Child Protection
All organisations working with children need to have sound and rigorous child protection policies in place.
Local Authorities
All local authorities will have a Child Protection Policy in place that Children's Services should be able to advise you on. It is recommended that this policy is adapted to specifically reflect cycle training and may need to be presented in a more user friendly format for cycle instructors. Having done this it would be advisable to ask a member of Children's Services to approve its content and appropriateness.
School Sports Partnerships
Most state schools will operate within the child protection policy of the local education authority. SSPs should state which child protection policy they are following and need to include copies of guidance documents that are made available to instructors. As with local authorities, it is recommended that the policy document is adapted to reflect cycle training specifically and made available in a more user friendly format.
Independent Organisations & Sole Traders
Some Independent Organisations and Sole Traders may require help in developing a child protection policy. There are example documents available to download below:
Independent Organisations
Download Child Protection Policy Organisations
Sole Traders
Download Child Protection Policy Sole Traders
Additional Guidance
The NSPCC has produced Stopcheck, a free step by step guide designed to help smaller organisations providing activities or services for children to develop child protection policies and procedures.
Download Stopcheck NSPCC Booklet
Criminal Records Bureau Check
The Criminal Records Bureau helps public, private and voluntary sectors by identifying candidates who may be unsuitable to work with children or other vulnerable members of society. Known more commonly as a CRB Check, the bureau has access to criminal record information and can provide two levels of service.
Standard Disclosure
This is primarily available to anyone involved in working with children or vulnerable adults, as well as certain other occupations and entry into professions as specified in the Exceptions Order to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974. Standard Disclosures show current and spent convictions, cautions, reprimands and warnings held on the Police National Computer. If the post involves working with children or vulnerable adults, the following may also be searched:
» Protection of Children Act (POCA) List
» Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) List
» Information that is held under Section 142 of the Education Act 2002 (formerly known as List 99).
Enhanced Disclosure
This is the highest level of check available to anyone involved in regularly caring for, training, supervising or being in sole charge of children or vulnerable adults. It is also available in certain licensing purposes and judicial appointments. Enhanced Disclosures contain the same information as the Standard Disclosure but with the addition of any relevant and proportionate information held by the local police forces.
The CRB recognises that the Standard and Enhanced Disclosure information can be extremely sensitive and personal, therefore it has published a Code of Practice and employers' guidance for recipients of Disclosures to ensure they are handled fairly and used properly.
A copy of the Standard or Enhanced Disclosure will be sent out to the applicant as well as the Registered Body.
Larger organisations may already have procedures in place and a policy for the level of CRB check required, however further information can be found by visiting www.crb.gov.uk
