Purpose
Hong Kong Football Club Junior Soccer upholds every child’s right to live and train in conditions that protect them from harm, promoting the optimum development of their physical, emotional, and social well-being. Children have a right to be protected from all forms of harm in all contexts, irrespective of social and cultural backgrounds, family context, gender, disability, and age.
Child protection is everyone’s responsibility; the Hong Kong Football Club Junior Soccer community is responsible for being preventative and proactive in all child protection matters. This policy provides clear guidelines and procedures and an ethical and practical framework to support the club in determining appropriate and effective responses, including situations where harm occurs online or through digital means. This policy adheres to the laws of Hong Kong, guidance provided by the Social Welfare Department, international laws, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Communication and coordination in suspected child protection cases
There must be timely communication between Technical Coaches or Volunteer Coaches and the Welfare and Child Protection Officer for this policy to be effective. All coaches must attend a session (see attached presentation), run by the Child Protection Officer, that explains the current codes of conduct for players, coaches and parents, the inclement weather procedures, the definitions of safeguarding, child protection and child abuse. Coaches should also be taught signs of possible physical signs of physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect. The Child Protection Officer should also clearly explain the process from disclosure to reporting.
Definition of child maltreatment
Child maltreatment refers to any act or failure to act that results in harm or potential harm to a child’s physical, emotional, or developmental well-being. It encompasses various forms of abuse and neglect, including physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and neglect. Child maltreatment can occur within families, institutions, or communities, and it disregards the child’s rights to safety, protection, and nurturing. It is a grave violation of a child’s well-being and requires immediate attention and intervention to ensure the child’s safety and promote their overall health and development.
Physical harm definition
Non-accidental physical harm to a child, also known as non-accidental injury or physical abuse, refers to intentional acts of physical violence or harm inflicted upon a child by a caregiver or another person in a position of trust and responsibility. This form of child maltreatment involves the deliberate use of force, resulting in injuries such as bruises, fractures, burns, cuts, or other physical trauma. Non-accidental physical harm is characterized by the absence of an accidental cause and is often marked by a pattern of repeated incidents or a single severe incident. It is a serious violation of a child’s rights and safety, and it requires immediate intervention and protection to ensure the child’s well-being and prevent further harm.
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse of a child refers to any form of sexual activity or behavior imposed upon a child by an adult or older individual, or by another child who is in a position of power or authority. It involves engaging a child in sexual acts, exposing a child to sexual content, or using a child for the sexual gratification of the abuser. Sexual abuse can take various forms, including but not limited to fondling, penetration, oral-genital contact, pornography, exhibitionism, and exploitation through prostitution or trafficking.
Recognising and addressing sexual abuse is crucial to protect the child, provide support, and facilitate their healing and recovery. Immediate intervention, reporting, and legal action are necessary to ensure the safety of the child and hold the abuser accountable for their actions.
Psychological harm
Psychological harm to a child refers to the emotional and mental distress caused by harmful actions, behaviors, or conditions that negatively impact a child’s psychological well-being. It involves the persistent or severe emotional mistreatment, manipulation, or neglect of a child, leading to significant psychological or behavioral consequences.
In our context, psychological harm can manifest in various ways, including but not limited to:
Emotional abuse: The child experiences constant criticism, rejection, humiliation, or threats that undermine their self-esteem and emotional security.
Verbal abuse: The child is subjected to harsh, degrading, or belittling language, often accompanied by threats or derogatory remarks.
Neglect: The child’s emotional needs for love, care, and support are consistently disregarded or unmet, leading to feelings of abandonment or emotional deprivation.
Bullying or peer victimisation: The child faces persistent harassment, intimidation, or exclusion from peers, leading to social isolation and emotional suffering.
Neglect
Neglect of a child refers to the failure of caregivers or responsible adults to provide for the child’s basic physical, emotional, educational, or developmental needs, resulting in significant harm or potential harm to the child’s well-being. In our context, neglect can occur in various forms and may include:
Physical neglect: Failing to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or necessary medical care for the child’s physical well-being.
