sportscotland fundamentally believes that child protection is everyone’s responsibility. Therefore everyone working, participating or volunteering in sport has a responsibility to ensure the safety and welfare of children in and through sport.
sportscotland is committed to working with CHILDREN 1st to support its partners in sport to develop robust child protection policies, procedures and good practice that will ensure all children can take part in sport safely and happily.
Safeguarding in Sport Service
sportscotland and CHILDREN 1st work in partnership to deliver the Safeguarding in Sport Service. This service supports sport organisations to develop and promote a positive environment for children taking part in sport.
Sports organisations can access all of the information they need to help children stay safe and have fun whilst taking part in sport..from the website of the Safeguarding in Sport Service or phoning direct to 0141 418 5674 or emailing safeguardinginsport@children1st.org.uk.
Visit the Safeguarding in Sport Service website to find:
- Information on the Accord on Protecting Children in Scottish Sport, which provides a framework for sports organisations working to put a child protection programme in place
- Guidance on developing a child protection policy for your governing body or club
- Guidance on what to do if you are concerned about the welfare of a child
- Current CPS training courses available and how to book available including Safeguarding and protecting children and In Safe Hands – Child Protection Training for Club Child Protection Officers’
- Information on the Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007, and what this means for your organisation
- Information on how to sign up to receive the Safeguarding in Sport e-newsletter
- Information on the Scottish governing bodies and local authority child protection officers groups, and how to get involved
- Information on safe recruitment of employees and volunteers, including PVG scheme Membership
- Local Emergency contact numbers for police/social work services throughout Scotland.
- Answers to a wide range of frequently asked questions about protecting children in sport.
The Scottish Government’s child protection web pages also contain a wealth of information about the legal and policy background to child protection more generally in Scotland.
Disclosure Scotland checks
Disclosure Scotland issues certificates - known as "Disclosures" - which give details of an individual's criminal convictions, or state that they have none. There are three levels of Disclosure – Basic, Standard and Enhanced.
The Central Registered Body in Scotland (CRBS) manages the provision of free disclosures to voluntary sector organisations working with children, young people and adults at risk. CRBS also provides guidance, advice and support.
The Information contained within a Disclosure assists employers, voluntary sector organisations, and those in their care, to make safer recruitment decisions. the level of Disclosure required will depend on the work with children/protected adults, an enhanced disclosure is no longer available to the employer – individuals in such a position should be asked to become a member of the Pttecting Vulnerable Group Scheme.
Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007
The Protecting of Vulnerable Groups Scheme is a membership scheme for people doing regulated work with children and/or protected adults in Scotland.
All organisations have a legal responsibility to ensure that any individual who will be in regulated work with children or protected adults is not listed on the children’s list and/or Adult’s List, which bars them from working with children and/or protected adults.
For an organisation to check an individual against a list, they can request an individual becomes a PVG Scheme by applying for a Scheme Record. A Scheme Record disclosure will provide the organisation and individual with any vetting information, criminal conviction information, if they are on the Sex Offender’s Register, relevan non-conviction information from Police forces and any prescribed civil orders. This informationmay then helpemployers to make safer recruitment decisions.
The PVG Scheme is managed and delivered by Disclosue Scotland Organisations can register directly with Disclosure Scotland to access this vetting information. Further information about the PVG scheme .