DUTY OF CARE IN ACTION

Working with the people who look after the people

DUTY OF CARE IN ACTION

Working with the people who look after the people

DUTY OF CARE IN ACTION

Working with the people who look after the people

DUTY OF CARE IN ACTION

Working with the people who look after the people

DUTY OF CARE IN ACTION

Working with the people who look after the people

About DOCIAsport

DOCIAsport is an established award winning consultancy started in 2017 by MD Ian Braid. DOCIA – duty of care in action – is at the core of the work of the business. It not only addresses the responsibility to the participants in high performance or community sport and activity but also to ‘the people looking after the people’ – coaches, administrators, and officials. If the sport and activity sector is to meet its obligations to broader society through contributing to the health and wellbeing of the nation it has to workless as a system and more as a society. Through Ian’s leadership and values driven way of working DOCIAsport collaborates with the key stakeholders and influencers in the sector at local and national level offering advice, support, and guidance to deliver sustainable change with social and economic impact.

The work and influence of DOCIAsport has been recognised with the business winning the Mental Health Consultancy of the Year 2020 during the pandemic and the Global Business Awards, Best Sustainable Sport and Activity Provider 2022 for establishing Community Wellbeing Hubs in the Rugby Football League.

Ian is a member of the inaugural ‘Inside Out Leader Board’ for work tackling the stigma of mental health in sport, Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, a member of the UK Coaching Advisory Pane, Chair of the Isle of Man Sport Aid Athlete Advisory Board, and Chair of the ParkPlay Advisory Board.

As an athlete, administrator, official, coach or volunteer, everyone in sport should expect a duty of care. Yet, with football referee numbers on the decline and increasing investigations into performance sport, change clearly is needed. DOCIAsport helps to reinforce strengths and address weaknesses in the way that Duty of Care is applied.

Ian Braid M.Sc.

Celebrating 8 years of helping the people who help the people

What DOCIAsport does

SUPPORT & DEVELOP FUTURE LEADERS

It’s important to pass on knowledge and experience to the next generation of leaders so they can pick up the baton on Duty of Care in Action in sport and make informed decisions in how it is delivered. DOCIAsport works with athletes in transition, administrators, coaches and students to facilitate their development and growth.



DUTY OF CARE

DOCIAsport independently evaluates the effectiveness of any aspect of duty of care e.g. wellbeing of athletes, coaches, staff, or selection processes. Following an evaluation and reporting process I’ll help, if asked to review implementation and effectiveness.



SUSTAINABILITY

It is part of the Sport England strategy ‘Uniting the Movement’ to challenge those they fund with moving more into health and creating equal opportunities. DOCIAsport has experience in facilitating real collaboration of local stakeholders to create sustainable social, economic and environmental impact. For example, the award winning ‘Community Wellbeing Hub Project for The Rugby Football League’.

MENTAL HEALTH

In order to give care, sports leaders have a duty to take care of themselves so they can successfully look after others as employees, members or volunteers. DOCIAsport works with administrators, coaches and volunteers to address mental health in sport.

Why DOCIAsport

The sport and activity sector has always had a unique position to make a difference to society – from inspiring people through high performance sport to more general activity helping people with their wellbeing.

Sport is at a crossroads. In terms of performance this is because of a series of damaging allegations and protracted investigations into the culture at the top. With participation numbers continuing to decline, this will have an adverse effect on society with decline in physical and mental health. Without volunteers and officials sport will struggle to survive and these valuable contributors must be developed and grown, so these key stakeholders must be recruited and retained and also feel valued and safe.

The challenges to create a sustainable solution are many and DOCIAsport has a track record of being able to help by:

Working in collaboration with others to deliver sustainable effective solutions.

Giving independent advice, support and guidance on all aspects of duty of care in sport

Supporting and empowering clients to take responsibility to be more effective

Years of personal experience, knowledge and collaboration with professionals in the sports sector

Understanding the challenges of the next generation of leaders

Training these leaders so they carry on this work based on their own experience, insight and culture

Helping grow the understanding the key role sport or physical activity plays in positive mental health

Providing a sustainable and effective solution to the sport and activity sector

Testimonials

I cannot recommend working with Ian and DOCIAsport enough. After an extremely busy 12 months for the charity, and with new joiners, we wanted to take time as a team to connect and share. With his experience and guidance, Ian was the perfect facilitator keeping things light but insightful and importantly, ensuring we instilled behaviours and ways of working that extended beyond the workshop. 3 months on, and we still use the learning from the workshop and feel we have an open and healthy environment as a result. The mantra of ‘taking and giving care,’ particularly when we are so concerned with taking care of others, has been invaluable in these tough times. Thank you!

