1. Policy statement

We, the staff, coaches and volunteers of Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha (SS/KVS) have a duty to safeguard all children involved in Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha projects and programs from harm and abuse. We will ensure the safety and protection of all these children through adherence to prescribed guidelines, which, inter-alia, take into account the needs of disabled children and others who may be particularly vulnerable.

Under this policy, Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha defines a child as every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier.(UN Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989)

Through this policy, Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha recognizes that:

• We have a fundamental duty of care towards all children we engage with, including a duty to protect them from harm and/or abuse.
• The care and welfare of the child is paramount
• All children, whatever their age, culture, disability, gender, language, racial origin religious beliefs and/or sexual identity have the right to protection from all types of harm and/or abuse including physical, sexual or emotional and bullying.
• Bullying is a category of abuse and bullying of any kind is not acceptable.
• All suspicions and allegations of abuse and poor practice have to be and will be taken seriously and responded to swiftly and appropriately by staff, coaches and volunteers
• All staff, coaches and volunteers working in Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha have a responsibility to report concerns to the appropriate officer without loss of time.

 

2. Policy aims and objectives:

The aim of the Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha Child Protection Policy is to observe zero tolerance for child abuse and promote good practice by:

• Providing children with appropriate safety and protection from abuse whilst in the care of Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha
• Encouraging adult, parent, youth participant or child to inform Child Protection Officer (CPO) of SS/KVS or any of its staff, coaches and volunteers in case they have any concerns regarding the welfare or safety of any youth participant or child AND/OR regarding the actions or behavior of any Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha staff, coaches and volunteers.
• Making it mandatory for all staff, coaches and volunteers of Slum Soccer / Krida Vikas Sanstha to make informed and confident responses to specific child protection issues.

 

3. Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha’s commitment:

SS is committed to

• Valuing, respecting and listening to children
• Making background checks when recruiting staff, coaches and volunteers  
• Maintaining strong child protection systems and procedures for staff, coaches and volunteers  
• Training our staff, coaches and volunteers towards providing a common understanding of child protection issues
• Sharing information about child protection and good practices with children and parents/guardians
• Sharing information about child protection concerns with agencies who need to know, and involving parents and children appropriately
• Implementing this policy and ensuring that it is communicated and understood by all concerned.

 

4. What is Child Abuse?

Under this policy, and in line with WHO definition, child abuse is defined as "all forms of physical and/or emotional ill-treatment, sexual abuse, neglect or negligent treatment or commercial or other exploitation, resulting in actual or potential harm to the child's health, survival, development or dignity in the context of a relationship of responsibility, trust or power.”

Child Abuse is damage or trauma to a child for which there is no “reasonable explanation”. Child Abuse includes non-accidental physical injury, neglect, sexual molestation and emotional abuse.

 

5. Risk Mitigation:

Risk Mitigation Guidelines, as prescribed, should be followed by Slum Soccer at Organisational level and by individual staff/ coaches/ volunteers before or during conducting any event/ tournament/ function/ training workshop/Fest etc.

 

6. Promoting good practice

Child abuse, particularly sexual abuse, can impact the child’s physical, social, psychological and mental health. It is important to understand these feelings and not allow them to interfere with judgment of SS staff, coaches and volunteers about the appropriate action to be taken.

Abuse can occur within many situations including the home, school and the sporting environment. It is, therefore, incumbent on coach, instructor, teacher, official or volunteer, who have regular contact with children and therefore are an important link, to report all suspicious cases of poor practice as well as suspected cases where children need protection. All should be reported.

The Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha staff, coaches and volunteers must report all such cases and concerns following the guidelines in this regard to ensure the child receives the required support.

All staff, coaches and volunteers are encouraged to demonstrate exemplary behavior in order to promote children’s welfare and reduce the likelihood of incidents of child abuse. There should be a constant endeavor to create a positive environment and culture by adopting good practices and prohibiting bad practices.

 

7. Reporting /Recording of incidents:

If any of the following occur, the staff, coaches and volunteers should report this immediately to the Slum Soccer Child Protection Officer and record the incident. They should also ensure that the parents/teachers of the child are informed immediately:

• if a player/ program participant gets hurt during any event or coaching/program/tournament
• if he/she appears distressed or traumatized in any manner
• if a child appears abnormally quiet/ uncommunicative.
• if a child appears to be sexually disturbed by your actions
• if a child appears to misunderstand or misinterpret something you have done.
• if suspected child abuse or  other types of child protection concerns come to your notice

 

8. Use of photographic/filming equipment at sporting events

There is evidence that some people have used sporting events as an opportunity to take inappropriate photographs or film footage of young and disabled sportspeople in vulnerable positions. All staff, coaches and volunteers should be vigilant and any concerns should to be reported to the Child Protection Officer.

