WESTERN CAPE ROWING
CHILD PROTECTION AND SAFEGUARDNG POLICY
1. Policy Statement
Western Cape Rowing prioritises the safeguarding and protection of all children who participate in or come into contact with rowing, through ROWSA Rowing South Africa (ROWSA), the National Governing Body), our clubs and/or coaches.
We are committed to upholding safeguarding best practice and minimising the risk of children being harmed; our safeguarding policies, procedures, training and support promote safe, inclusive, fun and child-centred environments in which all children have a positive and enjoyable experience of our sport.
Western Cape Rowing acknowledges that some children are more at risk of abuse, particularly those who are disabled, or at risk of feeling or being isolated due to their ability, race, religion or belief, ethnic background, sex, sexual orientation, or socio-economic background. We commit to taking reasonable and appropriate steps to safeguard their welfare.
Western Cape Rowing recognises that child abuse can take place anywhere, including in a rowing environment, and that it is everyone’s responsibility to report concerns, whether or not abuse may be occurring. We acknowledge that abuse can take place face-to-face and online; that it can be historical or current; and that perpetrators can be other children or adults, including those in positions of trust. We will ensure that we have policies, procedures, training and support that enable Western Cape Rowing to prevent, recognise, report and respond to complex safeguarding challenges.
All concerns about a child must be acted upon in line with our safeguarding reporting procedure. Where concerns and disclosures of abuse against a child occur, we prioritise the well-being of children and act in accordance with SA legislation and guidance. Poor practice will be taken extremely seriously and viewed as a breach of our safeguarding policies and procedures.
Everyone is responsible for reporting concerns; not acting is not an option.
Our commitment to safeguarding includes:
- Promoting and prioritising the safety and wellbeing of all children who come into contact with rowing. We do this through the development, communication, implementation and upholding of clear, up-to-date safeguarding policies and procedures. These are mandatory for everyone involved in rowing.
- Enabling everyone to understand their safeguarding roles and responsibilities and be provided with appropriate learning opportunities to recognise, identify and respond to safeguarding concerns and disclosures.
- A safely recruited, trained, resourced Western Cape Rowing Safeguarding Team who proactively promote child safeguarding and protection and take appropriate action when concerns and disclosures are made (Appendix B Responding to Concerns and Disclosures).
- Supporting clubs to be safe, child-centred environments by mandating that all clubs read, understand and uphold this policy and related policies, procedures and guidance. This includes having an annually appointed Child Protection or Safeguarding Officer and coaches in every affiliated Western Cape Rowing club where children may be present who have:
• a signed-off criminal records check
• two positive references
• up-to-date safeguarding training
- Having Western Cape Rowing safeguarding procedures, and enabling clubs to have such procedures that support the implementation of this policy, including:
• Listening to children – providing opportunities for children to tell us what we are doing well, what risks there are to them and how we can help keep themselves and others safe;
• Child-centred communication, including using images and language that empowers children face-to-face, online and on social media;
• Safe recruitment, including criminal records checks and references to minimise the likelihood of employing and deploying individuals who may pose a risk of harm to children;
• Accurately recording and safely storing confidential information (see Appendix B);
• Creating and maintaining safe, inclusive environments for all children through the delivery of child-centred Western Cape Rowing activities in all clubs and events;
• Risk assessing and monitoring the implementation of Western Cape Rowing safeguarding policies, procedures and guidance and enabling clubs to do so;
• Promoting anti-bullying procedures and enabling clubs to do so;
• Identifying and responding to poor practice.
- Reviewing our safeguarding policies, processes and guidance whenever there are changes in safeguarding legislation or our own programmes or procedures that this policy does not cover.
- Our safeguarding policies and procedures are mandatory for everyone involved in Western Cape Rowing governed activities, whether or not they are Western Cape Rowing members. Failure to comply with our safeguarding policies and procedures will be addressed without delay and may ultimately result in dismissal or exclusion from the sport. All concerns and disclosures that indicate illegal action may take or have taken place will be reported to external authorities.
- This policy is intended to be used alongside the Western Cape Rowing Welfare Guidance documents which outline how to put this policy into practice.
- This policy should be used alongside the Child Protection Act 38 of 2005, and any subsequent changes to the Child Protection Act and its directives.
2. Key Definitions
Child anyone under the age of eighteen years.
Child abuse physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse and/or neglect. Note that abuse can take place in person and online, by other children and/or adults, including those in positions of trust.
Child protection responding to concerns and/or disclosures of abuse to children. Note that poor practice may be treated as a child protection concern.
