Child Protection in Sport Unit

Slide 1: 

StreetGames National Conference 29/30 April 09 Child Protection in Sport Unit Nick Slinn National Development Officer

From Child Protection to Safeguarding : 

From Child Protection to Safeguarding Child protection – the ‘sharp end’ Victoria Climbie Every Child Matters (ECM) New structures, new guidance, new legislation Wider focus – five outcomes for all children Safeguarding rather than child protection

ECM: key messages : 

ECM: key messages Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility 5 Outcomes for all children very relevant to sport Appropriate policies and procedures Informed, appropriate staff and volunteers Partnership working Information sharing

Five key outcomes for all children & young people : 

Five key outcomes for all children & young people Be healthy physical and mental health and well-being Stay safe protection from harm and neglect Enjoy and achieve education, training and recreation Make a positive contribution the contribution made by them to society Achieve economic well-being social and economic well-being © - NSPCC CPSU

Safeguarding & promoting children’s welfare involves : 

Safeguarding & promoting children’s welfare involves Protecting children from maltreatment Preventing impairment of children’s health or development Ensuring that children are growing up in circumstances consistent with the provision of safe and efficient care Undertaking that role so as to enable children to have optimum life chances and to enter adulthood successfully These safeguarding aspects are cumulative to achieve the five outcomes identified in ‘Every Child Matters’ Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006 (1.18 & 1.19)

Child Protection : 

Child Protection … is an essential part of safeguarding and promoting children’s welfare …is activity undertaken to protect specific children who are suffering or at risk of suffering significant harm All agencies and individuals should aim to proactively safeguard and promote the welfare of children so that the need for action to protect children from harm is reduced. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006 (1.20 & 1.21)

Statutory duties, roles and responsibilities for all organisations : 

Statutory duties, roles and responsibilities for all organisations Working Together to Safeguard Children 2006 – 2.8 Safeguarding & Promoting Children’s Welfare Culture of listening to children Whistle blowing Procedures and culture Procedures for dealing With allegations against Staff / volunteers Effective recruitment & selection procedures– including Safeguarding checks Clear lines of accountability Senior management commitment Arrangements for working with other organisations including information sharing Arrangements for staff / volunteer training Policies and procedures for safeguarding children including CP policy and procedures Priorities in strategic policy documents © - NSPCC CPSU

Roles and Responsibilities –Sports Organisations and Statutory Agencies : 

Roles and Responsibilities –Sports Organisations and Statutory Agencies Awareness / Recognition Reporting Strategy Meeting Investigation Assessment Intervention Referral Process to Children’s Social Care or Police Statutory Agencies - Children’s Social Care, Police. Sports Organisations - NGBs, Sports Partnerships etc Sports Organisation’s Child Protection Policies and Procedures LSCB Child Protection Policies and Procedures Child Protection Conference / Plan Criminal / Care Proceedings Complaints / Disciplinary Processes

Independent Safeguarding Authority –Vetting and Barring Scheme : 

Independent Safeguarding Authority –Vetting and Barring Scheme One of Bichard recommendations post-Soham Single barring list Multi-agency assessment of risk Ongoing monitoring and electronic update of status change Legal requirement for children’s workforce (paid & voluntary) Criminal offence not to check, or to employ/deploy if not a scheme member Employers required to refer relevant concerns to ISA

V&B and Safe Recruitment : 

V&B and Safe Recruitment V&B will assess high level, provable risk to any children in any working context Sports recruitment and selection procedures assess applicant’s suitability for a specific post and context Safest when V&B check undertaken together with: - enhanced level CRB (updated) - personal and professional references - verification of technical qualifications - full employment/deployment record

Limits to V&B Scheme : 

Limits to V&B Scheme High threshold of risk No update of new information (other than barred status) No access to details eg convictions Not barred will not automatically mean suitable Public/professional perception that V&B check replaces value of CRB and other checks.

Scheme operation – Barring and online status : 

Scheme operation – Barring and online status The status of individuals will be continuously updated on receipt of new information, such as new convictions or referrals from employers. Employers will be notified, where they have registered an interest, if the status of their employee changes. Scheme membership is fully portable. Online status checking Scheme member Not a member Not barred Not applied BARRED

Revised V&B Timetable : 

Revised V&B Timetable Currently – barring decisions being made by ISA Draft generic guidance due Sports/Leisure sector-specific guidance due From 12th October 2009: offence to knowingly employ barred person, and for barred person to seek work in regulated activity From July 2010: Voluntary registration with the ISA and continuous monitoring begins; registration can be checked on line From November 2010 registration begins (phased) .

Slide 14: 

ISA website www.isa-gov.org Call centre 0300 123 1111 Child Protection in Sport Unit www.thecpsu.org.uk 0116 2347278 cpsu@nspcc.org.uk

Slide 15: 

Child Protection in Sport Unit www.thecpsu.org.uk 0116 2347278 cpsu@nspcc.org.uk To subscribe to the CPSU quarterly e-newsletter simply e-mail the word ‘subscribe’ to cpsu@nspcc.org.uk