Basketball England Safeguarding Adults Policy

Updated: July 2025

Definitions of terms used in this document can be found HERE

1. Introduction 

Basketball England is committed to Safeguarding Adults in line with national legislation and relevant national and local guidelines.  

We will safeguard adults by ensuring that our activities are delivered in a way which keeps all adults safe.  

Basketball England is committed to creating a culture of zero-tolerance of harm to adults which necessitates: the recognition of adults who may be at risk and the circumstances which may increase risk; knowing how adult abuse, exploitation or neglect manifests itself; and being willing to report safeguarding concerns.  

This extends to recognising and reporting harm experienced anywhere, including within our activities, within other organised community or voluntary activities, in the community, in the person’s own home and in any care setting.

Basketball England is committed to best safeguarding practice and to uphold the rights of all adults to live a life free from harm from abuse, exploitation and neglect. 

2. Principles

The guidance given in the policy and procedures is based on the following principles: 

The Care Act sets out the following principles that should underpin safeguarding of adults: 

Empowerment - People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent. 

“I am asked what I want as the outcomes from the safeguarding process and these directly inform what happens.” 

Prevention – It is better to take action before harm occurs. 

“I receive clear and simple information about what abuse is, how to recognise the signs and what I can do to seek help.” 

Proportionality – The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented. 

“I am sure that the professionals will work in my interest, as I see them and they will only get involved as much as needed.” 

Protection – Support and representation for those in greatest need. 

“I get help and support to report abuse and neglect. I get help so that I am able to take part in the safeguarding process to the extent to which I want.” 

Partnership – Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse 

“I know that staff treat any personal and sensitive information in confidence, only sharing what is helpful and necessary. I am confident that professionals will work together and with me to get the best result for me.” 

Accountability – Accountability and transparency in delivering safeguarding. 

“I understand the role of everyone involved in my life and so do they.” 

All adults, regardless of age, ability or disability, gender, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital or gender status have the right to be protected from abuse and poor practice and  to participate in an enjoyable and safe environment. 

Basketball England will seek to ensure that our sport is inclusive and make reasonable adjustments for any ability, disability or impairment, we will also commit to continuous development, monitoring and review.  

The rights, dignity and worth of all adults will always be respected. 

We recognise that ability and disability can change over time, such that some adults may be additionally vulnerable to abuse, for example those who have a dependency on others or have different communication needs.  

We recognise that a disabled adult may or may not identify themselves or be identified as an adult ‘at risk’. 

We all have a shared responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of all adults and will act appropriately and report concerns whether these concerns arise within Basketball England for example inappropriate behaviour of a coach, or in the wider community.   

All allegations will be taken seriously and responded to quickly in line with Basketball England Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures.  Basketball England recognises that there is a legal framework within which sports need to work to safeguard adults who have needs for care and support and for protecting those who are unable to take action to protect themselves.  In line with this we recognise the role and responsibilities of the statutory agencies in safeguarding adults and is committed to complying with the procedures of the Local Safeguarding Adults Boards.   

3. Commitments 

In order to implement this policy Basketball England will ensure that:  

Everyone involved with Basketball England is aware of the safeguarding adult procedures and knows what to do and who to contact if they have a concern relating to the welfare or wellbeing of an adult.  

Any concern that an adult is not safe is taken seriously, responded to promptly, and followed up in line with Basketball England Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedures.  

The well-being of those at risk of harm will be put first and the adult actively supported to communicate their views and the outcomes they want to achieve. Those views and wishes will be respected and supported unless there are overriding reasons not to (see the Safeguarding Adults Procedures).  Any actions taken will respect the rights and dignity of all those involved and be proportionate to the risk of harm.

Confidential, detailed and accurate records of all safeguarding concerns are maintained and securely stored in line with our Data Protection Policy and Procedures.  

Basketball England acts in accordance with best practice advice, for example, from UK Sport, Sport England, NSPCC, Ann Craft Trust. 
 
Appropriate for their role; Safeguarding team staff attend Safeguarding Adults Training, and anyone else who works with Adults at Risk should also have this added to their list of essential training. 

