Carl Heath – Sportsman, Coach and Mentor: Over 35 Years-Experience: Working in Alternative Learning, Schools, Youth Justice UK 2004-2013

I have more than 35 years of experience working with children and youth in education, alternative learning environments, and youth justice programs across the United Kingdom and Canada. My background includes incident management, behavioural intervention, safeguarding, information-sharing protocols, and family engagement. I am the founder of EnergyWize University of Life and co-founder of the Empower 2 Recover Foundation, which has delivered more than 25 events across Canada supporting youth development, mental health, addiction prevention, and recovery. My work has involved collaboration with professional athletes, educators, community organizations, and national media. The concerns outlined in this report are informed both by my role as Lucian’s father and by my professional experience supporting children, youth, and families through fair, factual, and child-centred practices.

Parental Trust – Teachers and Coaches Responsibility

As parents, we place our trust in teachers, coaches, and youth-serving professionals to provide a safe and supportive environment for our children. We rely on their training, experience, and judgment to identify concerns early, manage incidents appropriately, and respond in a fair, balanced, and responsible manner.

When incidents arise involving children or youth, it is essential that all relevant information is gathered and carefully assessed. This includes communicating with parents, teachers, coaches, witnesses, and any other individuals directly involved. Where necessary, meetings should be arranged to review the facts, examine the available evidence, consider witness accounts, and ensure that decisions are made through a fair and transparent process.

Most importantly, the wellbeing of the children involved must remain the primary consideration throughout. Safeguarding children from unnecessary stress, anxiety, stigma, or emotional harm should be at the centre of any investigation or decision-making process.

 

Understanding Conflict, Behaviour, and Safeguarding Among 12-Year-Old Children

It’s important to understand the dynamics of different age groups when managing friction, conflict and negative behaviours occurring. Example, children around the age of 12 are still developing important social, emotional, and communication skills. During this stage of development, it is common for young people to experience friendship conflicts, teasing, misunderstandings, jealousy, insecurity, social competition, and emotional reactions that can sometimes escalate into arguments, exclusion, bullying, or other forms of conflict. Children of this age may not always fully understand the impact of their words and actions on others. They can exaggerate events, misinterpret situations, repeat information inaccurately, make assumptions, or provide incomplete accounts when describing incidents. In some cases, children may alter details to avoid consequences, gain social approval, support friends, or influence outcomes. For these reasons, it is widely recognized that information provided by children should be carefully assessed alongside other available evidence and perspectives rather than being relied upon in isolation.

Child-Development and Safeguarding Authorities

The observations outlined above are consistent with widely accepted research in child development, adolescent psychology, and safeguarding practice. Professional organizations including the NSPCC, UNICEF, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and child development researchers recognize that children in early adolescence are still developing emotional regulation, social awareness, perspective-taking, and communication skills. As a result, accounts provided by children should be carefully assessed alongside corroborating evidence, witness statements, contextual information, and safeguarding procedures to ensure fair and balanced decision-making.

 

 

 

 

Managing Incidents – Due Process

12 Years: When concerns arise involving children of this age, it is important that adults responsible for their welfare approach situations with fairness, patience, and a commitment to gathering all relevant information before reaching conclusions. Best practice generally includes:

  • Listening to all parties involved.
  • Considering multiple perspectives and witness accounts.
  • Reviewing available facts and evidence.
  • Maintaining clear communication with parents, educators, coaches, and relevant personnel.
  • Following a transparent and consistent process.
  • Avoiding premature conclusions before investigations are complete.

Safeguarding Children Through The Process

Most importantly, safeguarding the emotional well-being of all children involved should remain a priority throughout any investigation or disciplinary process. Children should be protected from unnecessary stress, social isolation, stigma, anxiety, and emotional harm while concerns are being reviewed.

The purpose of due process is not only to establish an accurate understanding of events but also to ensure that children are treated fairly, supported appropriately, and protected throughout the process. Effective safeguarding requires balancing accountability with the developmental realities of childhood and adolescence, recognizing that children are still learning how to navigate relationships, conflict, and personal responsibility.

 

 

Gathering Of Information, Reviewing Evidence

When incidents involving minors occur, the following principles are generally considered best practice:

  • Gathering information from multiple sources.
  • Reviewing evidence before conclusions are reached.
  • Maintaining open communication with all parties.
  • Following a documented process.
  • Protecting the emotional well-being of children during investigations.
  • Applying decisions consistently and fairly.

Gathering Of Information, Reviewing Evidence

When incidents involving minors occur, the following principles are generally considered best practice:

  • Gathering information from multiple sources.
  • Reviewing evidence before conclusions are reached.
  • Maintaining open communication with all parties.
  • Following a documented process.
  • Protecting the emotional well-being of children during investigations.
  • Applying decisions consistently and fairly.