Your policy must specify:

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• that safety checks are required for specified persons, including background checks and verifying their identity  

• that safety checks are carried out before the specified person starts their role 

• that safety checks are done at least every three years 

• the criteria for people who are disqualified from working with children or adults at risk. 

Your organisation must:

• identify the roles and activities that have specified persons 

• tell members and participants what the roles are  

• perform safety checks: 

  • verify the specified person’s identity 

  • do an official background or criminal record check, eg, police vetting 

  • keep up-to-date records of all safety checks 

  • have criteria and a process for managing people with a failed safety check or who are unsafe to work with children or adults at risk.  

• Checking and training staff or volunteers

Your policy must specify:

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• safe and inclusive practices that cover: 

  • coaching, training and instructing 

  • one-on-one interactions 

  • taking, sharing or storing images 

  • transport and travel 

  • overnight stays and accommodation, including sleeping arrangements 

  • changing room (or equivalent) arrangements. 

Your organisation must:

• assess risk areas, identify safe practices and document them  

• make sure everyone is aware of safe and inclusive practices 

• make sure safe practices are included in education and training for specified persons. 

• Creating safer environments

Your policy must specify:

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• that education covers the safe practices set out in the policy that focus on the safety and wellbeing of children, young people and adults at risk 

• the education/training that specified persons must undertake and it’s completed: 

  • before, or as soon as possible after, the specified person starts their role 

  • every year. 

Your organisation must:

• develop a plan that outlines how you:  

  • deliver the education, timeframes and methods, eg, workshops, online modules 

  • communicate to everyone the education you are providing and what it’s for 

  • track learning and what happens if it’s not completed in the required timeframes. 

• Child protection and safeguarding education 

 Your policy must specify:

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• how your organisation identifies, reports, and responds to suspected or real cases of child abuse, child sexual abuse and child neglect 

• that everyone is advised of and must follow the policy. 

• Child protection policy template (DOCX 152.7KB)

Your organisation must:

• make sure everyone is aware of your child protection policy and knows they have to follow it 

• provide guidance on how to identify harm and abuse  

• create a procedure to confidentially report and respond to all suspected or known cases of harm and abuse 

• create a procedure to securely store and share information, including mandatory notification. 

• Child protection

Your policy must specify:

• the requirement to appoint a safeguarding lead at a national or regional level 

• what the safeguarding lead is responsible for, eg, safety checks, receiving and responding to reports of child abuse 

• the safeguarding lead’s contact details. 

Your organisation must:

• appoint someone with the appropriate skills  

• make sure the safeguarding lead is safety checked and educated in child safeguarding and protection before starting their role 

• make sure all members (clubs and participants) know who the safeguarding lead is and what their responsibilities are. 

The safeguarding lead must:

• be easily contacted and have their contact details communicated and accessible to anyone 

• receive and respond to reports of suspected or real cases of child abuse, child sexual abuse and child neglect 

• be responsible for overseeing the requirements: 

  • to develop and implement safe and inclusive practices, eg, travelling with children 

  • to provide members with information to identify, respond to and report all suspected or known causes of harm or abuse to children and adults at risk 

  • for how your organisation responds to all suspected or known causes of harm or abuse to children and adults at risk 

  • to identify, carry out and document safety checks for specified persons 

  • to ensure specified persons are educated in child safeguarding and understand their responsibilities.