Basketball England uses safe recruitment practices and continually assesses the suitability of volunteers and staff to prevent the employment/deployment of unsuitable individuals in this organisation and within the sporting community.  

Basketball England shares information about anyone found to be a risk to adults with the appropriate bodies. For example: Disclosure and Barring Service, Services, Police, Local Authority/Social Services.

All events have a dedicated welfare officer.  Actions taken under this policy are reviewed by the Board and senior management team.

This policy, related policies and the Safeguarding Adults Procedures are reviewed no less than on a two yearly basis and whenever there are changes in relevant legislation and/or government guidance as required by the Local Safeguarding Board, UK Sport, Sport England or as a result of any other significant change or event. 

4. Guidance and legislation

Safeguarding Adults in all home nations is compliant with United Nations directives on the rights of disabled people and commitments to the rights of older people.  It is covered by: 

• The Human Rights Act 1998 
• The Data Protection Act 2018 
• General Data Protection Regulations 2018 

The practices and procedures within this policy are based on the relevant legislation and government guidance.   

 England - The Care Act 2014 

• Care and Support Statutory Guidance (especially chapter 14) 2014 

Many other pieces of UK and home nation legislation also affect adult safeguarding.   
These include legislation about different forms of abuse and those that govern information sharing. For example, legislation dealing with:  

• Murder/attempted murder 
• Physical Assault 
• Sexual Offences 
• Domestic Abuse/Coercive control 
• Forced Marriage 
• Female Genital Mutilation 
• Theft and Fraud 
• Modern slavery and Human exploitation 
• Hate crime  
• Harassment 
• Listing and Barring of those unsuitable to work with adults with care and support need 

There is also legislation about the circumstances in which decisions can be made on behalf of an adult who is unable to make decisions for themselves: 

• England - Mental Capacity Act 2005 

• There are specific offences applying to the mistreatment of and sexual offences against adults who do not have Mental Capacity and specific offences where mistreatment is carried out by a person who is employed as a carer: e.g. wilful neglect and wilful mistreatment.  

5. Definitions

The Safeguarding Adults legislation creates specific responsibilities on Local Authorities, Health, and the Police to provide additional protection from abuse and neglect to Adults at Risk.   
 
When a Local Authority has reason to believe there is an adult at risk, they have a responsibility to find out more about the situation and decide what actions need to be taken to support the adult.   

The actions that need to be taken might be by the Local Authority (usually social services) and/or by other agencies, for example the Police and Health.  A sporting organisation may need to take action as part of safeguarding an adult, for example, to use the disciplinary procedures in relation to a member of staff or member who has been reported to be harming a participant.  The Local Authority role includes having multi-agency procedures which coordinate the actions taken by different organisations.  

England (Care Act 2014) 

An adult at risk is an individual aged 18 years and over who: 

1. Has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) AND; 

2. is experiencing, or at risk of, abuse or neglect, AND; 

as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of abuse or neglect. 

6. Types of abuse and neglect - definitions from the the Care Act 2014 

Abuse is a violation of an individual’s human and civil rights by another person or persons. It can occur in any relationship and may result in significant harm to, or exploitation of, the person subjected to it. Any or all of the following types of abuse may be perpetrated as the result of deliberate intent, negligence, omission or ignorance.  

There are different types and patterns of abuse and neglect and different circumstances in which they may take place. 

Safeguarding legislation in each home nation lists categories of abuse differently however, in England the below is listed -  
 

• Physical 
• Sexual 
• Emotional/Psychological/Mental 
• Neglect and acts of Omission 
• Financial or material abuse 
• Discriminatory  
• Organisational / Institutional  
• Self-neglect  
• Domestic Abuse (including coercive control) 
• Modern slavery 

Abuse can take place in any relationship and there are many contexts in which abuse might take place; e.g. Institutional abuse, Domestic Abuse, Forced Marriage, Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery, Sexual Exploitation, County Lines, Radicalisation, Hate Crime, Mate Crime, Cyber bullying, Scams.  