Child safeguarding proactively promoting safe, inclusive, child- focused environments which keep all children safe from harm. Recognising that some children may be more vulnerable to abuse or neglect, such as children with disabilities; and putting tailored procedures in place to minimise the risk of harm to all children.
Poor practice non-adherence to the Western Cape Rowing safeguarding policies, procedures, and/or guidance where the intent or outcome is not child abuse. Note that poor practice is potentially damaging to a child and organisation and can sometimes lead to the creation of environments conducive to abuse as well as concerns about an individual’s motivation.
Below are some examples of child abuse. Note these are not exhaustive. Western Cape Rowing recommends that all appropriate staff and volunteers attend Child Protection training to better understand categories and examples of abuse.
Examples of child neglect:
• a coach not keeping children safe by exposing them to undue cold, heat or the unnecessary risk of injury e.g. allowing rowers under their supervision to train or race inappropriately clothed for the prevailing conditions
• a parent consistently leaving a child without adequate provisions e.g. food, water, clothing, sun protection.
Examples of child physical abuse:
• a coach disregarding the individual requirements of each child’s growing body or needs when setting a training programme e.g. allowing 14 year olds to undertake hour-long, continuous ergos.
• an older child using his/her physical strength to hurt or intimidate a younger child.
Examples of indicators of child sexual abuse:
• a coach engaging in unnecessary and inappropriate physical contact e.g. massaging the shoulders of the rowers suggestively
• a coach making suggestive comments to their rowers
• an inappropriately close relationship developing between a rower and a coach
Examples of child emotional abuse:
• a parent or coach subjecting a rower to constant criticism, name-calling, sarcasm, bullying or racism
• a parent or coach putting a Rower under unrealistic pressure in order to perform to high expectations.
See Appendix A for a full list of definitions.
3. Do's and Don'ts
Everyone in Western Cape Rowing is expected to uphold the ‘Do's and Don'ts’ at all times:
1. Always prioritise the well-being of all children at all times.
2. Be a positive role model and act with integrity. Help to create a safe, inclusive environment for all children, free from poor practice, discrimination and/or bullying.
3. Always obtain consent from parents/carers and children before taking or publishing any photos, videos or personal information about a child. 4. Keep your personal and professional life separate, including on social media. Avoid face-to-face and online private one-to-one communication with a child and where possible, do not be alone with a child.
5. Do not abuse, neglect, discriminate against or otherwise harm a child or act in a way that may be interpreted as such*.
6. Doing nothing is NOT an option: report all concerns and disclosures as soon as possible, as outlined in this policy. If someone is in immediate danger, call the SA Police (10111).
7. When in doubt, seek advice: contact your club’s Child Protection Officer or the Western Cape Rowing Committee.
*It is illegal to have a relationship with someone who is under 18 years old if you are in a position of trust; it is illegal to have a sexual relationship with anyone under the age of 16 whether they give consent or not.
4. Responsibility for the implementation of safegaurding and child protection in Western Cape Rowing
The Western Cape Rowing Federation’s Executive Committee has overall accountability for Western Cape Rowing’s safeguarding policies and procedures.
The Western Cape Rowing Executive has overall responsibility for updating the policy and its implementation including supporting clubs and individuals to uphold these policies and procedures. They do so by providing information, guidance, training and case management support, to enable everyone to implement the policies and procedures.
All clubs affiliated to WC Rowing, headed up by a club committee, are responsible for upholding this policy and related procedures; safely recruiting a Child Protection Officer and coaches with appropriate training, and a criminal record/background check that is verified by the Western Cape Rowing Executive, and two independent references.
All concerns and disclosures must be reported to the Western Cape Rowing Executive, who are responsible for deciding and implementing next steps in line with this policy and SA legislation. Where appropriate, the Club Child Protection Officer will be involved in this process.
The Western Cape Rowing Case Management Group is comprised of independent experts who are responsible for advising and making decisions on child protection cases, in line with this policy.
The Western Cape Rowing Executive is responsible for overseeing the implementation of safeguarding policies and procedures across WC Rowing governed activities, including in clubs and supporting the implementation of WC Rowing’s work towards the CPSU Framework for Safeguarding Children in and through sport.
The SVGP produces a report for the Western Cape Rowing Board on an annual basis.
Everyone involved in rowing is responsible for raising concerns and/or disclosures.
The Western Cape Rowing Safeguarding Team also has responsibility for sharing knowledge and implementing the Prevent Duty which prevents children from being drawn into extremism and terrorist actions.