Gary Laybourne

CEO

Coach Core Foundation

“Its sometimes difficult to know where to go for expert, independent, confidential advice. Especially when the culture within your own sport makes you too frightened to speak up. As a Rio podium athlete I had struggled on alone- not really knowing who to turn to or what to do. My mental health had suffered. I was advised by someone in a different sport to talk to Ian Braid. From the start Ian was really approachable and professional and by the end of our 1st meeting he had confirmed that the problem wasn’t in my imagination. He also said he could help me. As promised he came back to me the next day with a clear plan working towards a solution. I felt that the weight of the world had lifted from my shoulders. Ian was amazing. He genuinely made me feel like I was his only project as he conscientiously liased with my sport on my behalf while also supporting me. Thanks to Ian I’m now a happy athlete and my sport has made many governance changes ensuring that the next generation will benefit from excellent duty of care.”

Anne Usher MBE

I cannot speak highly enough of Ian. An incredible subject knowledge born from experiences that are not only real but are told with such passion. We all have a duty of care and Ian definitely ensures you will bring this into action.

A tremendous tutor, presenter and educator – highly recommended.

Adrian Christy

CEO Table Tennis England

As I know from personal experience, Ian is a hugely dedicated and committed professional, who fights for the rights of athletes and coaches, bringing with him huge experience and connections within the sporting world. I recall in particular both of us succeeding on behalf of a para-athlete in having an unfair selection decision overturned. Ian has since continued with that same determination with his stellar recent work on duty of care in sport.

John Mehrzad KC

Littleton Chambers

Wellbeing has never been a higher priority, especially given recent events. It makes us realise that maybe even before the pandemic we probably didn’t give it the necessary attention we should. Even before the pandemic, Ian was a driving force for wellbeing, applying his knowledge and expertise in the sport and physical activity sector. We are both grateful and privileged that Ian is working with UK Coaching, sharing his extensive insight to help us ensure that coaches not only look after the wellbeing of their participants but that we, UK Coaching, look after the wellbeing of coaches.

Mark Gannon

CEO UK Coaching

I first met Ian two years ago and have worked alongside him for six months now. We have been collaborating on a mental health project in a sporting context. Ian has a wealth of knowledge and experience in both domains. He also has a broad network of contacts. The introductions he has made have been beneficial on this project and others I am involved in separately. On a personal level he is optimistic, encouraging, and supportive and he has been invaluable in my own personal development. I have thoroughly enjoyed working alongside Ian.

Dr Richard Sille

Psychologist , Isle of Man Sport

Working with Ian at DOCIAsport has been a really positive experience. His knowledge and experience, as well as his extended network, have added significant value to the way the Rugby Football League is implementing our Social Impact Strategy. Ian has always been happy to listen to others involved in the Community Wellbeing Hubs project and always given helpful, informative feedback and challenged us when necessary.

I look forward to the next projects that we work on together.

John McMullen

National Clubs Manager, The Ruyby Football League

We are proud to work with DOCIAsport as mental health partners for Switch the Play Foundation. We have a shared sense of purpose for how we can best support the mental wellbeing of sportspeople and Ian has been invaluable in helping to inform our strategic approach in this area. This includes developing our service offering, creating connections, training staff and associates as mental health first aiders, and providing direct support to athletes. We continue to really value our partnership with Ian and DOCIAsport.

Rob Young MBE

CEO, Switch The play Foundation.

I had the pleasure of working with Ian and DOCIAsport as Salford City Roosters was selected as one of the clubhouses to pilot the community wellbeing hub scheme. Ian was incredibly supportive throughout the process and listened closely to the needs of the club whilst offering guidance on how best we could support the needs of our local residents and community groups. Since the launch of our community wellbeing hub we have seen a huge uptake from local community groups including schools, NHS teams, housing associations and charities utilising our facilities. This has not only supported our club in increasing much needed revenue streams but more importantly it has significantly improved and developed relationships with the community we represent.

Chris Irwin

Chairperson at Salford City Roosters ARLFC.

Everyone involved in sport and recreation needs to feel valued, safe and cared for – Duty of Care in Action

Clients

Partners

DOCIAsport is delighted to partner with selected organisations.

The companies and their leadership share common aims and values with DOCIAsport in wanting to create sustainable change in the sport and activity sector making involvement in any way a safe and enjoyable experience.

See more about the partners