Safeguarding & Camps Ops

Safeguarding is one of the most important aspects of Sport4Kids and coaches have a legal and ethical responsibility to ensure that the children and young people they work with are safe and protected from harm. Here are some ways that you can ensure that safeguarding is efficient:

1. Training and qualifications: Staff are required to complete training and qualifications in safeguarding to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills necessary to protect the welfare of children and young people. For example, coaches may complete the Safeguarding and Protecting Children course offered by UK Coaching, or the Safeguarding and Child Protection in Sport course offered by the NSPCC or the S4K University.
2. Policies and procedures: Coaches should be familiar with the safeguarding policies and procedures of their governing body or organization, which outline the steps that should be taken to protect children and young people from harm. These policies may cover areas such as recruitment and screening of coaches, reporting of concerns or allegations, and communication with parents or guardians.
3. Risk assessment: Coaches should conduct risk assessments to identify potential hazards or risks that could cause harm to children and young people and take steps to mitigate or eliminate these risks. For example, coaches may ensure that equipment is in good condition, that playing areas are safe, and that there are appropriate ratios of coaches to participants.
4. Communication and supervision: Coaches should maintain open communication with children and young people, and ensure that they are supervised at all times during training or competition. Coaches should also communicate regularly with parents or guardians to keep them informed of their child’s progress and any concerns that arise.
5. Reporting and follow-up: Coaches should be aware of the procedures for reporting concerns or allegations of abuse or neglect, and should follow these procedures promptly and appropriately. Coaches should also ensure that follow-up measures are taken to address any issues that arise, such as providing support to affected children and young people, or making changes to policies or procedures to prevent future incidents.

Overall, effective safeguarding in your area requires a commitment to ongoing training, clear policies and procedures, risk assessment and management, open communication and supervision, and prompt reporting and follow-up of concerns or allegations.

Materials & Assets:

S4K Network Partner Resources > Products and Services > Holiday Camp > Camp Manual Policies and Procedures UPDATED >  S4KPP028 – Safeguarding.docx