To ensure CYZ is a fun and safe environment for all, we have behaviour policies in place for each of our clubs. All members also agree to our respect policy when signing up.
Our behaviour policies are available for your perusal below – please select the club you would like to view.
Introduction
We want members to have fun and feel safe at the youth zone. To help this be true for everyone, we have the following values
- RESPECT:
- other members
- CYZ team
- visitors and parents
- the building and equipment
- TRUST
- to be honest
- to be responsible for actions
- to admit to breakages
- to own up to your part in disputes
- RESPONSIBILITY
- be responsible for their own possessions at all times
- be a positive role model
- get involved, have fun, help us to improve what we offer
- listen and follow instructions
- INCLUSIVE
- to value everyone
- to accept everyone by not to discriminate against others on the basis of age, disability, gender, race, religion and sexual orientation.
- SAFE
- to keep others safe by not bullying or intimidating other members or members of the public
- be sensible on the stairs and always keep entrance and fire exits clear – running inside the building can put yourself and other people at risk
We won’t compromise the safety of others but would always want to help members change their behaviour for the better
Behaviour System
Junior Club operates a 3-strike behaviour system to monitor and tackle behaviour that goes against the above values.
Each session, members start with no strikes, and these may be accumulated to a maximum of 3 strikes, at which point their parents will be called and asked to collect the member.
How are strikes issued?
Strikes are issued by any member of the team who feels that something the member has done is inappropriate or unsafe.
We will record:
- Members name
- Reason for strike
- Other YPs involved
If this isn’t the members first strike of the evening, they will be reminded of what they got their strikes for, and warned that the next step is their 3rd strike.
What happens for serious incidents?
Although strikes are almost always issued 1-2-3, in the case of more serious incidents, strikes can be skipped and the first strike issued could be marked down as strike 2 or 3. This is at the discretion of the team member, and agreed with the duty manager.
Any behaviour that falls into one of the below categories will always result in an immediate 3rd strike, and parents/carers will be contacted.
- Violence
- Drugs
- Alcohol
What happens on the 3rd strike?
Members who reach 3 strikes in one evening will have their parent/carer contacted to get picked up early. While we are waiting for the parent/carer, the member will be spoken to regarding the strikes, and when their parent arrives, the strikes will be explained to the parent.
Members who are sent home May be issued with a cooling off – this is issued by a team leader. And it may be the case that the team leader gets in contact with parents/carers a few days later to advise a return date, once the incidents have been reviewed.
What happens after the Cooling off?
Once the agreed cooling off period has been served. The member may return to session. On their first session back, the member and their parent/carer will be required to have a meeting with the duty manager to discuss:
- What happened
- Why it happened
- How it will be avoided in the future
The discussion will be summarised in a behaviour contract that will be put in place.
Persistent bad behaviour
Low Level – 3 strikes are rare
We monitor for patterns in people getting 1 and 2 strikes – if people are persistently getting 1 or 2 strikes in a session, they may be called into a meeting with parents, in which case, a behaviour contract would be put in place, potentially reducing their session allowance to 1 or 2 strikes
High Level – Frequently reaching 3 strikes
People frequently reaching 3 strikes will have behaviour contracts put in place will also get more restricting. This may involve limiting them to attending 1 or 2 named sessions per week, reducing strike allowances and/or reducing the duration they can stay for sessions (e.g. 2 hours instead of 3)
We will always try to help members adjust their behaviour for the better, however we will NOT put the safety of others (members, visitors and team) at risk, so as a last resort we may have to implement an extended cooling off period. This only happens in rare cases.
Download Junior Club Behaviour Policy (PDF)
This page was last updated on 16/01/2020
3 STRIKE POLICY
Warnings/Strikes can be issued by all members of staff.
All warnings are communicated with young person and reception, the receptionist will log the issue/incident in the sessional behaviour document.
A brief overview of issue/incident to the receptionist will include:
- Name of the young person
- Reason for warning
If a member reaches two logged warnings, he/she is to be spoken to by any member of staff to reiterate that they have received two warnings and that one more will result in them being asked to leave.
If YP reaches three warnings they are to be taken aside by any member of staff into a mentoring room for a chat. This chat will outline the following:
- Why they have received three warnings.
- Why this is not acceptable in line with the agreement they have signed and how the behaviour shown will not be tolerated at CYZ.
- Cooling off period in line with any previous behaviour issues and below guidance.
COOLING OFF PERIOD – GENERAL GUIDELINES
- The First Issue – One-night cooling-off period, miss the next session. Behaviour agreement signed again on return. Parents to be contacted.
- The Second Issue – Two nights cooling-off period, miss the next two sessions. Behaviour contract implemented. Parents to be contacted.
Any further issues will be specific to the behaviour contract put in place linking to the individual action plan for that young person. This process is accumulative; therefore the cooling-off period will increase each time an issue arises with the same YP.
If there are no issues that occur within 3 months of the previous issue, the process starts from the beginning.
COOLING OFF PERIOD – EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
Following excessive physical/verbal abuse or violent and aggressive behaviour, the involved young person will be told that they will not be able to access CYZ for at least a week and a member of staff will be in contact to provide further information once the incident has been thoroughly reviewed.
The Outcome and length of any cooling-off period will be dependent on the following:
- Involvement of any external agency – i.e Police
- The nature of the incident
- The damage/harm caused
We won’t compromise the safety of others but would always want to help members change their behaviour for the better.