5. Where there is a safeguarding concern/disclosure
The individual who is told about, hears, or is made aware of the concern/disclosure is responsible for following the Concern Reporting Procedure, reporting their concern to their club’s Child Protection Officer, or if the Child Protection Officer is not available, to the Western Cape Rowing Safeguarding Team as soon as possible (within 48 hours); president@wcrowing.co.za (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm).
• Child abuse must be reported to a social worker, at a child welfare office or at a local police station.
• If a child is in immediate danger, call the SAPS Emergency services (10111), or your nearest SAPS station.
• To report child abuse to WC Metropolitan Police Services, you can call their hotline on 0800 323 1310.
• You can also seek help at the following organisations:
| RAPCAN (Resources Aimed at the Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect)
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Telephone: 021 712 2330 Website: RAPCAN/ https://www.saferspaces.org.za/organisation/entry/rapcan-resources-aimed-at-the-prevention-of-child-abuse-and-neglect
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| Childline South Africa (24-hour toll-free helpline)
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Telephone: 0800 055 555
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| Childline Western Cape
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Telephone: 021 762 8198 / 021 461 1114
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| LifeLine Western Cape
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Telephone: 021 461 1113
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Finally, you can also go directly to any of the healthcare facilities in the province dedicated to the management of children who have been abused.
The Child Protection Officer is responsible for sharing all concerns/disclosures with the Western Cape Rowing Safeguarding Team. Where an individual has reported a concern to an external body (such as the police), this should be reported to the Team by the individual within 24 hours.
All verbal disclosures are recorded in writing. Individuals who report concerns are asked to complete a Report a Concern form.
Parents/carers are informed of concerns or disclosures involving their child unless doing so poses (further) risk of harm to that child.
An individual who has allegations made against them may be temporarily suspended from rowing activities without prejudice for the duration of the investigation if Western Cape Rowing EXCO deem it necessary to prioritise the safety and well-being of children
The Western Cape Rowing Safeguarding Team is responsible for assessing all safeguarding concerns/disclosures that are reported to them and working with the club Child Protection Officers to follow up as appropriate on a case-by-case basis, prioritising the well-being of the child at all times.
Dependent on the concern/disclosure, a referral may be made to the relevant authorities.
The Child Protection Officer and Western Cape Rowing Safeguarding Team are responsible for updating records and storing them securely. Child protection case files will be kept for at least fifty years.
Where feasible, individuals involved in the concern/disclosure will be kept up to date with proceedings. It may not be possible to give a clear indication of how long proceedings may take as this is dependent on additional information that can emerge; and the actions that external authorities take.
Access to counselling and other reasonable support may be offered to those involved in concerns/disclosures related to WC Rowing. If you would like to discuss this, contact the Western Cape Rowing Safeguarding Team.
Data protection legislation does not prohibit the reporting of child protection concerns and/or disclosures as outlined in this policy.
6. Non-recent allegations
Western Cape Rowing encourages individuals and organisations to discuss any concerns about historical abuse with the Western Cape Rowing Safeguarding Team. We take historical allegations extremely seriously and adhere to the procedures outlined in this policy.
7. Whistleblowing
Western Cape Rowing takes all safeguarding concerns and disclosures extremely seriously, prioritising the well-being of children. Our whistleblowing policy highlights our stance on protecting and supporting anyone who whistle-blows. Where an individual or organisation believes that good practice has not been adhered to:
- Contact the Western Cape Rowing Safeguarding Team
- If the Team does not resolve your concern, or your concern is about the Team, the Western Cape Rowing Complaints Policy outlines our formal complaints process.
8. Breaches of this policy and/or safeguarding procedures
Any breaches of this policy will be taken extremely seriously and may result in dismissal, prohibition from attending or participating in Western Cape Rowing governed activities and/or legal action.
Breaches will be managed by the Western Cape Rowing Executive and may Rowing SA as an independent arbiter or body. For more information see the Safeguarding Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure (Welfare Guidance Document).
9. Related policies, procedures and guidance
• Safeguarding Adults at Risk Policy
• Whistleblowing policy
• Grievance and Disciplinary Procedure
• Welfare Guidance documents:
- - section 1. Codes of Conduct, disciplinary procedures and raising concerns
- - section 2: DBS guidance
- - section 3: club training and competition guidance
- - section 4: training camps and residential visits
- - section 5: use of social media and information sharing.
10. Reviewing our Child Safeguarding and Protection policy
This policy is reviewed every two years or sooner where there is a reason for doing so (such as a change in legislation; WC Rowing’s structure and/or programmes).