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Safeguarding Children in a Digital World
A Model eSafety Policy
Name of Organisation: Federation of Inline Speed Skating
Policy Statement
We recognise that the welfare of all children is paramount and that all children and young people; regardless of ability or culture, have equal rights of protection. We have a duty of care when children and young people are in our charge and we will do everything we can to provide a safe and caring environment whilst they attend our activities.
Policy Aim
We promote the highest standard of safeguarding practice in all our activities with children, young people, their families and/or carers. We will adhere rigorously to this policy in all aspects of our work when anyone in our organisation are accessing any form of digital or electronic communication including the internet, mobile phones, games, photography, videos. This policy should be read in conjunction with our Safeguarding Children & Young People and Photography Policies
Lead and Deputy Person for eSafety
The responsibility of managing eSafety can be both demanding and challenging, and therefore must be appointed at managerial/trustee or committee level to personnel who are available when we are operational.
Our lead is:
Name: Dawn McCormack
Contact details:07989608312
Our deputy lead is:
Name:David Nicholls
Contact details:01394384704
Their role is to oversee and ensure that our eSafety policy is fully implemented. This includes ensuring they and all staff receive eSafety information and child protection training as appropriate. The deputy should be available to support or cover for the nominated lead. S/he will also handle any complaints or allegations against the nominated lead if appropriate. This policy will be made available to all adults, children, young people and parents/carers via the FISS website. www.inlinespeed.co.uk.
Why do we need an eSAFETY policy?
Recent advances of the internet, mobile phones and other electronic technology has made access to information and communication increasingly easy for everyone. It is estimated that 98% of young people can access the internet away from school and, in addition to research for homework, the majority use social networking sites; along with playing games and downloading music and videos . Recent CEOP (Child Exploitation & Online Protection Centre) research with 6,000 young people aged 11-16 years, demonstrated that 25% had met a new “friend” from the internet for real, 25% of whom had met that person alone, 2% had taken a trusted adult, the remainder had taken a friend of their own age. Government guidance is clear that all organisations working with children, young people, families, parents and carers have responsibilities. It is important to remember that children and young people can also abuse and that such incidents fall into the remit of this policy.
“All agencies providing services to children have a duty to understand eSafety issues, recognising their role in helping children stay safe online while also supporting adults who care for children” Safeguarding Children in a Digital World
OUR Safety Code of Conduct:
We expect everyone in our organisation to agree and sign up to our code of conduct:
I will:
- Use the internet and other forms of communication in a sensible and polite way
- Only access websites, send messages or access and use other resources that will not hurt or upset anybody
- Seek permission if I want to use personal information or take photographs of other people
- Report any concerns to the lead or deputy person for eSafety immediately
- Be clear that I cannot maintain confidentiality if there is a concern about the welfare of a child or young person
What are the risks?
There are many potential risks including children and young people including:
- Accessing age inappropriate or illegal websites
- Receiving unwanted or upsetting text or e-mail messages or images
- Being “groomed” by an adult with a view to meeting the child or young person for their own illegal purposes including sex, drugs, or crime
- Viewing or receiving socially unacceptable material such as inciting hatred or violence
- sending bullying messages or posting malicious details about others
- Ignoring copyright law by downloading music, video or even homework cheat material
What else might BE OF concern ?
A child or young person who:
- is becoming secretive about where they are going to or who they are meeting
- will not let you see what they are accessing on-line,
- using a webcam in a closed area, away from other people
- accessing the web or using a mobile or PDA (Personal Data Assistant) for long periods and at all hours
- clears the computer history every time they use it
- receives unexpected money or gifts from people you don’t know
An adult who:
- befriends a child/ren on the internet or by text messaging
- has links to children on their Facebook or other social network site; especially if they work in a position of trust such as a sports coach or youth worker
- is secretive about what they are doing and who they are meeting
What do I do if I am concerned?
If you have any concerns speak to the lead, or deputy person for eSafety immediately. S/he will take the following action/s:
Contacts for referring
If the concern is about :
- a child being imminent danger, always dial 999 for the police.
- the welfare of a child, ring the local children’s social care services. The number can be found under the “Worried about a child?” button at www.safechild.co.uk , by following your local SCB (Safeguarding Children Board) web link
- a known person’s sexual behaviour or intentions, ring the local children’s social care services
- a person who has a “duty of care”towards children and young people in the organisation, ring the local children’s social care services. The LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer) will oversee and advise upon any following procedures
- an unknown person’s sexual behaviour or intentions , report at www.ceop.gov.uk (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre)
- harmful content, including child sexual abuse images or incitement to racial hatred content contact www.iwf.org.uk
- viruses, get advice from www.getnetwise.co.uk
- mobile problems, contact the phone service provider
REMEMBER: –
- DO NOT DELAY.
- DO NOT INVESTIGATE.
- SEEK ADVICE FROM THE LEAD OR DEPUTY person for esafety
- MAKE CAREFUL RECORDING OF ANYTHING YOU OBSERVE OR ARE TOLD
Other Useful Contacts
NSPCC Tel: 0800 800 5000
Young people can get help and advice at www.childline.org.uk Tel: 08001111
or access advice about concerns including bullying and hacking visit, or to report concerns by visiting
Technical Advice
Contact the local retailer or go on line to the phone or software provider
Minimising the risks:
We will:
- Talk to children and young people about what they are accessing on line
- Keep the computer/s in a general space where we can monitor what is going on
- Explain the risks of giving out personal details on-line
- Talk about how people can be anyone they want to be on-line: by using misleading e-mails, photographs of other people, telling lies about their age, school, hobbies
- Encourage children and young people to think carefully about what photographs or videos they use on line They can be used and tampered with by other people, or they may not be appropriate
- Advise children and young people to only text, chat or webcam to people they know for real
- Talk about how to identify SPAM messages or junk mail and how to delete them. This also applies to messages from people they do not know, or opening attachments
- Discuss how people hide their identities on-line and the importance of never meting new on-line “friends” for real
- Make sure children & young people understand they can always talk to us or their parents and/or carers about anything that makes them feel uncomfortable
- Look on the internet together for information about how to deal with, or report, problems
- Talk about how, when information or images get onto the net, they can never be erased or brought back
References:
For more specialist eSafety references go to http://www.safecic.co.uk/freebies/2-uncategorised/36-reference-links
For eSafety training visit http://www.safecic.co.uk/e-shop/all-categories/product/73-online-esafety-courses/category_pathway-13
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