Guidance for Safeguarding

Please read the below safeguarding update as a result of Coronavirus (updated 26th June 2020)

DBS Checks

From the 1st July 2020 England Netball’s DBS service will resume to enable coaches, volunteers and others operating within regulated activity to complete the process to obtain a DBS certificate.

Since the 15th April England Netball took the decision to temporarily suspend processing of all new DBS applications, all DBS renewals and any applications where documentation was not yet verified. This decision was made in light of the Government requirement to socially distance which prevented face to face verification and the demand on the DBS service due to the Coronavirus health crisis.

With resumption of certain elements of netball activity there is a requirement for coaches to have a DBS in place. The England Netball DBS service will resume from 1st July to enable coaches and volunteers to complete the process and application for a DBS certificate.

You will be able apply in the normal manner, however, due to social distancing measures it is necessary to implement changes to the ID checking process. All applicants will be required to have their ID check completed through the post office. There is an additional fee of £6 (payable to the post office directly). Unfortunately face to face ID verification will not resume for the time being until further notice.

There are over 900 post office branches which offer DBS ID verification service. DBS applicants will be able to search for their nearest branch here and then select “CRB & ID Verification Service” within the choose a service drop down list. Note – please DO NOT select DBS ID VALIDATION SERVICE as this service is not compatible with the bar-coded sheet that applicants will be taking in for verification.

For guidance on how to complete a new DBS application with post office verification please click here.

DBS applicants whose DBS application was already within the system and awaiting verification when the service was suspended will be required to restart and resubmit their application within the GBG system. This is due to the change in verification method to the Post Office, whereby you will now be required to print out the ID verification form and take this to the Post Office, along with the ID you have selected to be verified. In doing this, this will alleviate any issues that may have occurred due to incorrect/out of date ID documentation, which would have been as a result of the temporary suspension that was put in place due to the Coronavirus health crisis. For guidance on this please see the GBG Applicant user guide here

England Netball remains committed to ensuring all children and young people are able to take part in the sport in a safe and enjoyable environment.  Any coach, volunteer or paid member of staff carrying out regulated activity with U18s (in accordance with DBS guidance) is required to have a satisfactory Enhanced with Barred List check carried out before they take their with children or young people and the DBS check must be renewed every 3 years.

For queries please contact besafe@englandnetball.co.uk.

Safeguarding Training Changes

England Netball is implementing temporary changes to the safeguarding training required for roles in Netball. This decision has been made in light of the suspension of Netball activity and social distancing measures in place due to the current health crisis.

UK Coaching has launched an Online Classroom to replace the existing Safeguarding & Protecting Children face-to-face workshop. The interim virtual training allows delegates to ask questions in a safe environment facilitated by a qualified safeguarding tutor. It also provides the opportunity to discuss specific safeguarding issues that arise during the training. There is a £30 fee to complete this training (payable to UK Coaching direct).

The course can be found here.

England Netball have taken the decision to accept the UK Coaching online Safeguarding and Protecting Children Virtual Workshop and Certificate during the coronavirus crisis, please see role specific guidance below:

Club coach – If you are a current club coach and your UK Safeguarding and Protecting Children Workshop expires during lock down, you may complete this course during the current lock down period to renew only. In three years’ time however, we recommend that the next course you attend should be the face to face course.

Current club safeguarding officer – If you are a current club safeguarding officer and your UK Safeguarding and Protecting Children Workshop expires during lock down, you may complete this course during the current lock down period to renew only. In three years’ time however, we recommend that the next course you attend should be the face to face course.

Aspiring club safeguarding officer – If you are going to become a club safeguarding officer and are not yet trained, you should wait to attend the UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children face to face course. You may complete the virtual classroom Safeguarding and Protection Children Workshop to start your safeguarding learning journey in the meantime but on a return to normal netball activity you will be required to attend the face to face workshop. There is currently no equivalent course for time to listen, which must also be completed by all new safeguarding officers.

Club volunteers – During this lockdown period, many other club volunteers may choose to use this time to develop their own skills and knowledge. The Child Protection in Sport Unit has guidance to help volunteers select the right level of training, this can be found here. You may complete this course during the current lock down period to start your safeguarding learning journey. In three years’ time however, we recommend that the next course you attend should be the face to face course.

Aspiring coaches – If you are an aspiring coach see the specific guidance set out below:

• Level 1 aspiring coaches  – anyone who looking to become a Level 1 Coach in Netball may complete the virtual classroom Safeguarding and Protection Children Workshop to start your safeguarding learning journey. However this is not a mandatory requirement and should a coach progress on to taking the Level 2 Coaching Award in Netball you will have to will have to attend the UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children face to face workshop prior to certification.
• Level 2 aspiring coaches – any delegate already registered and enrolled onto a Level 2 Coaching Award in Netball is permitted to take the virtual classroom Safeguarding and Protection Children Workshop providing the training has been completed between 1st April 2020 and 31st September 2020 and the learner can provide a valid certificate.
• Anyone who is not enrolled onto a Level 2 Coaching Award in Netball currently and who is looking to achieve their coaching badge on a return to netball activity will have to attend the UK Coaching Safeguarding and Protecting Children face to face workshop. England Netball are clear in the first instance that the optimal way gain safeguarding training is face to face in order to maximise learning, reflection and opportunities to interact with others.

