Below is a detailed copy of Funtastics' Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy for 2011. As professionals, we always aim to put the safety of our clients and your guests first.

Should you have any questions relating to this policy, please feel free to contact us

A member of our management team will gladly answer any questions you may have.

Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy 2011

Definition of Terms

Child:
A child is defined as anyone under 16 years of age.

16 to 18 year olds:

Young people aged 16 to 18 years are sometimes classified as children in Northern Ireland. In terms of the Children (Northern Ireland) Act 1995, a 16 to 18 year old will be regarded as a child if they are subject to a supervision requirement through a Children's Hearing.

For the purposes of Part V of the Police Act 1997 a child is defined as anyone under the age of 18 years.

Vulnerable Adults:
The term Vulnerable Adult refers to any person aged 16 or over whom for the time being:

Are unable to safeguard their own welfare or properly manage their financial affairs; and
Are in one or more of the following categories:
1. A person in need of care and attention by reason of either infirmity or the effects of ageing
2. A person suffering from an illness or mental disorder
3. A person substantially handicapped by a disability

Vulnerable Adults may be in need of health or social support services and may be unable to take care of himself/herself and to protect themselves from harm or exploitation.

A number of studies suggest that children and vulnerable adults are at increased risk of abuse. Various factors contribute to this such as stereotyping, prejudice, discrimination, isolation and a powerlessness to protect themselves or adequately communicate that abuse has occurred.

Types of Abuse
It is generally accepted that there are four forms of abuse. However, in some cases negative discrimination and bullying can have severe and adverse effects on a child or vulnerable adult. Funtastic is committed to protecting children and vulnerable adults from all forms of abuse.

Recognising child abuse is not easy and it is not a person ’s responsibility to decide whether or not a child or vulnerable adult has been abused. It is a person ’s responsibility to pass on any concerns and for the Police and/or Social Work Department to investigate.

The signs of abuse listed are not definitive or exhaustive. The list is designed to help Funtastic members to be more alert to the signs of possible abuse.

Children and vulnerable adults may display some of the indicators at some time; the presence of one or more should not be taken as proof that abuse is occurring. Any of these signs or behaviours must be seen in the context of the child/vulnerable adult's whole situation and in combination with other information related to the child/vulnerable adult and his/her circumstances. There can also be overlap between different forms of abuse.

Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill treatment of a child or vulnerable adult such as to cause severe and adverse effects on their emotional development. It may involve conveying that they are worthless or unloved, inadequate or valued only insofar as they meet the needs of another person.

It may feature age or developmentally inappropriate expectations being imposed on children or vulnerable adults. It may also involve causing a child or vulnerable adult to frequently feel frightened or in danger, or the corruption or exploitation of a child or vulnerable adult.

Appendix A

Emotional Abuse in Sport

This may include the persistent failure to show self-respect, build self-esteem and confidence by children or vulnerable adults that may be caused by:

Exposure to humiliating or aggressive behaviour or tone.
Failure to intervene where self-confidence and worth are challenged or undermined.

Signs of possible emotional abuse:

Low self esteem
Continual self deprecation
Sudden speech disorder
Significant decline in concentration
Immaturity
‘Neurotic ’ behaviour e.g. rocking
Self-mutilation
Compulsive stealing
Extremes of passivity or aggression
Running away
Indiscriminate friendliness

Neglect

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child or vulnerable adult's basic physical and/or psychological needs. It may involve a parent or carer failing to provide adequate food, shelter, warmth, clothing and cleanliness. It may also include leaving a child home alone, exposure in a manner likely to cause unnecessary suffering or injury or the failure to ensure that appropriate medical care or treatment is received.

Neglect in sport

This could include the lack of care, guidance, supervision or protection that may be caused by:

Exposure to unnecessary cold or heat.
Exposure to unhygienic conditions, lack of food, water or medical care.
Non-intervention in bullying or taunting.

Neglect, as well as being the result of a deliberate act, can also be caused through the omission or the failure to act or protect.
Signs of possible neglect:

Constant hunger
Poor personal hygiene
Constant tiredness
Poor state of clothing
Frequent lateness or unexplained non-attendance at school
Untreated medical problems
Low self esteem
Poor peer relationships
Stealing

Physical Abuse

Physical Abuse may involve the actual or attempted physical injury to a child or vulnerable adult including hitting, shaking, throwing, poisoning, burning, scalding, drowning, suffocating or otherwise harming them.

Physical Abuse may also be caused when a parent or carer feigns the symptoms of or deliberately causes ill health to a child whom they are looking after. This situation is described as Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy. A person may do this because they need or enjoy the attention they receive through having a sick child.
Physical abuse may also be a deliberate act, omission or failure to protect.

Physical Abuse in Sport

This may include bodily harm caused by lack of care, attention or knowledge that may be caused by:

Over training or dangerous training of athletes.
Over playing an athlete.
Failure to do a risk assessment of physical limits or pre-existing medical conditions
Administering, condoning or failure to intervene in drug use.

