Welfare

SafeGuard

• Coaches
• Adults on Teams with Young Players
• Young People
• Parents
• Junior Organisers
• Club Committee & Chairs
• Umpires & Officials
• Welfare Officers

Welfare Reporting

Safeguarding Best Practice

Always

• Stay calm
• Reassure the person reporting their concerns that they have done the right thing in telling you
• Keep an open mind
• Listen carefully to what is said and take them seriously
• Find an appropriate early opportunity to explain that it is likely that the information will need to be shared with the Club Welfare Officer (do not promise to keep secrets)
• Ask questions for clarification only, and at all times avoid asking questions that suggest a particular answer.  To help you to do this, try to ask questions starting with what, how, where, when, who
• Tell them what you will do next and with whom the information will be shared
• Report the incident to the your Club Welfare Officer or England Hockey Lead Child Welfare Officer
• Record in writing what was said using the young person's own words as soon as possible, using the England Hockey Safeguarding referral form

Never

• Panic
• Make promises you cannot keep
• Make a young person repeat the information unnecessarily
• Delay in reporting to your Welfare Officer
• Make assumptions
• Approach the alleged abuser
• Take sole responsibility