Videoing as a coaching aid: there is no intention to prevent coaches and teachers from using video equipment as a legitimate coaching aid. However, performers and their parents/carers should be made aware that this is part of the coaching program.

 

9. Training of staff, coaches and volunteers

The safeguarding process includes training to help staff, coaches and volunteers to:

• Analyze their own practices against established good practices with a view to prevent being misunderstood as abuse or inappropriate.
• Recognize their responsibilities and report any concerns about suspected poor practice or possible abuse.
• Respond to concerns expressed by a child.
• Work safely with children.

Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha requires:

• All staff, coaches and volunteers to attend a formal good practice and child protection awareness training workshop, to ensure their actions are ethical and to facilitate the development of a positive culture towards good practice and child protection.
• Relevant personnel to gain first aid training (where necessary).

 

10. Responding to allegations or suspicions

It is the responsibility of everyone working in Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha to act on any concerns regarding abuse by reporting these to the Child Protection Officer. However deciding or judging the merits of the concern may be avoided.

Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha will assure all staff, coaches and volunteers that it will fully support and protect anyone, who in good faith reports his or her concern that a child is being abused.

Where there is a complaint against a member of staff, coaches and volunteers there may be three types of investigation:

• a criminal investigation
• a child protection investigation
• a disciplinary or misconduct investigation.

The results of the police and child protection investigation may well influence and inform the disciplinary investigation, but all available information will be used to reach a decision.

 

11. Reporting concerns about poor practice

If, following consideration, the allegation is about poor practice, the designated Child Protection Officer will deal with it as a misconduct issue.

If the allegation is about poor practice by the Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha’s Child Protection Officer, or if the matter has been handled inadequately and concerns remain, it should be reported to the CEO who will decide how to deal with the allegation and whether or not to initiate disciplinary proceedings.

 

12. Reporting concerns about suspected abuse

Any suspicion that a child has been abused either by a member of staff, coaches and volunteers or any other person should be reported to the Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha Child Protection Officer, who will take such steps as considered necessary to ensure the safety of the child in question and any other child who may be at risk. The parents or carers of the child will be contacted as soon as possible.

The Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha Child Protection Officer shall refer the allegation to the social DCPU (District Child Protection Unit) department and the concerned police authorities.

The Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha Child Protection Officer should also notify the CEO who in turn will inform who will deal with any media enquiries.

If the Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha Child Protection Officer is the subject of the suspicion/allegation, the report must be made to the CEO who will refer the allegation to DCPU.

 

13. Confidentiality

Every effort should be made to ensure that confidentiality is maintained for dismantling information to all the stakeholders. This includes the following people:

• the parents of the person who is alleged to have been abused
• the child making the allegation
• DCPU/Police

The Child Protection Officer will seek the advice of DCPU on further course of action regarding the alleged abuser or the parents of the abused child.

Information should be stored in a secure place with limited access to designated people.

 

14. Enquiries and further action

Internal enquiries and possible suspension

The Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha Child Protection Officer will take an immediate action to suspend the individual accused of abuse pending further DCPU or police inquiries.

Keeping the welfare of the child should remain of paramount importance throughout.

 

15. Bullying

Every child has the right to experience sport in a safe environment free from abuse and bullying.Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha will endeavor to create a positive ethos that challenges bullying by empowering children to understand the impact of bullying, how best to deal with it and by implementing appropriate standard of behavior amongst all the children.

 

16. Reporting of concerns by persons outside the organization environment (e.g. a parent or carer)

Any concerns or incident related to Child Abuse and/or Child Protection Policy may please be reported to Slum Soccer’s Child Protection Officer at mahima.b@slumsoccer.org  by email or by telephone call on 0712 2556865 between 10:00 am to 5:00pm on working days

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17. Child Protection Group at Slum Soccer:

A Child Protection Group has been constituted at Slum Soccer/ Krida Vikas Sanstha under the Child Protection Officer (CPO) to assist the CPO in relevant matters. Presently, the group comprises:

1. Devika Sen
2. Shiba Markus
3. Devang Chhaya
4. Swati Telrandhe

This Policy is approved by the CEO of Slum Soccer Mr. Abhijeet Barse on 20/12/2017 effective from 01/01/2018.

Contact: Ms. Mahima B : +91 9860311400 Email Id- mahima.b@slumsoccer.org