BRAILLE CHESS ASSOCIATION
Registered Charity No. 263049
Safeguarding and
Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy
POLICY
Whilst
the primary function of the BCA is to promote chess, it recognises its
responsibility for the welfare of children and vulnerable adults (Vulnerable
Persons) involved in its activities. This includes attending a BCA event, being
included in an official BCA party attending a non-BCA event and more day-to-day
activities such as telephone conversations and written communication, emails, correspondence
chess and organisation of events.
It is the policy of the BCA to ensure the
welfare of Vulnerable Persons by protecting them from physical or emotional
harm, bullying and sexual harassment. The BCA also recognises that individuals
not normally regarded as Vulnerable Persons can feel intimidated or threatened
if subject to the kind of behaviour described above, and it is the BCA’s policy
that they should also be protected from harm. While it is natural that the
Committee should take the lead in these matters, non-committee members have an
important part to play in ensuring that the aims of this policy are achieved.
OFFICIALS
The roles of Accredited Coaches may involve a
considerable degree of contact with Vulnerable Persons. In general, the type of work will involve
regularly caring for, supervising, training or being in sole charge of such
people.
It is the policy of the BCA that it will only
employ coaches who are extremely well known to the BCA or who have a
satisfactory Disclosure and Barring Scheme clearance together with a suitable
independent reference. The same qualifying criteria will also apply to
arbiters and to the duly appointed Leader of any official BCA party or team
attending a non-BCA event within the United Kingdom or abroad.
GUIDELINES
The guidelines in Section A, B and C are
primarily aimed at those acting in an official capacity on behalf of the BCA at
a BCA organised event, or as the Leader of a BCA party or team attending a
non-BCA event within the United Kingdom or abroad. The guidelines in Section D
are concerned with more day-to-day activities.
A) If you suspect a Vulnerable Person is being abused:
1)
Immediately inform the BCA official in charge of the event, or if the official
is the suspect, inform their assistant or the most senior member of the
committee at the event.
2)
The official or committee member should write down the facts as far as they can
be ascertained. The committee will proceed on the basis of
this written account.
3)
Ensure that the Vulnerable Person 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 Vulnerable Person tells you about abuse by someone else:
1)
Allow the Vulnerable Person 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 on the
information.
4)
Same steps as 1 to 5 under paragraph (a) above.
C)
If you receive any allegation of abuse about any adult or about yourself:
1) Immediately inform the BCA official in charge of the event.
2) Record the facts as you know them and give a copy to the BCA
official.
3)
Try to ensure that no-one is placed in a position which could potentially cause
further harm.
The BCA official will take
action which may include contacting the social services or the police;
the same applies in scenarios covered in sections A and B of this policy.
The BCA official will also submit a report to
the BCA Secretary. The Committee will begin its investigations on receipt of
such a report. They cannot be expected to commence any formal investigation or
disciplinary proceedings based purely on rumour.
D)
If you suspect or are informed that a Vulnerable Person is being abused in the course of more day-to-day activities of the sort
listed at the start of this policy, or if you are the victim of such behaviour:
1)
Write down the facts as you know them.
2)
If you are the victim of unacceptable behaviour, forward your written report to
the Secretary or to the most senior member of the Committee who is not the
cause of your complaint.
3)
If you are acting on somebody else’s behalf, ensure you have their permission
to forward any report on to the Committee.
4)
It is an important aspect of the BCA’s procedures for dealing with alleged
offences that transparency is paramount. While all due consideration will be
given to matters of confidentiality, anonymous complaints will not be accepted.
5)
The committee will try to resolve complaints internally, but if this is not
possible and if the offence is of a sufficient magnitude, they will refer the
matter to the social services or the Police.
Code of Conduct
When dealing with a complaint, BCA officials and/or the
committee should follow the guidelines below.
Corporal
punishment (smacking, slapping or shaking) is illegal
and therefore must never be used. It is permissible to take necessary physical
action in an emergency to prevent personal injury, either to the Vulnerable Person,
other participants or adults, or 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, and those tasked with carrying
out disciplinary proceedings within the BCA must be allowed to be direct and
uncompromising when doing so.
An explanation of any decision reached should be
provided both to anyone who makes a complaint and the subject of any complaint.
When
dealing with a complaint about the behaviour of a vulnerable person:
Where
unacceptable behaviour does take place, appropriate sanctions, decided by a
consensus of responsible people, should be applied to modify the behaviour.
Sanctions
applied to each case should take account of the age and stage of development of
the Vulnerable 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.
Behaviours
worth bearing in mind
The
aims of this policy should be achieved if the following good advice is borne in
mind both by committee and non-committee members.
Do
treat everyone with respect.
Do
provide an example you wish others to follow.
Do
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.
Do
respect a person's right to privacy.
Do
provide access for Vulnerable Adults to talk to identifiable responsible adults
about any concerns they may have. Deal with any concerns in a sympathetic and
appropriate manner.
Do
encourage Vulnerable Persons to feel comfortable and caring enough to point out
attitudes or behaviour they do not like.
Do
avoid situations that compromise your relationship with Vulnerable Persons and
are unacceptable within a relationship of trust.
Do
remember that someone else might misinterpret your actions, no matter how
well-intentioned.
Do
recognise that caution is required even in sensitive moments of counselling.
Do
recognise that Vulnerable Persons with differing abilities have differing
requirements.
Do
recognise that Vulnerable Persons from different backgrounds may have differing
values.
Do
NOT permit abusive peer activities (e.g. bullying,
ridiculing).
Do
NOT play physical contact games with Vulnerable Persons.
Do
NOT have any inappropriate physical or verbal contact with others.
Do
NOT allow yourself to be drawn into inappropriate attention seeking behaviour
such as tantrums.
Do
NOT make suggestive remarks or gestures even in fun.
Do
NOT let suspicion, disclosure or allegation of abuse go unrecorded or
unreported.
Do
NOT rely on just your good name to protect you.
Do
NOT believe 'it could never happen to me'.
Last reviewed
in May 2022