Abuse can take place within a sporting context and the person causing harm might be any other person. For example: a member of staff, a coach, a volunteer, a participant or a fan.  

Some examples of abuse within sport include: 

• Harassment of a participant because of their (perceived) disability or other protected characteristics
• Not meeting the needs of the participant e.g. training without a necessary break
• A coach intentionally striking an athlete 
• One elite participant controlling another athlete with threats of withdrawal from their partnership  
• An official who sends unwanted sexually explicit text messages to a participant
• A participant threatens another participant with physical harm and persistently blames them for poor performance

Abuse or neglect outside sport could be carried out by:  

• A spouse, partner or family member 
• Neighbours or residents 
• Friends, acquaintances or strangers 
• People who deliberately exploit adults they perceive as vulnerable 
• Paid staff, professionals or volunteers providing care and support 

Often the perpetrator is known to the adult and may be in a position of trust and/or power. 

Not included in the Care Act 2014 but also relevant: 

• Cyber Bullying - cyber bullying occurs when someone repeatedly makes fun of another person online or repeatedly picks on another person through emails or text messages, or uses online forums with the intention of harming, damaging, humiliating or isolating another person.  It can be used to carry out many different types of bullying (such as racist bullying, homophobic bullying, or bullying related to special educational needs and disabilities) but instead of the perpetrator carrying out the bullying face-to-face, they use technology as a means to do it.   
• Forced Marriage - forced marriage is a term used to describe a marriage in which one or both of the parties are married without their consent or against their will. A forced marriage differs from an arranged marriage, in which both parties consent to the assistance of a third party in identifying a spouse. The Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 make it a criminal offence to force someone to marry.  
• Mate Crime - a ‘mate crime’ as defined by the Safety Net Project is ‘when vulnerable people are befriended by members of the community who go on to exploit and take advantage of them. It may not be an illegal act but still has a negative effect on the individual.’ Mate Crime is carried out by someone the adult knows and often happens in private. In recent years there have been a number of Serious Case Reviews relating to people with a learning disability who were murdered or seriously harmed by people who purported to be their friend. 
• Radicalisation - the aim of radicalisation is to attract people to their reasoning, inspire new recruits and embed their extreme views and persuade vulnerable individuals of the legitimacy of their cause. This may be direct through a relationship, or through social media. 

7. Signs and indicators of abuse and neglect

An adult may confide to a member of staff, coach, volunteer or another participant that they are experiencing abuse inside or outside of the organisation’s setting.  Similarly, others may suspect that this is the case.  
 
There are many signs and indicators that may suggest someone is being abused or neglected.  There may be other explanations, but they should not be ignored.  The signs and symptoms include but are not limited to: 
 

• Unexplained bruises or injuries – or lack of medical attention when an injury is present
• Person has belongings or money going missing
• Person is not attending / no longer enjoying their sessions. You may notice that a participant in a team has been missing from practice sessions and is not responding to reminders from team members or coaches
• Someone losing or gaining weight / an unkempt appearance. This could be a player whose appearance becomes unkempt, does not wear suitable sports kit and there is a deterioration in hygiene
• A change in the behaviour or confidence of a person. For example, a participant may be looking quiet and withdrawn when one person comes to collect them from sessions in contrast to with someone else whom they greet with a smile. 
• Self-harm
• A fear of a particular group of people or individual
• A parent/carer always speaks for the person and doesn’t allow them to make their own choices 
• They may tell you / another person they are being abused – i.e. a disclosure 

What to do if you have a concern or someone raises concerns with you. 
 

• You may notice a concern, suspect a concern or be told about a concern and you must report this to the Basketball England Safeguarding Team or Club / League Welfare Officer
• If you are at an international event and have a concern then speak to the coach, Team Manager or another team official
• If you are concerned someone is in immediate danger, contact the police straight away
• It is important when considering your concern that you also consider the needs and wishes of the person at risk, taking into account the nature of the alert

8. Wellbeing principle

The success of sport, in terms of helping people achieve their potential, making the most of existing talent, and attracting new people to sport relies on putting people – their safety, wellbeing and welfare – at the centre of what sport does. Duty of Care in Sport Independent Report to Government Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE, DL. 

