Active Devon recognises that Child Protection is about more than just policies and procedures and as such ensures all members of staff are CRB checked and undertake Safeguarding and Protecting Children training.
This training, orgainsed by Active Devon, is open to clubs, coaches, volunteers and the general public. To find details of the next available course, please click here.
Safeguarding & Protecting Children
The NSPCC’s Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) has launched a new website to ensure all sports organisations have access to the resources they need to safeguard children. The website will provide sports organisations with the most up to date advice, guidance and practice on safeguarding children in sport. The website features a free resource library containing video clips, practice briefings, template forms, policy statements and downloadable toolkits, all of which will help organisations ensure they have the right safeguards in place. Visit the new CPSU website at www.thecpsu.org.uk
Devon Safeguarding Childrens Board E-Briefing April 2013
You can now download the latest DSCB e-briefing for onward circulation to your children's workforce. It contains up-to-date information on important aspects related to safeguarding children, presenting a mix of national and local information.
New Department for Education guidance
The Department for Education has just published its new guidance on ‘Working together to safeguard children: a guide to inter-agency working to safeguard and promote the welfare of children’.
The new revised guidance is a single 97 page document replacing the following: Working together to safeguard children (2010), the Framework for the assessment of children in need and their families (2000) and Statutory guidance on making arrangements to safeguard and promote the welfare of children under section 11 of the Children Act 2004 (2007). The new guidance will come in to effect from April 15 2013.
Please visit the below link for details and access to the document:
http://www.nspcc.org.uk/Inform/cpsu/newsandevents/news_and_events_wda67379.html
New single safeguarding website for Devon
A new single website with information regarding safeguarding children and adults has been launched. A joint initiative from Devon's Safeguarding Children Board and Safeguarding Adults Board, the new-look website combines previously separate sites and includes access to workforce development and training opportunities.
New DBS (formerly CRB) information sheet
To help volunteers and volunteer-involving organisations understand the new DBS (formerly CRB) checking process. The sheet provides guidance on whether a check should be undertaken and if a particular position falls within ‘Regulated Activity’. It also looks at the wider safeguarding process and provides links to other useful resources.
www.volunteering.org.uk/component/gpb/protectionandsafeguarding
On 1st December 2012 CRB is changing - click here for the latest news.
UNICEF report on violence against children in sport
A recent study by UNICEF's Innocenti Research Centre states that child protection and violence prevention are not embedded in sport delivery systems, and finds worrying knowledge gaps among sports teachers and coaches. As a result, the report says that the same types of violence and abuse sometimes found in families and communities can also occur in sport and play programmes.
Protecting Children from Violence in Sport looked at bullying, psychological abuse, child labour, trafficking and sexual violence.
The report provides examples of good and poor practice and makes the following recommendations:
- development of structures and systems for eliminating and preventing violence
- education, awareness-raising and training on this subject
- promotion of ethical guidelines and codes of conduct as part of the prevention system
- improved data collection and knowledge generation.
For more information download the full report on the left.
The NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) has launched a Partnership Check and Challenge Tool to help keep children safe in sport and physical activity. It is a free resource for any organisation working in partnership to provide sport activities for children and young people. The tool is a simple-to-use checklist to ensure that children and young people are safe when taking part in sport and physical activities.
The resource:
- outlines the key aspects of safeguarding and protecting children and young people
- outlines the safeguarding responsibilities of each partner organisation.
- encourages partners to clarify and agree key safeguarding roles prior to the activities commencing.
You can access the tool by simply clicking here
There's a new update on 'Understanding the Grooming and Entrapment Process' of young people available on the NSPCC website, please click here to access.
Sporting organisations have a responsibility for ensuring the safety of all young people including those who are deaf or disabled.
The CPSU recognises that provision of appropriate resources and training are key elements to ensure that clubs develop a culture of inclusivity where the needs and additional vulnerability of disabled children are addressed with confidence. They are in the process of developing a new training resource which will include a DVD and training plans. In the interim a briefing paper has been produced which can be viewed by clicking here.
The welfare, safety and protection of young people is a priority for Active Devon. We aim to ensure children can participate in their chosen sport and physical activity in a fun, friendly and safe environment.
Active Devon takes a proactive approach to the implementation of policies and procedures relating to the safeguarding and protection of children and young people in sport and as such has it's own Child Protection Policy and Procedures. We also practice what we preach and have achieved the Intermediate Level of the NSPCC Standard for Safeguarding and Protecting Children in Sport in recognition the key achievements made by our organisation.
Our Child Protection Policy and Procedures may be used to help you develop a Child Protection Policy for your club. If you wish to have a copy of the document in word format, please e-mail active@devon.gov.uk (putting 'Child Protection Policy' in the e-mail title.) If you wish to find child protection policies for specific sports please contact the relevant National Governing Bodies.
The designated Child Protection officer is Karen Jones. The role and key function of the designated Child Protection officer are listed in the policy. To contact the designated Child Protection officer email karen.jones@devon.gov.uk or call her on 01392 263674 (office) or 07970 544406 (mobile).
We welcome the views of young people and their parents / carers on any of our policies or support material. If you would like to give us your thoughts or contribute towards new Child Protection policy please contact Karen Jones karen.jones@devon.gov.uk or call her on 01392 263674 (office) or 07970 544406 (mobile).
Sometimes things do go wrong. If this happens we need you to tell us so that we can try and put it right and stop it happening to others. The Devon County Council Customer Feedback Policy can be viewed at http://www.devon.gov.uk/compliments_and_complaints.htm.
