ProJudo is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who participate in our activities. We have a duty of care to safeguard children and promote their welfare, and we believe that all children have the right to protection from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. This policy sets out the principles and practices that we will follow to ensure that all children and young people are protected from harm.

ProJudo is committed to creating and maintaining a safe environment for all children and young people who participate in our activities. We will ensure that:

1. All children and young people are treated with respect, dignity, and fairness, and are protected from all forms of abuse, neglect, and exploitation.
2. We will provide a safe and secure environment for all children and young people who participate in our activities, by ensuring that our facilities, equipment, and activities are appropriate for their age and ability.
3. We will provide appropriate supervision and support to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people who participate in our activities, and will have procedures in place to respond to any concerns or allegations of abuse.
4. All adults who work with children and young people will be appropriately trained, vetted, and supervised, and will understand their responsibilities for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
5. We will ensure that all children and young people who participate in our activities are aware of our child protection policy and know how to report any concerns or allegations of abuse.

Coaching Staff

All Pro Judo coaching staff must be cleared through the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme through Disclosure Scotland, and be a registered member of JudoScotland.

Roles and Responsibilities

All adults who work with children and young people at ProJudo have a responsibility to safeguard and promote their welfare. This includes:

• Club officials, coaches, and volunteers, who are responsible for implementing this policy and ensuring that all children and young people are protected from harm.
• Parents and carers, who have a responsibility to provide a safe and secure environment for their children and to report any concerns or allegations of abuse to club officials.
• Children and young people, who have the right to be protected from harm and who have a responsibility to report any concerns or allegations of abuse to a trusted adult.

Procedures

If any person has knowledge or suspicion that a child is either being abused or is at risk of abuse, or that a carer has seriously neglected or failed to protect a child, they have a personal duty to report this to the ProJudo Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer (CWPO). The CWPO is the designated person for handling all safeguarding concerns.

If a child or young person talks about something that indicates abuse may have taken place:

• Listen to what they have to say. Be comforting and sympathetic. Ensure the child feels as little responsibility as possible. Tell them you are pleased they told you and that this should help you to keep them safe. (It can be valuable to have another adult present).
• Do not make the individual repeat the story to anyone else, as they may have to be formally interviewed later. It is important to minimize the number of times information is repeated.
• Do not make any suggestions to the individual regarding how the incident may have happened. Do not interrogate the individual except to clarify what they are saying. Do not stop an individual who is freely recalling significant events.
• Do not promise to keep the information secret. Make it clear to the individual that you will refer the matter on.
• Write down exactly what the individual says and what you have said in response. Sign and date what you have written.
• Bear in mind that if the parent/carer is said to be involved in abuse and knows the individual has told someone, then threats or other pressures may be applied to encourage the individual to retract their statement.

In cases of immediate risk to a child, you must contact the Police first. In all other cases, you must report to the Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer who will then follow the official JudoScotland procedures.

Recognising Abuse (Common Signs and Symptoms)

General Considerations

• Identification of abuse may be difficult. It normally requires both social and medical assessment.
• Always listen to the individual – pay particular attention to any spontaneous statement.
• Beware if the explanation of an ‘accident’ is vague, lacking detail, is inconsistent with the injury, or varies with each telling.
• Take note of inappropriate responses from parents or carers.
• Observe the child’s interaction with the parents – particularly wariness, fear, or ‘frozen watchfulness’.
• Any history or patterns of unexplained injury/illness requires the most careful scrutiny.

Physical Abuse

Some signs that may be due to physical abuse are:

Bruises

• Bruises to one or both eyes.
• Grasp marks on the limbs or fingertip bruises on the chest of a small child.
• Finger marks on the face.
• Symmetrical or linear bruising.
• Bruising to the ear.
• Outline bruising (e.g., belt marks, handprints, shoe marks).
• Bruising on soft tissue with no obvious and verifiable explanation.
• Different age bruising (especially in the same area).

The following are uncommon sites for accidental bruising: mouth, cheeks, behind the ear, neck, abdomen, chest, under the arm, back, back of legs, buttocks (except along the bony protuberances of the spine), genital area, rectal area, soles of feet.

Bites, Burns and Scars

• Oval or crescent-shaped bites.
• Burns or scalds with clear outlines.
• Burns of uniform depth over a larger area.
• An exceptionally large number of scars.
• Small round burns which may be cigarette burns.

Other Injuries

• Pain, swelling and discoloration over a bone or joint.
• Allegedly unnoticed fractures.
• Poisoning, injections, ingestion, or other application of damaging substances.
• Illness which is fabricated.
• Female genital mutilation, which includes female circumcision, excision, and infibulation, is physical abuse and an offence regardless of cultural or other reasons.

Emotional Abuse

Children suffering emotional abuse may show:

• Abnormally passive, lethargic, or attention-seeking behaviour.
• Specific habit disorders (e.g., soiling, excessive drinking).
• Severely delayed social or language development.
• Weight and height which is disproportionately low that cannot be explained by medical reasons.

The competitive nature of judo can be a breeding ground for emotional abuse, which can take the form of:

• A parent who pushes too hard.
• A coach who adopts a win-at-all-costs philosophy; or torments, humiliates, or ignores his/her athlete.
• A player who intimidates others.
• An official who places unfair pressure on a person.

Sexual Abuse

Some signs that may be due to sexual abuse are:

• Sexually transmitted diseases.
• Genital warts.
• Recurrent Urinary infections.
• Genital and rectal itching and soreness.
• Unexplained bleeding and discharges.
• Bruising in the genital region.
• Inappropriate sexual play and/or masturbation.
• Sexually explicit behaviour.
• Young children with a lot of sexual knowledge.

Accompanying Conditions (WHICH ALSO OCCUR IN NON-ABUSED CHILDREN)

• Sleeping and eating disturbance.
• Recurrent abdominal pains.
• Headaches, sleeping and appetite disorders.
• Social withdrawal.
• Restlessness and aimlessness.
• Sexually abusive behaviour towards other children.
• Poor trust and secretiveness.
• Promiscuous behaviour.
• Drug abuse.
• Running away.
• Self-mutilation.
• Suicide attempts.
• Hysterical fits, faints, etc.

N.B. In many cases, a sexually abused child presents physical symptoms of abuse. The most important indicator is what the child says her/himself.

The involvement of a child by an adult in unlawful sexual activities is sexual abuse, whether this is apparently forced or apparently willing; and whether this is an abuse of position, paid, or rewarded by persons known or strangers.

Please note the guide above is not extensive. This is for reference to recognize signs of abuse. Apply common sense and contact appropriate authorities if you are unsure.