DUTY OF CARE IN ACTION

Looking after the people looking 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 hub of the work of the business. It not only addresses the responsibility to the participants in high performance or community 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.

Through collaborating with the key stakeholders and influencers in the sector DOCIAsport offers advice, support and guidance to deliver sustainable culture change with social and economic impact.

The work and influence of DOCIAsport has been recognised by the business winning the Mental Health Consultancy of the Year 2020 during the pandemic and the Best Sustainable Sport and Activity Provider 2022. Ian himself is an inaugural member of the ‘Inside Out Leader Board and Fellow of the Mental Health Collective.

I am a member of Mental Health First Aid England, Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity, Professional Body of Sports Leadership and UK Coaching.

“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 is needed. DOCIAsport helps to reinforce strengths and address weaknesses in the way that Duty of Care is applied.”

Ian Braid M.Sc.

Anne Usher MBE

“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. So much so that I didn’t even know whether the culture I was facing within my sport was normal or not. I was advised by someone in a different sport to talk to Ian Braid who they said could help me. 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. “

Christina Colmer McHugh

Co-founder and Co-director of Moodbeam

Ian made the bold step of leaving behind his familiar corporate role to create something quite remarkable, a company that would openly commit to the betterment of others within Sport, DOCIA Sport. One year on nearly and having run in tandem as start ups, if you like, we have bolstered, supported and endorsed one and another along the way. For very good reason though, as we truly see Ian’s role as Moodbeam’s Ambassador for Sport as providing us with the necessary platform to give those experiencing mental health issues in Sport a voice. Moodbeam’s ability to log and visualise how people are feeling has been as much about integrity, positivity and perspective as it has been about creating a whole new way of starting a conversation. Happily, Ian’s tenacity and drive reflects that.

James Allen

Director of Policy, Governance and Public Affairs

Sport and Recreation Alliance

Ian brings a huge wealth of professional experience, along with passion, honesty and empathy to the issue of duty of care and mental health in sport. He has made a huge contribution to the welfare of many athletes and many other people working in the sport sector. His enthusiasm and commitment to improving the understanding and practice of the sector around mental health issues and duty of care more widely has been instrumental in driving this vitally important issue further. I thoroughly enjoy and value working with Ian and look forward to more opportunities to do this in future.

DUTY OF CARE

DOCIAsport can independently evaluate the effectiveness of any aspect of duty of care in sport. We work with clients over a period of time to identify and build on strengths and to agree areas of weakness which we provide the support and framework for you to address.

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.

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

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. Participation numbers continue to decline, and this will have an adverse effect on society with decline in physical and mental health. Without volunteers and officials sport will struggle and these valuable contributors must be developed and grown. DOCIAsport is here to help by working in collaboration with others to deliver sustainable effective solutions. Mental health is so important and sport or physical activity can help individuals both prevent mental illness or be a critical part of recovery and relapse prevention. The sports sector must look at its mental health too with many under the pressure of funding from the Sports Councils and the need to deliver being vulnerable. DOCIAsport can help based on personal experience, knowledge and collaboration with professionals in this area. Whilst DOCIAsport offers independent advice, support and guidance on all aspects of duty of care in sport its important to work with clients so they too take on responsibility to be more effective. Duty of care must be sustainable as well as effective so DOCIAsport works with the next generation of leaders, so they carry on this work based on their own experience, insight and culture.