Signs of possible physical abuse:

Most children will sustain cuts and bruises throughout childhood. These are likely to occur in boney parts of the body like elbows, shins and knees. In most cases injuries or bruising will be genuinely accidental. An important indicator of physical abuse is where bruises or injuries are unexplained or the explanation does not fit the injury or the injury appears on parts of the body where accidental injuries are unlikely e.g. on the cheeks or thighs. The age of the child must also be considered. Signs of possible physical abuse include:

Unexplained injuries or burns, particularly if they are recurrent, improbable excuses given to explain injuries.

Refusal to discuss injuries.
Fear of parents being approached for an explanation.
Untreated injuries, or delays in reporting them.
Excessive physical punishment to themselves.
Arms and legs kept covered in hot weather.
Avoidance of swimming, physical education etc.
Fear of returning home.
Aggression towards others.
Running away.

When considering the possibility of non-accidental injury it is important to remember that injuries may have occurred for other reasons e.g. skin disorders, rare bone diseases.

Sexual Abuse

Sexual abuse involves forcing or enticing a child or vulnerable adult to take part in sexual activities whether or not they are aware of or consent to what is happening. The activities may involve physical contact, including penetrative or non-penetrative acts. This may include non-contact activities such as forcing children or vulnerable adults to look at or be involved in the production of pornographic material, to watch sexual activities or encouraging them to behave in sexually inappropriate ways.

Boys and girls can be sexually abused by males and/or females, including persons to whom they are not related and by other young people. This includes people from all walks of life.

Sexual Abuse in Sport

This could include contact and non-contact activities and may be caused by:

Exposure to sexually explicit inappropriate language, jokes or pornographic material
Inappropriate touching
Having any sexual activity or relationship
Creating opportunities to access children or vulnerable adults ’ bodies

Not all children or vulnerable adults are able to tell that they have been sexually assaulted. Changes in their behaviour may be a signal that something has happened. It is important to note that there may be no physical or behavioural signs to suggest that a child or vulnerable adult has been sexually assaulted.

A child or vulnerable adult who is distressed may display some of the following physical, behavioural or medical signs that should alert you to a problem. It is the combination and frequency of these that may indicate sexual abuse. Always seek advice.

Signs of possible sexual abuse:

Behavioural
Lack of trust in adults or over familiarity with adults
Fear of a particular adult
Social isolation -withdrawn or introversion
Sleep disturbance (nightmares, bed-wetting, fear of sleeping alone, needing a night light)
Running away from home
Girls taking over the mothering role
Sudden school problems e.g. falling standards, truancy
Reluctance or refusal to participate in physical activity or to change clothes for games
Low self-esteem
Drug, alcohol or solvent abuse
Display of sexual knowledge beyond child ’s age e.g. French kissing
Unusual interest in the genitals of adults, children or animals
Fear of bathrooms, showers, closed doors
Abnormal sexual drawings
Fear of medical examinations
Developmental regression
Poor peer relationships
Over sexualised behaviour
Compulsive masturbation
Stealing
Irrational fears
Psychosomatic factors e.g. recurrent abdominal or headache pain
Sexual promiscuity
Eating disorders
Physical or Medical signs
Sleeping problems, nightmares, fear of the dark
Bruises, scratches, bite marks to the thighs or genital areas
Anxiety, depression
Eating disorder e.g. anorexia nervosa or bulimia
Discomfort/difficulty in walking or sitting
Pregnancy -particularly when reluctant to name the father
Pain on passing urine, recurring urinary tract problem, vaginal infections or genital damage
Venereal disease/sexually transmitted diseases
Soiling or wetting in children who have been trained
Self-mutilation, suicide attempts
Itchiness, soreness, discharge, unexplained bleeding from the rectum, vagina or penis
Stained underwear
Unusual genital odour

Negative Discrimination (including racism)
Children and vulnerable adults may experience harassment or negative discrimination because of their race or ethnic origin, socio-economic status, culture, age, disability, gender, sexuality or religious beliefs. Although not in itself a category of abuse, it may be necessary for the purposes of the Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy and Procedures, for negative discriminatory behaviour
to be categorised as emotional abuse.

Important Note: All organisations working with children and vulnerable adults including those operating where black and ethnic communities are numerically small, should address institutional racism, defined in the MacPherson Inquiry report on Stephen Lawrence as:

‘The collective failure by an organisation to provide appropriate and professional service to people on account of their race, culture and/or religion’.

Bullying

It is important to recognise that in some cases of abuse, it may not always be an adult abusing a young person or vulnerable adult. It can occur that the abuser may be a young person, for example in the case of bullying. See Appendix K Guidelines for Identifying and Managing Bullying.

Funtastic's Application Form for Positions Involving Contact with Children and Vulnerable Adults

You have a right of access to information held on you and other rights under the Data Protection Act 1988

Funtastic are committed to ensuring that all members in positions that require contact with children or vulnerable adults are suitable to do so. In accordance with Funtastic’s Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy, all members whose position requires contact with children and/or vulnerable adults must complete this application form, prior to appointment.

