All Affiliated Clubs must have a named Safeguarding Officer who is listed with Paddle Scotland and registered as either a Club Associate or Paddle Scotland members.

The Club Safeguarding Officer must complete an online Safeguarding Officer Agreement and a Club PVG Agreement before Paddle Scotland can process any PVGs.  (see below)

Training

Club Safeguarding Officers are required to complete BOTH of the following courses within 3 months of appointment:

• Child Wellbeing and Protection in Sport  (CWPS)
• Child Wellbeing and Protection Officer Training (CWPO)

No alternative training is accepted.  

See here for details of these training courses

All clubs with children must also have, or have adopted the Paddle Scotland policies:

• Making Referrals Policy
• Secure Handling Policy
• Safeguarding Policy
• Recruitment of Ex Offenders Policy 

Paddle Scotland versions of these policies are all available here.

To check if your club has these policies recorded, to confirm your adoption of the Paddle Scotland policies or to add your own club policies, please visit the Credentials page of the Club Profile in JustGo.  (additional permissions required)

1. Log in to Paddle Scotland JustGo with your username and password
2. Click Club Profile from the menu
3. Click Credentials on the right hand side 
4. Click Add Credentials
5. Search for 'Club PVG Processing contract' then click on it
6. Read the conent, tick to agree and save

Repeat the process for  the following policies where you will be asked to confirm if you have adopted the Paddle Scotland policies or upload your own policy.

• Making Referrals Policy
• Secure Handling Policy
• Safeguarding Policy
• Recruitment of Ex Offenders Policy 

1. Log in to Paddle Scotland JustGo with your username and password
2. Click My Profile then Credentials 
3. Click Add Credentials
4. Search for 'Safeguarding Officer Agreement' then click on it
5. Read the conent, tick to agree and save

Affiliated clubs have a variety of volunteers and staff who assist with the overall running of the Club. Whilst it is vital to keep the issues of wellbeing & protection in proportion, Paddle Scotland would like every club with any children to adopt some basic procedures that will help safeguard all concerned.

Abusers of children tend to gravitate to situations where little vetting or checking takes place.  It is impossible to know who could abuse children.  Therefore, it is important that all reasonable steps be taken to ensure unsuitable people are prevented from working with children.

It is also important that standard procedures are used, whether people are paid or unpaid, part-time or full-time.

For all volunteers / staff working within the Club who have regular contact with young people the following action demonstrates good practice (shown here in no particular order):

Interviews

It is best practice for clubs to utilise an interview process for recruitment of volunteers. Simple, informal interviews to assess the applicant and attempt to verify all information given can be held for voluntary posts. These could be included within the induction process.  Employment Law governs recruitment processes for paid positions.

Referees

It is best practice for clubs to utilise the references forms for recruitment of volunteers. References from at least two people (not relatives) who have known the applicant for at least 2 years and who are able to comment confidentially on the person’s previous work with children and any former involvement in sport. 

PVG Scheme Membership 

A PVG Scheme application is required for all roles where the individual meets the criteria of regulated work. These checks are FREE to volunteers, £59.00 for full scheme membership applications, and £18.00 for a scheme update for paid positions.

Induction 

An induction procedure for all new starts is recommended.  New starts will then be made aware of the relevant club policies and able to sign appropriate Codes of Conduct and membership requirements.  A period of probation is advisable.  Probation can also be used if you implement all areas of the recruitment process and are awaiting the results of a PVG Application.

Training

The Child Wellbeing & Protection in Sport (CWPS) workshop should be completed by all volunteers and staff in a regulated role. 

All volunteers and staff involved in an Affiliated Club must be linked to the club with Paddle Scotland and either be Paddle Scotland members or Club Associates. 

Clubs who deploy individuals to regulated work in their club without them being suitability registered with Paddle Scotland and/or having the appropriate PVG in place are in breach of the affiliation agreement and may face sanctions by Paddle Scotland.

A club failing to ensure that all volunteers that assist a club, no matter how irregularly, are linked and appropriately registered will be deemed to be operating outside the Affiliation remit.  Insurance cover for the club may be affected. 

The criteria for regulated work is complex. 

In general, the types of roles meeting the criteria from affiliated clubs include the following where the individual is involved with children under 18 as part of their normal duties: 

• Club Safeguarding Officer
• Club Coach / Instructor / assistant
• Parent helper
• Committee Member Supervising Regulated Work
• Chaperone
• Anyone who may be in contact with children U18 as part of their normal duties

Once the club has completed the initial stages of the Safer Recruitment process, the Club Safeguarding Officer should carry out the following steps to initiate a PVG: 

• Log in to Paddle Scotland JustGo with your username and password
• Click Club Members on the menu
• Identify the member for whom you are requesting a PVG
• Click the person icon then Credentials
• Click Add Credentials
• Type 'PVG' and select 'Paddle Scotland PVG'
• Follow the on screen instructions then press save.

An automated email will be issued to the individual asking for them to complete an online consent for Paddle Scotland. Only when they complete this consent will the PVG application be submitted to Disclosure Scotland. 

Paddle Scotland will be in touch once the PVG has been received and a decision reached. 

The Safeguarding Officer is required to carry out ID checks. The minimum identification you must check is 3: one document with a photograph and one document with their current home address and one other (photographic or address)

Photographic evidence 

• Passport
• Photographic driving licence
• National Entitlement Card
• Photographic membership card
• Employee ID card
• Certified photograph
• Young Scot card
• Student Card

Address evidence (in the last 3 months) 

• Utility Bill
• Bank or financial statement
• School letter
• Council Letter
• Benefit agency letter
• Other