kharawala at farhan@gofootball.academy or 07539 793111.