Emotional neglect: Ignoring or dismissing the child’s emotional needs, failing to provide love, affection, and emotional support, or consistently subjecting the child to emotional unavailability or rejection.
Medical neglect: Neglecting or delaying necessary medical or mental health treatments or failing to address the child’s medical conditions or injuries.
Supervisory neglect: Leaving the child unsupervised or inadequately supervised, exposing them to potential danger or harm.
Online safeguarding and child protection
Online safeguarding and child protection prioritize the rights, safety, and well-being of children in the digital world. It requires a proactive and multidimensional approach that combines education, prevention, intervention, and collaboration to create a safer online environment for children to explore, learn, and interact while minimizing the risks they may face.
All disclosures, including concerns of online behaviours or through digital platforms, should be reported to the Welfare and Child Protection Officers as soon as possible.
“…online abuse is any abuse (such as bullying, grooming, exposure to pornographic and extremist materials, radicalisation and sexual/criminal exploitation) that is carried out using internet-connected technology. It may take place through social media, messaging apps, emails, online gaming, live-streaming sites or other channels of digital communication. Children who are abused offline may be re-victimised online if their abuse is live-streamed or recorded and posted online.”
https://safeguarding.network/content/safeguarding-resources/online-safety/
Proactive management of child protection and safeguarding
The Welfare and Child Protection Policy should be published on the Hong Kong Football Club Junior Soccer website and HKFCJS App. The appointment of Welfare and Child Protection Officers and annual training for all coaches.
Ongoing training
All coaches must attend a session (see attached), run by the Child Protection Officer, that explains the current codes of conduct for players, coaches and parents, the inclement weather procedures, the definitions of safeguarding, child protection and child abuse. Coaches should also be taught signs of possible physical signs of physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect. The Child Protection Officer should also clearly explain the process from disclosure to reporting.
Reactive management of child protection and safeguarding
1. Disclosure (Appendix A)
2. Recording (Appendix B)
3. Child Protection Officer(s) coordinate response
4. Case conference to determine next steps:
i. Monitoring
ii. Working with parents/guardians
iii. Referral / involvement of other agencies
5. Ongoing support for victims and others
Determining measures to ensure confidentiality
In all suspected child protection cases, communication must be treated with confidentiality. Sensitive information is shared only with the group monitoring the case on a ‘need to know’ basis.
Responsibilities
Player welfare and child protection is the responsibility of all members of the Hong Kong Football Club Junior Soccer community.
Child Protection Officers
The Welfare and Child Protection Officers for Junior Soccer at Hong Kong Football Club are responsible for:
- Ensuring the rights of the child are central to any decisions made in execution of the role, including in any sub committees connected to Hong Kong Football Club Junior Soccer.
- Manage any child protection concerns in accordance with Hong Kong Football Club Junior Soccer procedures.
- Coordinate any serious concerns with any external agencies.
Disclosures
Do:
Stay calm and be patient.
Find a quiet place where your conversation will not be interrupted.
Be welcoming, even if the time isn’t convenient for you. It may have taken a great deal of courage for them to approach you and they may not do so again.
Try to make the child or young person feel safe and secure. Reassure them that they have done nothing wrong in telling you.
Listen carefully without showing shock, surprise or anger
Ask questions for clarification only
Write down what you have been told as soon as possible. It should be dated, timed and signed.
Record what has been said as accurately as possible, not your interpretations or assumptions.
Explain what you will do with the information and what will happen next.
Give the information to the safeguarding lead immediately.
Do not:
Promise confidentiality.
Ask leading questions.
Look panicked, shocked or angry.
Make the child or young person repeat their story.
Interrupt.
Give an opinion.
Inform parents until you have had a discussion with your safeguarding lead.
Appendix
Appendix A: Safeguarding Presentation to HKFC Junior Soccer:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1TmBw5svRjGJGdewSB7_-PsPlf78Rn9uFhLymYJnyKU4
Appendix B: Coaches Recording Sheet for Child Protection Concerns (See below)
https://docs.google.com/document/d/19kNIObzzs9oMseEGIZvXX_FCnOYMqkhrMAWbTWZC5Aw/edit?usp=sharing