WATFORD CHESS CLUB – SAFEGUARDING POLICY (Effective 28 March 2018)

The club follows the ECF Child Protection Policy as set out at https://www.englishchess.org.uk/safeguarding-and-the-ecf/

INTRODUCTION

This policy sets out the way Watford Chess Club will safeguard children and vulnerable adults. Children are juniors under age 18 (being persons defined as “children” by the Children Act 1989). Vulnerable adults include everyone who needs special help or consideration to access and enjoy the activities of the chess club.

Everyone who participates in the activities of Watford Chess Club (“Watford”) is entitled to do so in an enjoyable and safe environment.  Watford has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that club members provide the highest possible standard of care.

Watford is committed to devising and implementing policies so that all involved accept their responsibilities to safeguard children and vulnerable adults from harm and abuse.  This means following procedures to protect children and vulnerable adults and report any concerns about their welfare to appropriate authorities. 

The aim of the policy is to promote good practice, providing children and vulnerable adults with appropriate safety/protection whilst in Watford’s care and to allow all involved to make informed responses to specific safeguarding issues. 

POLICY STATEMENT

Watford is committed to the following:  

  • the welfare of the child or vulnerable adult is paramount

  • everyone, whatever their age, culture, ability, gender, language, racial origin, religious belief and/or sexual identity should be able to play chess in an enjoyable and safe environment

  • all reasonable steps will be taken to protect children and vulnerable adults from harm, discrimination and degrading treatment and to respect their rights, wishes and feelings

  • all suspicions and allegations of poor practice or abuse will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately

For children:

  • all club members who act as coaches with children will be vetted with regard to their suitability for that responsibility and will be provided with guidance, where they do not already possess this knowledge, in good practice and child protection procedures.  They are expected to be guided by the provisions in the English Chess Federation Child Protection Code of Conduct for Staff and Volunteers.

  • working in partnership with parents and children is essential for the protection of children.

  • Watford requires that parents remain on the premises while the children are at club venues or representing the club at other locations (including travel to those locations). In exceptional circumstances where parents have to leave their children, they must obtain the agreement of another responsible adult (not normally a member of the Watford coaching team) to look after them. They should inform the Watford coaching team, or the relevant team captain, who is looking after their child(ren) and when the parent will return and collect them.

MONITORING

Watford’s executive committee will regularly review this policy and its implementation.   Instances, or suspected instances, of failure to comply with the above policy statement should be reported to a member of the executive committee.