It is the policy of CYP Scotland to promote the mental, physical, social and spiritual welfare of boys and young men and girls and young women in Scotland

For further information contact
CYP SCOTLAND
88 GILES STREET, EDINBURGH EH6 6BZ
Telephone: 0131-555 1729

CODE OF BEHAVIOUR AND GOOD PRACTICE

YOU SHOULD

• Treat everyone with respect.

• Provide an example you wish others to follow.

• Plan activities that involve more than one person

being present, or at least which are within sight or

hearing of others.

• Respect a young person's right to personal privacy.

• Have appropriate sleeping accommodation for Leaders and young people.

• Provide access for young people to talk to others about any

concerns they may have.

• Encourage young people and adults to feel comfortable

and caring enough to point out attitudes of behavior they

do not like.

• Avoid physical horseplay such as wrestling, or tickling.

• Remember that someone else might misinterpret your actions,

no matter how well intentioned.

• Recognise that caution is required even in sensitive moments

of counselling, such as dealing with bullying, bereavement

or abuse.

• Ensure that the ratio of Quaiified/Expenenced Leaders

to Members is appropriate to the activity.

YOU SHOULD NOT

• Permit abusive youth peer activities (e.g. initiation

ceremonies, ridiculing, bullying).

• Have any inappropriate physical or verbal contact

with others.

• Jump to conclusions about others without

checking facts.

• Allow yourself to be drawn into inappropriate attention

seeking behaviour such as tantrums or crushes.

• Exaggerate or trivialise child abuse.

• Show favouritism to any individual.

• Make suggestive remarks or gestures.

• Rely on just your good name to protect you.

• Believe "it could never happen to me".

Your MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE should be aware of the three criteria on which new procedures are based:

• the need to protect children and young people in our care.

• the need to protect leaders (e.g. from undue temptation or from

false allegations).

• the need to protect the Organisation as an institution, especially

from litigation.

While the first of these criteria will always be seen as paramount, the other two principles should be taken with the utmost seriousness.

A comprehensive training scheme will operate from 1998 under the auspices of the Development Committee and this will permit not only volunteers working with young persons but also those in Management Committees to become familiar with the requirements.

WHAT HAPPENS IF ?

- IF YOU SUSPECT A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED, EMOTIONALLY, PHYSICALLY OR SEXUALLY­

1 . TELL YOUR CLUB LEADER OR MEMBER OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. 2. RECORD ANY FACTS WHICH SUPPORT YOUR SUSPICIONS. 3. AGREE WITH OTHER ADULTS INVOLVFD WHAT ACTION, IF ANY, BE TAKEN. - IF CHILD DISCLOSES TO YOU ABUSE BY SOMEONE ELSE:

1. ALLOW THE CHILD TO SPEAK WITHOUT INTERRUPTION, ACCEPTING WHAT IS

SAID, BUT NOT INVESTIGATE.

2. ALLEVIATE FEELINGS OF GUILT AND ISOLATION, WHILE PASSING NO

JUDGEMENT

3. ADVISE YOU WILL TRY TO OFFER SUPPORT, BUT THAT YOU MUST PASS THE INFORMATION ON.

4. SAME STEPS AS 1-3 AS IN SUSPECTING A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED.

- IF YOU RECEIVE AN ALLEGATION ABOUT AN ADULT OR ABOUT YOURSELF: 1. IMMEDIATELY TELL THE LEADER IN CHARGE. 2. RECORD THE FACTS AS YOU KNOW THEM. 3. TRY TO ENSURE NO-ONE IS PLACED IN A POSITION WHICH COULD CAUSE

FURTHER COMPROMISE. YOU MUST REFER; YOU MUST NOT INVESTIGATE.

ALL ADULTS INVOLVED IN CYP SCOTLAND SHOULD BE AWARE OF:­

(I) THE ASSOCIATION'S POLICY (AS ABOVE).

(II) THE CODE OF BEHAVIOUR AND GOOD PRACTICE.

(III) BE AWARE OF ANY LOCAL AUTHORITY POLICY.

2. - ALL ALLEGATIONS/SUSPICIONS SHOULD BE REFERRED IMMEDIATELY AND DIRECTLY TO THE LEADER IN CHARGE. NO INVESTIGATION OR QUESTIONING IS TO BE UNDERTAKEN. IF THE CLUB LEADER IS IMPLICATED, REFER DIRECT TO CYP SCOTLAND ALL ALLEGATIONS/SUSPICIONS ARE TO BE REFERRED, NO MATTER HOW INSIGNIFICANT THEY SEEM TO BE, OR WHEN THEY OCCUR. RECORD NOTES/CONVERSATIONS/ADVICE FROM SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT.

TAKE NO FURTHER ACTION UNLESS ADVISED TO DO SO BY THE SOCIAL WORK DEPARTMENT.

IF IN ANY DOUBT AT ANY STAGE REFER TO SECRETARY OF THE ASSOCIATION.

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