CHESS COACHES AUTHORISATION

February 2004

Chess Scotland (CS) has now moved into a further stage in the implementation of its Child Protection Policy, which has been in operation since 1996. One of the key objectives is to publish a list of "Chess Scotland Authorised Coaches", that is coaches who have been the subject of enhanced disclosure. This notice explains what people should do if they wish to be included in that list. We hope that significant number of coaches will decide it is the right thing to do; similar child protection policies are now established practice across most organisations that deal with children and/or vulnerable adults.

It is expected that, over a period of time, parents and others will place increasing reliance on the list as being a quick way to identify who would be suitable to coach children and/or vulnerable adults. The list will be particularly useful where parents do not already know the individual coaches.

To be included in the list an applicant requires to meet two conditions (as with other aspects of Child Protection policy, these conditions may be amended in the future): -

• Be a member of CS
• Achieve a satisfactory outcome of an enhanced disclosure, repeated every three years

There will be no form of competency test. This decision recognises that relatively weak players can make a huge contribution to chess by having a good manner in dealing with children whereas stronger players have an irreplaceable role in developing more advanced youngsters and adults.

The advantages of achieving Authorised Coach status are: -

• The list of Authorised Coaches and contact details will be published on the CS website; the list will be kept up to date.
• The website will state that anyone not on the list but offering chess coaching does not have CS authorisation.
• No charge will be levied against applicants who wish to be considered for Authorised Coach status. Volunteers are carrying out the registration etc. work. Obviously, CS needs to retain the right to levy a charge in the future if changed circumstances result in costs being carried by CS.
• The website list will be used as the reference point by parents and other existing and potential customers as well as by CS officials in identifying chess coaches.
• Obtaining Authorised Coach status will not have any impact on the commercial relationship between coach and customer. That remains purely a matter for the individuals concerned.

Anyone wishing to apply for Authorised Coach status should Email Steve Mannion (Snr) at mannionsd@btinternet.com with full contact details. He in turn will send you the relative form for completion and give you details of the documentary evidence that you must produce to him. Throughout the enhanced disclosure process, all applications will be dealt with in strict confidence and to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity.

It should be stated quite explicitly that there is no question of any compulsion in this process. It is open to anyone to start or carry on being a chess coach without achieving Authorised Chess Coach status. It will be for these individuals to persuade existing and potential customers that lack of authorisation is not a matter for concern.

Full details of the various policy documents which have been registered with the relevant authority, CRBS, together with the explanation of the underlying thinking are published on the CS website (schools page). In accordance with those documents, the disclosure process will extend beyond coaches, as time and volunteer resources permit.