The concept of ‘well-being’ is threaded throughout UK legislation and is part of the Law about how health and social care is provided.  Our well-being includes our mental and physical health, our relationships, our connection with our communities and our contribution to society.

Being able to live free from abuse and neglect is a key element of well-being.

The legislation recognises that statutory agencies have sometimes acted disproportionately in the past. For example, removing an adult at risk from their own home when there were other ways of preventing harm.  In the words of Justice Mumby ‘What good is it making someone safe when we merely make them miserable?’ What Price Dignity? (2010).

For that reason any actions taken to safeguard an adult must take their whole well-being into account and be proportionate to the risk of harm.

9. Person-centred safeguarding/ making safeguarding personal

The legislation also recognises that adults make choices that may mean that one part of our well-being suffers at the expense of another – for example we move away from friends and family to take a better job. Similarly, adults can choose to risk their personal safety; for example, to provide care to a partner with dementia who becomes abusive when they are disorientated and anxious.  

None of us can make these choices for another adult. If we are supporting someone to make choices about their own safety we need to understand what matters to them and what outcomes they want to achieve from any actions agencies take to help them to protect themselves.

The concept of ‘Person Centred Safeguarding’/’Making Safeguarding Personal’ means engaging the person in a conversation about how best to respond to their situation in a way that enhances their involvement, choice and control, as well as improving their quality of life, well-being and safety.  Organisations work to support adults to achieve the outcomes they want for themselves.  The adult’s views, wishes, feelings and beliefs must be taken into account when decisions are made about how to support them to be safe. There may be many different ways to prevent further harm.  Working with the person will mean that actions taken help them to find the solution that is right for them. Treating people with respect, enhancing their dignity and supporting their ability to make decisions also helps promote people's sense of self-worth and supports recovery from abuse.

If someone has difficulty making their views and wishes known, then they can be supported or represented by an advocate.  This might be a safe family member or friend of their choice or a professional advocate (usually from a third sector organisation). 

10. Mental capacity and decision-making 

We make many decisions every day, often without realising.  UK Law assumes that all people over the age of 16 have the ability to make their own decisions, unless it has been proved that they can’t.  It also gives us the right to make any decision that we need to make and gives us the right to make our own decisions even if others consider them to be unwise. 

We make so many decisions that it is easy to take this ability for granted.  The Law says that to make a decision we need to: 

• Understand information 
• Remember it for long enough 
• Think about the information 
• Communicate our decision 

A person’s ability to do this may be affected by things such as learning disability, dementia, mental health needs, acquired brain injury and physical ill health.  

Most adults have the ability to make their own decisions given the right support however, some adults with care and support needs have the experience of other people making decisions about them and for them. 

Some people can only make simple decisions like which colour T-shirt to wear or can only make decisions if a lot of time is spent supporting them to understand the options. If someone has a disability that means they need support to understand or make a decision this must be provided. A small number of people cannot make any decisions. Being unable to make a decision is called 'lacking mental capacity'.   

Mental capacity refers to the ability to make a decision at the time that decision is needed.  A person’s mental capacity can change.  If it is safe/possible to wait until they are able to be involved in decision making or to make the decision themselves. 
 
For example: 

• A person with epilepsy may not be able to make a decision following a seizure
• Someone who is anxious may not be able to make a decision at that point
• A person may not be able to respond as quickly if they have just taken some medication that causes fatigue

Mental Capacity is important for safeguarding for several reasons.

Not being allowed to make decisions one is capable of making is abuse.  For example, a disabled adult may want to take part in an activity but their parent who is their carer won’t allow them to and will not provide the support they would need.  Conversely the adult may not seem to be benefiting from an activity other people are insisting they do.

Another situation is where an adult is being abused and they are scared of the consequences of going against the views of the person abusing them.  It is recognised in the law as coercion and a person can be seen not to have mental capacity because they cannot make ‘free and informed decisions’. 

