Chatteris St Peters Tennis Club

Chatteris St Peters Tennis Child Protection Policy

Children at the club participate in structured coaching sessions and supervised tournaments. They are also permitted to play unsupervised/social tennis.

The club is committed to child protection and strives to provide a safe environment for all children who are involved with the club.

Our members who come into contact with young people follow the guidelines detailed below;

1. Any concerns about individuals or practices in the club should be reported to the management committee, who will then report through the appropriate channels.

2. Keep up to date with child protection issues and adhere to best practice at all times.

3. Plan work in such a way as to minimise possible claims of abuse.

4. Be watchful of one another.

5. Be Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) checked.

6. No member to ever be left alone with a child.

7. Volunteers should always have a CRB checked member with them and complete a voluntary disclosure form where possible.

8. If photographs are to be taken, parental consent should first be gained.

The designated Child Protection Officer for the club is Mandy Brine.

Contact details: 07947585633 or mandybrine5@hotmail.com

If a child discloses abuse to you

Listen carefully to the child.

Stay calm.

Be re-assuring and do not make immediate decisions or condemn anyone.

Make sure the child knows you believe them.

Do not make promises about the situation that you may not be able to keep.

Do not make assumptions about how the child feels.

Inform the child that the abuse is not their fault.

Make sure that the child understands that you cannot keep the abuse a secret and must tell the appropriate people.

Do not send the child home.

Do not contact the abuser.

Social Services or the Police should be contacted.

Make sure you explain you are telephoning about disclosures of child abuse.

Written notes are to be kept on all conversations between you, the child and any organisation involved.

The 6 definitions of abuse are:-

NEGLECT, SEXUAL ABUSE, PHYSICAL ABUSE, EMOTIONAL ABUSE, ORGANISED & MULTIPLE ABUSE

If asked to provide a written report on alleged child abuse, it should include:-

Date and time of the disclosure.

Name and address of alleged perpetrator.

Accurate details of what was said by the child.

Accurate details of what was said to the child making the disclosure.

Details of action taken as a direct result of the disclosure being made.

A signature and date.

Be prepared to give continued support to the young person and his/her family.

Also be prepared to present or answer questions on the disclosure report at any subsequent investigation/hearing resulting from the disclosure.

Last reviewed September 2022 – Next review September 2024