CODE OF CONDUCT FOR TEAM MEMBERS

The trusting relationship between team member and child, young person or vulnerable adult means the team member should never:

  • use their position to gain access to information for their own or others’ advantage
  • use their position to intimidate, bully, humiliate, threaten, coerce or undermine
  • use their status and standing to form or promote relationships that are or may become sexual

Team members should always:

  • treat all children with dignity and respect in attitude, language used and actions.
  • respect the privacy of children and young people; avoid questionable activity, e.g. rough / sexually provocative games and comments.

Guidelines on Touch

  • Keep everything public. A hug in the context of a group is very different from a hug behind closed doors
  • Touch should be related to the child’s or young person’s needs, not the worker’s
  • Touch should be age-appropriate and generally initiated by the child or young person rather than the worker
  • Avoid any physical activity that is, or may be thought to be, sexually stimulating to the adult or the child
  • Pay particular attention to touching during activities in the water.
  • Children and young people have the right to decide how much physical contact they have with others, except in exceptional circumstances when they need medical attention.
  • Team members should monitor one another in the area of physical contact. They should be free to help each other by pointing out anything which could be misunderstood
  • Concerns about abuse should always be reported.

Guidelines on managing behaviour

  • Build healthy relationships with the campers and be a good role model by setting an example. You can’t expect campers to observe the ground rules if you break them yourself.
  • Be consistent in what you say and ensure that other team members know what you have said. This avoids manipulation.
  • NEVER hit a camper and don’t shout. Change voice tone if necessary.
  • Discipline out of love, NEVER in anger. (Call on support from other leaders if you feel so angry you may deal with the situation unwisely.)
  • Take a disruptive camper to one side and engage with them, challenging them to change, whilst encouraging their strengths.

Practice Guidelines
As an organisation working with children, young people and vulnerable adults we wish to operate and promote good working practice. This will enable workers to run activities safely, develop good relationships and minimise the risk of false accusation.

As well as a general code of conduct for workers we also have specific good practice guidelines for the environment and activities of Aquasports.

  • Team members are not expected to be involved with toileting unless the child or young person has a special need highlighted to the leadership by the parent or guardian.
  • It is acknowledged that the use of physical touch between adults and children / young people can be quite healthy and acceptable in public places. However, team members will be discouraged from this in circumstances where an adult and child/ young person are on their own.
  • Team members should give warning before entering a campers’ tent and this should only be at agreed times (timetabled) except in a case of emergency.
  • There should always be 2 leaders for each tent of campers. The leaders should work together and not enter the campers’ tent alone. At times, however it may be necessary for a team member to check on a campers’ tent alone and after giving a warning to open it but to remain outside.
  • Team members should ensure they are not alone in the showers with a camper. Team members should use the individual shower and toilet cubicles on camp to support with this.
  • The transport policy should be adhered to at all times when campers are being transported.

Guidelines on photography

  • Team members should only take group photographs, not pictures of individual campers. When taking photographs it is important to ensure that those in the picture are adequately clothed and the clothing is visible.
  • Photos may only be put on the website if written parental permission has been given by under 18 year olds as well as permission by the young people themselves, and written permission has been given by those over 18.
  • Team members wishing to take photos of their children with other team members’ children (“aquakids”) should seek permission from that child(ren)’s parent/carer prior to taking any such photos. Team members who are parents of children on camp should also clarify individual boundaries on how those photos are to be stored and/or shared.

Guidelines on use of social media and communication

Please note that this policy does not take precedent over any similar policy outlined by your employer or an organisation you volunteer with, if that policy is more restrictive than the below.

Rationale:
We welcome the development of new technologies for communicating and we will endeavour to use it wherever appropriate to enhance the Aquasports Cross Trust’s work with young people attending the camp.

  • We recognise our responsibility to take all reasonable measures to reduce risk of harm to young people, including team’s use of electronic communication
  • We recognise the need to protect the Aquasports team from inappropriate conduct from young people in their personal lives and situations that may make them vulnerable to allegations
    Definition:
  • Electronic communication covers mobile phones, computers, laptops, tablets and any other devices that can be used for emails, SMS messaging, Instant Messaging and social networking
    Usage:
  • It is not appropriate for young people to have team members’ mobile phone numbers unless the
    team member has responsibility for the young person outside of the camp
  • It is not appropriate for a team member to “text” a young person for whom they have no responsibility outside of the camp
  • Electronic communication will not be used for general socialising or unnecessary contact. All social networking will be used with a purpose in mind. This could include responding to a question, comment or concern from a young person, or promoting the camp
  • Unnecessary contact might include sharing personal issues or seeking advice from young people. Excessive contact is also inappropriate
  • Electronic communication will be kept to sociable hours, i.e. not early or late (8pm – 8am are non-contact hours)
  • Your co-tent leader or a member of the trustees should be made aware if you are using electronic communication with a young person (for example, copying them in to any emails sent to young people)
  • There should be no private messaging of campers on any social media platform (including email). All messages should either be public (e.g. posted on an individual’s “wall” or “timeline”, or on a public group), or should copy in the other tent leader or one of the safeguarding co-ordinators.
  • If a young person messages or emails you, copy another team member into your reply (via email) or reply via public message (e.g. on the individual’s “wall” or “timeline”)
  • A private group may be set up for individuals if both tent leaders are part of it and the safeguarding coordinator is made aware.
  • We will abide by the website’s lower age limits (for example, on Facebook we will not “friend” anyone who is under 13 years old)
  • If a parent or carer requests that we do not use electronic communication with a young person, we will not, unless the young person is at risk
  • We will be aware of the language we use and any shorthand used, making every effort to ensure what we write cannot be misinterpreted
  • Each team member will keep a record of emails and “wall” posts between themselves and any young people they are in contact with. These should be made available to trustees or legal bodies on request
  • We will not request to be friends with young people, but may accept their friend requests where appropriate
  • We will ensure our privacy settings are set appropriately
  • Team should ensure that the content of their social networking accounts, including (but not limited to) pictures, are appropriate. Content and other comments must not be derogatory towards those with whom Aquasports is working, including young people, parents, team members and other organisations and businesses.