Personal Details

Title:
Name:
Surname:
All previous names by which you have been known:
Address:
Post Code (must be completed):
Telephone	Day: Evening: Mobile:

Current/Previous Clubs

Club Name	Position/Responsibilities	Start and Leaving Date

Present or Most Recent Employment/Role/Responsibilities

Name of Employer/Managing Organisation:

Job Title:

Dates of Employment (month and year):

Principal Responsibilities:

Reasons for Leaving:

Qualifications and Previous Experience of Working with Children or Vulnerable Adults

(include name of organisation, responsibilities/duties, length of time involved and reasons for leaving)

Referees

Please provide details of 2 referees. At least one should have knowledge of your previous work with children and/or vulnerable adults. These individuals may be contacted for the purposes of verifying the information contained in this form.

Name:	Name:
Organisation:	Organisation:
Address:	Address:
Telephone:	Telephone:
Relationship to Applicant:	Relationship to Applicant:

Additional Information

Please provide details of relevant experience, principal achievements, personal skills and qualities, voluntary work and explain how you might use them in this post.(Use a separate sheet if necessary).

I am aware that in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, information provided on this application form will be stored for the purposes of processing the data for recruitment and monitoring the recruitment process. If appointed I am aware that this information will be stored for the purposes of enabling relevant organisation procedures.

Appendix B

I have completed this form accurately and truthfully and to the best of my knowledge.

Signature: Date:

Declaration of Designated Person

I confirm that I have seen the following identification documents relating to [insert name of applicant]:

I confirm to the best of my ability that the identification documents are accurate.

Signed: Name:

Date:

Funtastic Parties Declaration

Child and Vulnerable Adults Protection Policy and Procedures this form must be completed by all members for positions that require contact with children and/or vulnerable adults.

Funtastic is committed to the protection of children and vulnerable adults involved in sport and have a duty to ensure the suitability of any individual who works with children and/or vulnerable adults. To fulfil this responsibility, we ask that you complete this form having read the guidance notes attached.

Note: You are advised, under the provisions of the Rehabilitation of Offenders act 1974 (exceptions) order 1975 as amended by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions Amendment) Order 1986, to declare all convictions including 'spent' convictions.

Should you be appointed for the position applied you will also be required to provide a Standard/Enhanced disclosure under the terms of the Police Act 1997 (Part V).

For positions that require a Standard check: if selected for an interview you will be required to disclose all convictions (spent and unspent).
For positions that require an Enhanced check: if selected for an interview you will be required to disclose all convictions (spent and unspent), cautions, warnings and any other non-conviction relevant information.

Funtastic Parties undertakes to treat all applicants for positions within Funtastic entertainments equally and to process and make decisions on disclosed information in a fair manner.

Please complete Sections 1 and 2 fully including all relevant details regarding convictions, investigations (if applicable), social work or social department investigations and disciplinary action.

SECTION 1

PART A

Previous Convictions (to be completed for positions requiring Standard or Enhanced checks)

(continue on a separate form if necessary)

Date:

Court:

Offence(s)originally charged with:

Sentence:

Please give details of the reasons and circumstances that lead to your offence(s):

Please give details of how you completed the sentence imposed (e.g. did you pay your fine as required, what conditions were attached to your probation/community service order, did you comply with the requirements of your order/custodial sentence):

Do you give Funtastic Parties permission to contact the above organisations to clarify the information disclosed?

What have you learned from the experience?

PART B

You must complete this section if the position applied for requires an Enhanced check.

Previous Police Investigation

(continue on a separate form if necessary)

Date of investigation:

Police Division involved:

Investigation(s) details:

Please give details of the reasons and circumstances that led to your investigation:

Disposal (if known):

Are you, or have you ever been, known to any Social Work Department/Social Services Department as an actual or potential risk to children: YES/NO

If yes, please provide details:

PART C
Have you ever had a disciplinary sanction (from a sports or other organisation’s governing body) relating to inappropriate behavior with children/vulnerable adults or child abuse? YES/NO

If yes, please provide details:

SECTION 2

I hereby declare and represent that, save as disclosed above I have not at any time, whether in the United Kingdom or abroad, been found guilty and sentenced by a court for a criminal offence.

I give my consent to Funtastic entertainments carrying out a check with Disclosure Scotland (if deemed necessary) and to take up references for the purposes of verifying the replies given in this declaration, including enquiries of any relevant authority.

I agree to advise Funtastic entertainments should I be convicted of an offence after the commencement of my employment with Funtastic entertainments and that failure to do so may lead to the immediate suspension of my work with children. Funtastic entertainments and the termination of my services and in certain cases, membership.

I agree to abide by Funtastic entertainments’s Code of Practice for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults.

I agree to abide by the conditions above and certify that the information contained in this form is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and I realise that false information or omissions may lead to the immediate suspension of my work with children in Funtastic entertainments or the termination of my services.

Signed: Date:

Note: the information contained in this form will be managed in accordance with the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998