Managing Challenging Behaviour Policy
Launceston Rugby Club
Launceston RC has a duty of care to its young people, its members and staff. It is
important that staff and volunteers are aware of and understand the club’s managing
challenging behaviour guidance to ensure they understand the circumstances in which
they may need to intervene and are clear about the practice guidance in this area.
Launceston RC recognises that it has a responsibility to give clear guidance and
support to all those involved in activities to enable them to supervise the young people
they are responsible for. Launceston RFC, through this policy, will make it clear what
is acceptable practice, the required standards of conduct and the club’s process for
responding to behaviour that is deemed unacceptable.
These guidelines aim to promote good practice and to encourage a proactive response
to supporting children to manage their own behaviour. They suggest some strategies
and sanctions which can be used and also identify unacceptable sanctions or
interventions which must never be used by staff or volunteers.
To assist staff this policy and guidelines must be followed and read in conjunction with
all the clubs’ policies and guidelines and where relevant RFU policy and guidance.
These are available on the following website:
https://www.englandrugby.com/governance/safeguarding
In particular:
• Launceston RC Anti- Bullying Policy
• Launceston RC Safeguarding Policy
• RFU Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults Policy
• RFU Codes of Conduct
It is the responsibility of all Launceston RC club staff to ensure that they read and
understand these policies and put the policy into practice. If there are any questions
or queries, please contact the club safeguarding officer - Shona McCombie or club
officials for guidance.
The guidelines are based on the following principles:
• The welfare of the child is the paramount consideration.• Children must never be subject to any form of treatment that is harmful, abusive,
humiliating or degrading.
Guidelines for volunteers
Some children exhibit challenging behaviour as a result of specific circumstances, e.g.,
a medical or psychological condition and staff/volunteers who deliver sports activities
to children may, on occasions, be required to deal with a child’s challenging behaviour.
When children are identified as having additional needs or behaviours that are likely
to require additional supervision, specialist expertise or support, this should be
discussed with parents/carers and where appropriate young people to ensure that an
appropriate approach is agreed.
If required additional support and advice should be obtained from either the club
safeguarding and welfare officer or/and external agencies such as Children’s Services.
Sport can make a significant contribution to improving the life experience and
outcomes for all children and young people. Every child should be supported to
participate and, only in exceptional circumstances where the safety of a child or of
other children cannot be maintained, should a child be excluded from club activities.
Planning Activities
Good coaching practice requires planning sessions around the group as a whole but
also involves taking into consideration the needs of each individual athlete within that
group. As part of session planning, coaches should consider whether any members of
the group have presented in the past or are likely to present any difficulties in relation
to the tasks involved, the other participants or the environment.
Where staff/volunteers identify potential risks, strategies to manage those risks should
be agreed in advance of the session, event or activity. The planning should also
identify the appropriate number of adults required to safely manage and support the
session including being able to adequately respond to any challenging behaviour and
to safeguard other members of the group and the staff/ volunteers involved. The club
should seek to work in partnership with parents/carers, and where necessary external
agencies, to ensure that a child or young person can be supported to participate safely.
Agreeing Acceptable and Unacceptable Behaviours
Staff, volunteers, children, young people and parents/carers by joining the club agree
to the RFU codes of conduct. A range of sanctions will be utilised by the club’s
discipline committee which may be applied in response to unacceptable behaviour if
deemed appropriate by the committee. This may include in some circumstances
referring to the RFU.
Shona McCombie
launcestonmjsafeguarding@gmail.com
|
Policy review date |
January 2026 |
|
Next review date |
January 2027 |
|
Reviewed by Shona McCombie |
January 2026 |