Mental Capacity must also be considered when we believe abuse or neglect might be taking place.  It is important to make sure an ‘adult at risk’ has choices in the actions taken to safeguard them, including whether or not they want other people informed about what has happened, however, in some situations the adult may not have the mental capacity to understand the choice or to tell you their views.

Each home nation has legislation that describes when and how we can make decisions for people who are unable to make decisions for themselves.  The principles are the same.   

• We can only make decisions for other people if they cannot do that for themselves at the time the decision is needed
• If the decision can wait, wait – e.g. to get help to help the person make their decision or until they can make it themselves
• If we have to make a decision for someone else then we must make the decision in their best interests (for their benefit) and take into account what we know about their preferences and wishes
• If the action we are taking to keep people safe will restrict them then we must think of the way to do that which restricts to their freedom and rights as little as possible

Many potential difficulties with making decisions can be overcome with preparation.  A person needing support to help them make decisions whilst taking part in a sports organisation will ordinarily be accompanied by someone e.g. a family member or formal carer whose role includes supporting them to make decisions.   

It is good practice to get as much information about the person as possible.  Some people with care and support needs will have a ‘One page profile’ or a ‘This is me’ document that describes important things about them.  Some of those things will be about how to support the person, their routines, food and drink choices etc. but will also include things they like and don’t like doing.  It’s also important to have an agreement with the person who has enrolled the adult in the sports activity about how different types of decisions will be made on a day to day basis.

If a person who has a lot of difficulty making their own decisions is thought to be being abused or neglected you will need to refer the situation to the Local Authority, and this should result in health or social care professionals making an assessment of mental capacity and/or getting the person the support they need to make decisions.

There may be times when a sporting organisation needs to make decisions on behalf of an individual in an emergency.  Decisions taken in order to safeguard an adult who cannot make the decision for themselves could include:  

• Sharing information about safeguarding concerns with people that can help protect them
• Stopping them being in contact with the person causing harm

11. Consent

Workers and volunteers within sports and physical activity organisations should always share safeguarding concerns in line with their organisation’s policy, usually with their safeguarding lead or welfare officer in the first instance, except in emergency situations. As long as it does not increase the risk of the individual, the worker or volunteer should explain to them that it is their duty to share their concern with their safeguarding lead.  

The safeguarding lead will then consider the situation and plan the actions that need to be taken, in conjunction with the adult at risk and in line with the organisation’s policy and procedures and local safeguarding adults board policy and procedures.  

A conversation can be had with the safeguarding adults team without disclosing the identity of the person in the first instance. If it is thought that an alert needs to be made to the safeguarding adults team, consent should be sought from the adult at risk.  

Individuals may not give their consent to the sharing of safeguarding information with the safeguarding adult’s team for a number of reasons. Reassurance, appropriate support and revisiting the issues at another time may help to change their view on whether it is best to share information.  

If they still do not consent, then their wishes should usually be respected. However, there are circumstances where information can be shared without consent such as when the adult does not have the capacity to consent, it is in the public interest because it may affect other people, or a serious crime has been committed. This should always be discussed with the safeguarding adults team.  

12. How to record a disclosure 

• Make a note of what the person has said using his or her own words as soon as practicable. Complete an Incident Form and submit to the Basketball England Safeguarding Team or Welfare Officer
• As long as it does not increase the risk to the individual, you should explain to them that it is your duty to share your concern with the Safeguarding Team or Welfare Officer
•  Describe the circumstances in which the disclosure came about
• Take care to distinguish between fact, observation, allegation and opinion. It is important that the information you have is accurate
• Be mindful of the need to be confidential at all times, this information must only be shared with your the Safeguarding team or Welfare Officer and others on a need to know basis
• If the matter is urgent and relates to the immediate safety of an adult at risk then contact the police immediately

The circumstances when we need to share information without the adult’s consent include those where:  

• It is not safe to contact the adult to gain their consent – i.e. it might put them or the person making contact at further risk
• You believe they or someone else is at risk, including children
• You believe the adult is being coerced or is under duress
• It is necessary to contact the police to prevent a crime, or to report that a serious crime has been committed
• The adult does not have mental capacity to consent to information being shared about them
• The person causing harm has care and support needs
• The concerns are about an adult at risk living in Wales or Northern Ireland (where there is a duty to report to the Local Authority)

When information is shared without the consent of the adult this must be explained to them, when it is safe to do so, and any further actions should still fully include them.

