8.5 Your policy and procedures priorities

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Two athletics officials stand either side of a giant clipboard. The paper on the clipboard is headed Priority, with lines of text and two green ticks below the heading.

One critical part of your organisation’s safeguarding response is to develop your policies and procedures. If you don’t already have them in place, they should be a high priority in your Action Plan. You will still need to prioritise which areas you develop first.

Identifying your organisation’s priority safeguarding measures

Look at the safeguarding checklist below.

Pick out three actions that you think should be your organisation’s initial top priorities. Which actions would be top of your list – and why?

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The list of ten items in the safegarding checklist is as follows. A safe recruitment process for volunteers and staff. Guidance on adequate supervision for children. Information about local safeguarding and child protection services and a process for referring concerns. Information about managing concerns of poor practice and breaches of the codes of conduct through the relevant disciplinary or ethics body of your organisation. Transport and accommodation guidelines. Guidance on the safe use of changing rooms and showers. An anti-bullying policy and reporting system. Clear guidance on the safe use of social media and communication. Clear codes of conduct that individuals sign to confirm they will comply with expected behaviours. Risk assessment guidance. The model choices are given as follows with a feedback comment for each one. Information about local safeguarding and child protection services and a process for referring concerns. Comment: It’s vital that everyone is made aware of the different avenues for reporting concerns and the overall reporting process, both internal and external to your organisation. Clear codes of conduct that individuals sign to confirm they will comply with expected behaviours. Comment: Being clear with all stakeholders about expected standards of behaviour (especially towards children) is an important early step towards developing a safe environment. Risk assessment guidance. Comment: These are very basic but effective ways to prevent harm in different contexts and sporting activities. Risk assessment tools can help you do assessments well.

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There aren’t any absolutely right or wrong answers here, and all organisations are at different stages of the safeguarding journey.

8.4 Developing a safeguarding Action Plan

8.6 Staff training and education as part of your Action Plan