What is case management?
It is the process by which organisations receive, respond to, refer and manage child protection or safeguarding concerns. Safeguarding principles apply to the entire process of managing a case, not just the decisions made. All stages of the case management process need to consider the impact on any children involved and needs to avoid focusing exclusively on the process of managing the individual whose behaviour has harmed or put a child or children at risk of harm.
What are the responsibilities of sports organisations?
Irrespective of the involvement of statutory agencies (Police or Children’s Social Care), or the outcome of any criminal proceedings, sports organisations have a responsibility to apply their own case management systems to reported concerns. In the light of all relevant information organisations need to form a view about the risk an individual may pose to children, how any risk may be managed, and about the individual’s suitability for their role within the sport.
Sports organisations have legal responsibilities to safeguard all children and young people (under 18 years old) involved in their activities as participants or in any other role. They need to put in place:
- policies and procedures outlining values and principles and how everyone should respond to concerns from local to national level
- codes of ethics and conduct clarifying expectations of behaviour for all, including young people
- designated persons roles for safeguarding from national to local level
- reporting procedures
- report forms for recording concerns
- complaints and disciplinary procedures, supported by structures and systems for managing concerns and allegations
- guidance for how complaints and disciplinary procedures work alongside child protection procedures
Is your organisation doing everything it could be to keep children and young people safe in sport? Further information use our online self-assessment tool.
- children and young people have the right to participate in sport in a safe and enjoyable environment
- the best interests of children should be central to all stages of the case management process
- individuals against whom complaints about poor practice or abuse are made have the right to be dealt with through fair and transparent processes
- safeguarding children is everyone’s responsibility