SCCA Child Protection Advice

2)       Record the facts as you know them and give a copy to the Club or SCCA official

3)       Ensure that the child has access to an independent adult

4)       Ensure that no situation arises which could cause further concern

5)       Ensure access to confidential information is restricted to appropriate officials on a ‘need to know’ basis.

b) If a child tells you about abuse by someone else:-

1)       Allow the child to speak without interruption, accepting what is said

2)       Alleviate feelings of guilt and isolation, while passing no judgement

3)       Advise that you will try to offer support, but that you must pass the information on

4)       Same steps as in a) above

c) If you receive any allegation of abuse about any adult or about yourself

1)       Immediately inform the Club or SCCA official in charge of the event

2)       Record the facts as you know them and give a copy to the Club or SCCA official

3)       Try to ensure that no-one is placed in a position which could cause further compromise

The Club or SCCA official will take appropriate action which may include contacting the social services or the police.

CODE OF CONDUCT

Do:

Put the guidelines into practice.
Treat everyone with respect.
Provide an example you wish others to follow
Plan activities which involve more than one other person being present or at least are within sight or hearing of others. This applies to such activities as one-to-one training and travelling to or from chess events.
Respect a young person’s right to privacy
Have separate sleeping accommodation for adults and young people.
Provide access for young people to talk to identifiable responsible adults about any concerns they may have. Deal with any concerns in a sympathetic and appropriate manner.
Encourage young people and adults to feel comfortable and caring enough to point out attitudes or behaviour they do not like
Avoid situations that compromise your relationship with young people and are unacceptable within a relationship of trust.
Remember that someone else might misinterpret your actions, no matter how well-intentioned
Recognise that caution is required even in sensitive moments of counselling
Recognise that children with differing abilities have differing requirements.
Recognise that children from different backgrounds may have differing values.

Do NOT:

Permit abusive peer activities (e.g. bullying, ridiculing).
Play physical contact games with young people.
Have any inappropriate physical or verbal contact with others.
Allow yourself to be drawn into inappropriate attention seeking behaviour such as tantrums.
Show favouritism to any individual.
Make suggestive remarks or gestures even in fun.
Let suspicion, disclosure or allegation of abuse go unrecorded or unreported.
Rely on just your good name to protect you.
Believe ‘it could never happen to me’.

NOTES ON UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR BY CHILDREN

Participants should be encouraged to develop a sense of right and wrong behaviour.
When unacceptable behaviour does take place, appropriate sanctions, decided by a consensus of responsible people present, should be applied to modify the behaviour.
Sanctions applied to each case should take account of the age and stage of development of the young person, be given at the right time, be relevant to the action and be fair.
The participant must always be told why the behaviour is unacceptable and the reasons for applying a particular sanction.
Corporal punishment (smacking, slapping or shaking) is illegal and therefore should never be used. It is permissible to take necessary physical action in an emergency to prevent personal injury, either to the young person, other participants or adults, or serious damage to property.
Participants should not be shouted at directly, though raising of the voice is permissible in instances where it is necessary to be heard.

SOMERSET COUNTY CHESS ASSOCIATION

Child Protection Advice