ABOUT THE FRAMEWORK
What is the Purpose of the Safeguarding Adults in Sport Framework?
The Safeguarding Adults in Sport Framework is an online audit tool designed to enable sport and activity organisations to have their safeguarding policy and practices professionally assessed against a national safeguarding framework.
The purpose of the Framework is to improve Adult Safeguarding practices within the sport and activity sector, to establish and promote best practice and to support continual development.
The Framework promotes a safer involvement in sport and activity for all members of society, values diversity and reflects current up to date practice and legislation in Safeguarding Adults.
What are the benefits of completing the framework?
By completing the Framework, you are demonstrating that you are committed to safeguarding adults.
This framework provides a set of criteria for everyone involved in sport to help develop a positive sporting culture that creates a safe sporting environment for adults, protecting them from harm.
We welcome the opportunity to benchmark current practice against this framework and in doing so enabling challenge to current practice as well as an opportunity to share experiences.
The Safeguarding Adults in Sport Framework contributes to one of Sport England’s Strategic aims: that everyone taking part in sport and physical activity is safeguarded physically and mentally”.
- Sport England
In addition, by completing the Framework, you are meeting your funding agreement as set out by Sport England or UK Sport.
Who should complete the Framework?
From April 2022 it is a requirement for all National Governing Bodies and Active Partnerships funded by Sport England and UK Sport in England to complete the Framework. Completing the Framework forms part of your Funding Agreement.
How does the Safeguarding Adults in Sport Framework Work?
The Framework consists of six themes. Each theme contains several criteria that require you to submit evidence indicating where and how you meet them.
You will work your way through the Framework theme by theme, submitting evidence for each criterion.
There is a column for you to indicate if you believe you are currently meeting the criteria or not.
Following each theme there is a space to write a brief summary that will form part of your action plan. This allows you to indicate any action to be taken where gaps exist or to indicate your future planned development.
The action points for each criterion will form your overall action plan.
COMPLETING THE FRAMEWORK
How do I access the Framework?
Once you have contacted the Ann Craft Trust and confirmed a date that you can start your submission, you will be contacted by email and provided with a unique login. This will allow you to log in and out and save your submission until you are ready to submit.
How long will it take?
Once you’ve received your log in and start your submission, you will then have six weeks to work your way through and complete the Framework.
What if I haven’t been able to complete it in six weeks? What if I need more time?
Please talk to us to discuss the situation, we are aware that situations change and safeguarding cases can take priority.
Can more than one person work on or access the Framework at the same time?
At present there is only one log in available per submission, therefore all information must be uploaded by one individual.
Who do I contact if there are any technical issues?
Refer to the user guide first. If you are still having difficulty, please contact Sarah Nolan at sarah.nolan@nottingham.ac.uk
Can I upload evidence and save it as I go along?
Yes. Any evidence that you submit will be saved and stored on the system until you are ready to submit. You will be able to view your submission and revisit your action plan at any time.
I am starting a new submission as our last one was completed two years ago. Do I need a new login? And when I log back in, can I see the original submission?
If you completed the submission last time and can remember your log in details, you can use that original log in and you will be able to view your old submission. You would then click on ‘new submission’ to start your new submission.
If not, then please contact us and we will send you your old submission and uploaded documents along with a new log in for you to start your new submission.
AFTER SUBMISSION
What will happen next and what is the process for assessing?
Your Framework submission will be assessed against a set of standardised criteria developed and agreed by the Ann Craft Trust based on safeguarding legislation and best practice.
A random selection of submissions are sent for external verification
What do I get once I’ve completed the Framework? Is there a report?
The assessor will provide a written account to support the action plan and will indicate where you meet the criteria. You can view this on your portal using the same login.
How will you mark my assessment? What are the ratings?
There are three ratings: met, conditionally met and unmet.
What does a “met” rating mean for our overall submission?
A ‘met’ rating means that you are meeting the essential requirements of all the framework criteria.
Organisations who achieve Met will receive approved ACT Safeguarding in Adults Framework logos to use to demonstrate their commitment to safeguarding adults. You can use these logos for as long as you are at the ‘Met’ level.
What does “conditionally met” mean?
A ‘conditionally met’ rating means that you are not currently meeting all the essential requirements of the framework criteria but have demonstrated evidence that you are working towards meeting them.
We will support you with your action plan. We will invite you to resubmit to the framework in six months when you can demonstrate progress you have made.
What will happen if we receive a “Not Met” for our overall submission?
A ‘not met’ rating means that you are not currently meeting the essential requirements of most of/all the framework criteria.
We will support you with your action plan. We will invite you to resubmit to the framework in one year when you can demonstrate progress you have made.
How often do I need to complete the framework?
Revisiting your action plan should be an ongoing process.
If you have met all the criteria, you must resubmit the Framework and submit a new action plan in two years.
Do you inform our funders of the outcome of our submission?
The funders will be made aware that you have completed the submission.