Online and Remote Coaching

With the increased volume of virtual sessions and the netball world doing a brilliant job at connecting via digital platforms, it is important to remember safeguarding is still crucial. To help, our safeguarding team have pulled together this Guidance on Live Streaming activities with Children and Adults at Risk along with outlining these simple steps below.

This is a really challenging time due to the coronavirus pandemic. Netball matches have had to be postponed and clubs are looking at how they can stay in touch with their teams and club members during this time.

As a club or coach you will be busy adapting and modifying your approach to delivery but you should continue to plan for the session as you would a face-to-face session, including consideration of all the factors contributing to an effective and enjoyable session.

The following guidance sets out advice to get you started with virtual coaching:

Coach – only deliver a session which you feel confident to deliver and that you are operating within your coaching remit. You should set ground rules for the session around behaviours and these can be linked to the England Netball Codes of Conduct.

Players – As a club and coach it is essential you know who is joining the session, and that you know as much as possible about the players current level of fitness, and any specific issues you need to be aware of, such as injuries or illnesses. As with any coaching session, you should have player information, which could be gathered on signing up to an online session if you don’t already have it.

Area – You will need to check your coaching area just as your players will. Make sure you and your players have set up a safe area with enough space for equipment to be used in the session.

Session Plan – from the information you have on players attending your virtual coaching session you will need to plan appropriate activities to develop technique and fitness in line with the participants skill and capabilities. Think about level of intensity and how you can evaluate this and observe effort or signs of fatigue.

Feedback – is key for delivering sessions virtually, and should fill in the gaps where you are unsure if the session in meeting the goal. Participants and parents may even be more inclined to give you more feedback remotely, and this should inform future sessions.

In addition, if you are planning online or remote coaching sessions for under-18s, you need to ensure that you are following the guidelines that you would normally do for any contact and engagement with children/young people via social media.

The Child Protection in Sport Unit have released some current guidance on remote teaching and coaching here which all clubs and coaches are recommended to read and implement where possible.

Some further key safeguarding considerations for delivering online or remote coaching sessions for nder-18s are listed below:

• If you are setting up a closed group that involves under-18s, make sure you include their parents and communicate with them all; don’t engage in any one-to-one contact with players under 18.
• The club sets up an account on the platform which is going to be used to host online or remote coaching session, it is strongly advised that the coach shouldn’t use a personal account.
• The Invitation is emailed to parents email addresses, the meeting is password protected, do not share the meeting details and passwords publicly or on social media, ensure where possible the “waiting room” feature is on at all times and you only let people “in” you know.
• The coach (host) should familiarise themselves with the security icon, and know how to lock the meeting.
• Do not record session where U18s are involved without parental permission.
• Consider the platform that is being used. Are privacy and confidentiality settings appropriate? For more information on different websites and platforms see NetAware.
• Consider asking a parent(s) to be a part of any activities so that everything is kept transparent.
• Having a two coaches present ands involved in the sessions would be recommended, and if possible include the Club Safeguarding Officer.
• Be clear about the content and training requirements of the sessions with the players and their parents.
• Set some ground rules. Ensure appropriate language and behaviour is being used and remind your group that all participants must be treated with respect. The England Netball Codes of Conduct must still be adhered to at all times.
• Ensure your players are aware that they can report any concerns or misconduct that they experience or observe during virtual sessions, and provide them with details of your club welfare officer, or they can report it directly to England Netball at besafe@englandnetball.co.uk.
• Complete a risk assessment as normal. For example, if a participant is injured during the activity/session what action will be taken?
• Be sensitive to, and consider the needs of, individual participants, including deaf and disabled children.
• Do not allow children to post photos/videos or screenshots of themselves or anyone else and ensure others do not post images without the appropriate consents being in place.
• Remember, if you and your players are joining public sessions then you have less control over the conduct of other participants.
• Be sensible and follow your usual thought process in terms of protecting both you and your players.

Additional information and guidance on remote coaching is available from UK Coaching.

We should also remember that the current requirements on social distancing place some individuals at risk, either of isolation and neglect, domestic violence or other forms of abuse. If you become concerned about the wellbeing and welfare of anyone that you have virtual contact with then you should share this with our Lead Safeguarding Officer at besafe@englandnetball.co.uk.

Further information on the England Netball Safeguarding Children and Young People Policy and reporting concerns can also be found on our dedicate safeguarding pages here.

Zoom Video Calling Safety Advice

The NSPCC and O2 have published safety advice about Zoom on their Net Aware site which applies for all video conferencing services.

• Supervising your child whenever they are using Zoom.
• Ensure meetings are password protected. This will be compulsory from Saturday May 9th.
• If you’re hosting a public meeting ensure only you can share your screen by turning on the function when setting up the call.
• Ensure the waiting room feature is on at all times and only let in people you know.
• Do not share meeting details or passwords publicly or on social media, including in ‘closed’ groups, and only share them privately with attendees you know and trust.
• Familiarise yourself with the security icon in the menu bar so you know how to lock the meeting, use the waiting room and remove participants.