If you are in doubt as to whether to share information seek advice from the Basketball England safeguarding team.

Any decision to share or not to share information with an external person or organisation must be recorded together with the reasons to share or not share information. 

13. Multi-agency working

Safeguarding adults’ legislation gives the lead role for adult safeguarding to the Local Authority.  However, it is recognised that safeguarding can involve a wide range of organisations. 
 Sports bodies may need to cooperate with the Local Authority and the Police including to: 

• Provide more information about the concern you have raised

• Provide a safe venue for the adult to meet with other professionals e.g. Police/Social Workers/Advocates

• Attend safeguarding meetings

• Coordinate internal investigations (e.g. complaints, disciplinary) with investigations by the police or other agencies

• Share information about the outcomes of internal investigations 

• Provide a safe environment for the adult to continue their sporting activity/ their role in the organisation

 Safeguarding adults flowchart

15. Roles and responsibilities of those within Basketball England

Basketball England is committed to having the following in place: 

• A Lead Safeguarding/Welfare Officer to produce and disseminate guidance and resources to support the policy and procedures
• A clear line of accountability within the organisation for work on promoting the welfare of all adults
• Procedures for dealing with allegations of abuse or poor practice against members of staff and volunteers.
• A Case Management Group that effectively deals with issues, manages concerns and refers to a disciplinary panel where necessary (i.e. where concerns arise about the behaviour of someone within Basketball England
• Arrangements are in place to work effectively with other organisations to safeguard and promote the welfare of adults, including arrangements for sharing information
• Appropriate whistle blowing procedures and an open and inclusive culture that enables safeguarding and equality and diversity issues to be addressed

16. Good practice, poor practice and abuse 

It can be difficult to distinguish poor practice from abuse, whether intentional or accidental.  

It is not the responsibility of any individual involved in Basketball England to make judgements regarding whether or not abuse is taking place, however, all Basketball England personnel have the responsibility to recognise and identify poor practice and potential abuse, and act on this if they have concerns. 

Good practice 

Basketball England expects that coaches of adult at risk:  

• Adopt and endorse the Basketball England Coaches Codes of Conduct
• Have completed a course in basic awareness in working with Adults at Risk

Everyone should:  

• Aim to make the experience of Basketball England fun and enjoyable
• Promote fairness and playing by the rules
• Not tolerate the use of prohibited or illegal substances
• Treat all adults equally and preserve their dignity; this includes giving more and less talented members of a group similar attention, time and respec

Coaches and those working directly with adults at risk should:  

• Respect the developmental stage of each athlete and not risk sacrificing their welfare in a desire for team or personal achievement
• Ensure that the training intensity is appropriate to the physical, social and emotional stage of the development of the athlete
• Work with adults at risk, medical adviser and their carers (where appropriate) to develop realistic training and competition schedules which are suited to the needs and lifestyle of the athlete, not the ambitions of others such as coaches, team members, parents or carers
• Build relationships based on mutual trust and respect, encouraging adults at risk to take responsibility for their own development and decision-making
• Always be publicly open when working with adults at risk and avoid coaching sessions or meetings where a coach and an individual athlete are completely unobserved

Avoid unnecessary physical contact with people. Physical contact (touching) can be appropriate so long as:  

• It is neither intrusive nor disturbing
• The athlete’s permission has been openly given
• It is delivered in an open environment
• It is needed to demonstrate during a coaching session
• Maintain a safe and appropriate relationship with athletes and avoid forming intimate relationships with athletes you are working with as this may threaten the position of trust and respect present between athlete and coach
• Be an excellent role model by maintaining appropriate standards of behaviour.

 

• Gain the adult at risk consent and, where appropriate, the