Post by localscotland2021 on Sept 11, 2021 11:30:52 GMT
Dear All,
I really need your advice.
I am a coach assistant at a volunteer football club. At an event a Dad told me he suspected his son has AD(H)D as in not the hyperactivity but rather than attention deficient type (used to be called ADD). Very prone to daydreaming at school he said. He said his son was not diagnosed but was awaiting diagnosis. I did encourage him to tell the amateur club at the time but he said he wanted to wait before putting a “hefty label” on his son. Having coached his son for a while I would say he does sometime daydream but not any worse than my children for example.. Without the fathers explicit consent I am not keen to disclose, partially because I don’t want to get sued. At this stage without a diagnosis I would argue it’s conjecture and places me in a hellish position. I would reiterate the boy is quiet, very gentle and doesn’t appear to show classic ADHD disruptive behaviour.
I am in a difficult place. Today at training one of our managers/coach organisers after they had problems with one child with ADHD (more hyperactive/very disruptive) and in our session too with kids not paying attention. They are young primary 3 age kids. I volunteered that one Dad had said he suspected their son had it AD(H)D and tried to explain their are two recognised types. That this kid was quiet, hesitant, gentle and not prone to violence. He hesitates to tackle. However, I had to say the kid didn’t have a diagnosis and his Dad said he would inform the club if diagnosed (see above).
The manager/coach organiser feels I should be disclosing this information without consent. I feel uncomfortable because he has sent me a text saying he feels it is my duty to tell him for the sake of safety of the other boys. I reiterate I don’t see the risk and again he is undiagnosed.
I have spoken to his father this AM post training and he has said he volunteered that in the heat of the moment and does not feel comfortable disclosing without a diagnosis. In fact he was very explicit verbally that he does not consent. I don’t personally with some experience with ADHD from volunteering elsewhere feel it’s appropriate to do so without consent. Again their is no formal diagnosis and his son has never been problematic in our club. As a matter of fact the child is showing good concentrate of late as he builds his confidence. All the kids are.
I don’t know what to do. I did the SFA training course but it didn’t explicitly cover ADHD but rather focused on how we help those with all disabilities to create an inclusive environment. Please help.
Any advice but particularly advice on:
- Am I legally required to break confidentially as this kid does not have a diagnosis and I have zero concerns. Even if he did have one the onus is on the parent surely to tell us and we would create a management plan with the parents?
- my role I see as safeguarding as well as coaching. If there was any indication of issues I would step in. We always have a few boys being boisterous and doing silly pushing. I wouldn’t suggest they had challenges rather all boys in P3 seem to have attention issues. My own kids included.
Help please I need to be able to respond to this manager/coach organiser.
I really need your advice.
I am a coach assistant at a volunteer football club. At an event a Dad told me he suspected his son has AD(H)D as in not the hyperactivity but rather than attention deficient type (used to be called ADD). Very prone to daydreaming at school he said. He said his son was not diagnosed but was awaiting diagnosis. I did encourage him to tell the amateur club at the time but he said he wanted to wait before putting a “hefty label” on his son. Having coached his son for a while I would say he does sometime daydream but not any worse than my children for example.. Without the fathers explicit consent I am not keen to disclose, partially because I don’t want to get sued. At this stage without a diagnosis I would argue it’s conjecture and places me in a hellish position. I would reiterate the boy is quiet, very gentle and doesn’t appear to show classic ADHD disruptive behaviour.
I am in a difficult place. Today at training one of our managers/coach organisers after they had problems with one child with ADHD (more hyperactive/very disruptive) and in our session too with kids not paying attention. They are young primary 3 age kids. I volunteered that one Dad had said he suspected their son had it AD(H)D and tried to explain their are two recognised types. That this kid was quiet, hesitant, gentle and not prone to violence. He hesitates to tackle. However, I had to say the kid didn’t have a diagnosis and his Dad said he would inform the club if diagnosed (see above).
The manager/coach organiser feels I should be disclosing this information without consent. I feel uncomfortable because he has sent me a text saying he feels it is my duty to tell him for the sake of safety of the other boys. I reiterate I don’t see the risk and again he is undiagnosed.
I have spoken to his father this AM post training and he has said he volunteered that in the heat of the moment and does not feel comfortable disclosing without a diagnosis. In fact he was very explicit verbally that he does not consent. I don’t personally with some experience with ADHD from volunteering elsewhere feel it’s appropriate to do so without consent. Again their is no formal diagnosis and his son has never been problematic in our club. As a matter of fact the child is showing good concentrate of late as he builds his confidence. All the kids are.
I don’t know what to do. I did the SFA training course but it didn’t explicitly cover ADHD but rather focused on how we help those with all disabilities to create an inclusive environment. Please help.
Any advice but particularly advice on:
- Am I legally required to break confidentially as this kid does not have a diagnosis and I have zero concerns. Even if he did have one the onus is on the parent surely to tell us and we would create a management plan with the parents?
- my role I see as safeguarding as well as coaching. If there was any indication of issues I would step in. We always have a few boys being boisterous and doing silly pushing. I wouldn’t suggest they had challenges rather all boys in P3 seem to have attention issues. My own kids included.
Help please I need to be able to respond to this manager/coach organiser.