Ladybridge Football Club is committed not only to providing young people with the opportunity to play football and learn life skills, but also to safeguard their well-being from potential harm. Ladybridge.net spoke to the club's Child Protection Officer, Janet Ramsden, to learn more.
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| Janet has been Ladybridge FC's Child Protection Officer since 2001 |
Why does Ladybridge Football Club have a Child Protection Officer?
I’m there to give confidence to parents that there’s a skilled person in place at the club in case they have any concerns that they wish to discuss in confidence.
I represent the club but I offer impartial advice, in confidence, to both parents and club officials.
What skills do you bring to your role at the club?
I’m a vulnerable adult officer at the Greater Manchester Police but I have also been the Child Protection Officer at Horwich RMI Cricket Club, St. Thomas and St. John’s Church in Lostock and Horwich Harriers also.
The Football Association run child protection courses that are specific to working in a football environment but because my actual job involves working with vulnerable people, I am actually able to bring a broader set of skills to my role at Ladybridge Football Club.
It has allowed me to be able to adapt to real life situations that aren’t always unique to football.
What is your relationship with coaches and other officials at the club?
Over the years I’ve had coaches ring me with concerns about the relationship between certain children and their parents and I then put strategies into place to monitor that situation.
It’s often better to monitor things before acting because you run the risk of compromising the situation and even alienating the child. You can never make assumptions.
The club’s coaches have also all been on child protection courses, which helps them recognise potential warning sings that they otherwise might not have picked up on.
Is there a Child Protection Officer at every club in this country?
Most voluntary clubs do have somebody in the role but unfortunately a lot of clubs see it as a matter of ticking a box rather than taking the welfare of their children seriously.
Recent legislation has also introduced criminal record checks on people that work at voluntary organisations so the situation is definitely improving.
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