Our trusted services for professional sports Clubs and national governing bodies
We've been working with the Premier League and it's Clubs for the past six seasons, supporting Heads of Safeguarding, Board level leads (often CEO's or Directors) and DSOs across club, academies and with matchday responsibilities.
We have supported Club's entering the Premier League, who have to step up to new levels of scrutiny. We use this experience and knowledge to support other Clubs and can support you in whatever league or sport you operate in.
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In recent years, the extent of safeguarding failings in sports clubs have begun to be revealed. Learning from these failings over the past twenty years has consistently identified a lack of sufficient top-level leadership for safeguarding, or effective safeguarding governance.
We can list many reviews that have identified similar failings, and as examples both Clive Sheldon KC's Independent Review into Child Sexual Abuse in Football 1970 – 2005 and the Whyte Review into allegations of mistreatment in the gymnastics generated learning and new expectations for strategic leaders in their sports
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While Keep Consult is a flexible package of support delivered by our experienced consultants, in line with our organisational values, our work is often structured as a package to ensure a value-for-money improvement program designed to embed your safeguarding arrangements and drive organisational development:
Analysis of safeguarding arrangements presented in a formal report
Development of medium term strategy, with strategic priorities
Writing implementation plan which scheduled and allocated tasks
Depending upon the identified strategic priorities and development needs, we will then support with policy or framework writing, training, and/or mentoring support for staff with specific responsibilities
Making safeguarding a strategic priority is the right thing to do to protect children and adults at risk involved in your sports club or organisation, but it makes sense from a business perspective as well, especially when you are looking to protect your brand.
““Andy has a deep understanding of Safeguarding within football and the requirements for both the EFL and Premier League. Andy supported me on the transition from EFL to the Premier League and provided support to the team on the ground to ensure a clear strategy was in place. One of the great things about Keep Safeguarding is that you can get as much or little support you need depending on your club structure which provides a great independent sounding board. I would highly recommend to any club. Andy has the confidence to challenge senior management in a measured manner to ensure all standards are being understood in such an important subject area.””
Audits and Evaluations
Into the effectiveness of your safeguarding arrangements.
Bring an independent eye to the assessment of your practice. We'll shape an audit around your needs, based upon the requirements of your governing bodies and leagues, or on your statutory responsibilities and best practice and speak to your stakeholders to get an accurate view of your organisation.
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Once complete, you will be presented with an overview report identifying areas of good practice, and areas where improvements could or should be made to ensure compliance. This will include proposals for development work which the organisation can take forward with the support of Keep Governance and Safeguarding, on their own, or with another provider.
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Building on experience supporting a range of sports Clubs, statutory agencies and third sector organisations to assess their safeguarding processes and procedures, Keep Governance and Safeguarding provides one-to-one support services and impartial strategic analysis to ensure your organisation is best prepared to safeguard the children it works with.
Empowering Boards to effectively oversee safeguarding
As we're collaborating with our clients we are learning lessons all Boards can learn from and you can learn from it too. Just download our 7 questions you need to ask in your organisation guide (below) and give yourself a head start.
Our training for Boards isn't the traditional introduction to safeguarding training, but something more tailored to the needs of strategic leaders. That's why Keep Governance and Safeguarding is best place to support you to ensure your Board members and senior management teams are able to provide sufficient oversight of safeguarding, demonstrate compliance and discharge their statutory responsibilities. We're working with some of the most inspirational and compassionate organisations who are focused on continually improving their safeguarding practice, including with some of England's elite football clubs through our work with the Premier League.
Together, we're finding innovative ways to improve their safeguarding governance arrangements and ultimately help their leaders make their organisations safer. We work in partnership with organisations focused on improving their safeguarding frameworks. We take a strategic perspective, ensuring your safeguarding work is effective and protects your people.