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Standards for Safeguarding and Protection Children in Sport
England Basketball has successfully completed the NSPCC’s Standards for Safeguarding and Protection Children in Sport following the achievement of the Advanced level of the standards. This follows the achievement of the Intermediate level in 2008 and Preliminary level in 2005.
The NSPCC's Child Protection in Sport Unit (CPSU) developed the standards to provide a national benchmark of good practice for organisations to work towards. The standards raise awareness of safeguarding and aim to educate all involved in sport about the welfare of young people and vulnerable adults.
The completion of the standards reflect many years of commitment and dedication that many clubs have put into developing their safeguarding practices, particularly through achieving Clubmark status. Whilst England Basketball has completed the standards, work will continue to improve safeguarding resources and procedures in basketball.
Club Welfare Officers
All clubs with young people (under the age of 18) need to consider child protection and be aware of their duties. All clubs with young people are advised to appoint a Club Welfare Officer (also referred to as a Child Protection Officer).
Child protection involves not only safeguarding young people against child abuse, but to educating coaches and other volunteers on the latest good practice guidelines and what to do if they have concerns that abuse may be taking place elsewhere in the child’s life.
The Club Welfare Officer therefore needs to be perceived as being approachable and as having a child-focused approach. They do not need to be a child protection ‘expert’ as that is the role of the statutory agencies (Police and Social Services). A club may appoint more than one Club Welfare Officer and in fact Clubmark requires two appointed Club Welfare Officers to be named in the clubs child protection policy.
Club Welfare Officers will require support from the club, and training on child protection in sport should be provided. The recommended course is the Sports Coach UK ‘Safeguarding and Protecting Children’ course.
Please view
the core knowledge, skills and tasks for this role, which are taken from Child Protection Policy. Assistance with identifying someone suitable to take on this role or support to Club Welfare Officers is available by contacting the England Basketball Lead Child Protection Officer.
Managing Challenging Behaviour
The Child Protection in Sport Unit of the NSPCC has produced guidance which aims to promote good practice on dealing with challenging behaviour of young people. Please read through
this document and if your club needs further guidance please contact England Basketball.
Local Safeguarding Children Boards
To help ensure that young people are properly protected, Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) have been formed. Membership includes local authorities, health bodies and the police. The LSCBs are able to provide details of training opportunities in child protection and all clubs should retain contact details for their LSCB. More information and contact details can be found on the website
www.everychildmatters.gov.uk.
England Basketball have developed a poster with the aim of providing information to all young people about who to contact if they have any concerns over their safety. The poster contains contact details for England Basketball's Child Protection Officer and we ask that Club Welfare Officer's enter their contact details into the space provided. The poster can then be displayed at games and training.
Child Protection Courses
England Basketball have identified courses to assist and develop good practice for people working or volunteering with children which include:
- Sportscoach UK's 'Safeguarding & Protecting Children' workshop is a sports-specific basic awareness module available all over the country which aims to help you learn about child abuse and how to handle situations if you have concerns. Visit the Sportscoach UK website - www.sportscoachuk.org to search for available courses.
- You should also see if your County Sports Partnership (CSP) are offering access to courses - if you don't have contact details for your local CSP they can be found through the Sport England website. Also some Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCB) provide child protection awareness training.
- Visit the CPSU website at www.thecpsu.org.uk and click on 'Training' for further guidance and information on child protection training.