Introduction

1.1 Overview of Responsibilities of Sporting Bodies in Child Safeguarding and Child Protection

A central goal for all involved in children’s sport is to provide a safe, positive and nurturing environment where children can develop and enhance their physical and social skills. Promoting a child – centred ethos should go hand in hand with identifying and eliminating practice that impact negatively on safe and enjoyable participation in children’s sport

In order to create a culture of safety which promotes the welfare and protection of children, organisations working with children and young people are required to:

Ø  Carry out a risk assessment of harm and produce a Child Safeguarding Statement

Ø  Produce, implement and review an organisational Child Safeguarding Policy which outlines procedures and practice

Ø  Produce, implement and review organisational Codes of Conduct/ Practice guidelines when working with children and young people

1.2 Risk Assessments & Child Safeguarding Statements

Children First National Guidance 2017 states clearly that organisations that provide services to children must ensure that they prevent, as far as practicable, deliberate harm or abuse to the children while availing of their services.

1.2.1      Risk Assessment

The risk assessment considers the potential for harm to come to children whilst they are in the relevant organisation’s care. This risk assessment precedes the Child Safeguarding Statement (Section 11 (1b) Children First Act 2015) and informs the development of safeguarding policies and procedures to manage the risk identified. In accordance with Children First the risk is of abuse and not general health and safety.

Under the Children First Act 2015, if your organisation is providing a relevant, service, you must:

·      Keep children safe from harm while they are using your service.

·      Carry out a risk assessment to identify whether a child or young person could be harmed while receiving your services.

·      Develop a Child Safeguarding Statement that outlines the policies and procedures which are in place to manage the risks that have been identified.

·      Appoint a relevant person to be the first point of contact in respect of the organisation’s Child Safeguarding Statement.

The above responsibilities rest with the provider of the relevant service. Organisations and clubs should identify who the provider of the relevant service is – e.g. the chairperson of the club/head of the National Governing Body.

A risk assessment is an exercise where your organisation examines all aspects of your service from a safeguarding perspective to establish whether there are any practices or features of your service that have the potential to put children at risk of harm.

The risk assessment process is intended to enable your organisation to:

·      Identify potential risk.

·      Develop policies and procedures to minimise risk by responding in a timely manner to potential risks.

·      Review whether adequate precautions have been taken to eliminate or reduce these risks.

As stated in the Children First Act 2015 the risk assessment is a legal requirement that must be undertaken by the providers of relevant services who engage in sporting activities with children and young people in Ireland.

1.2.2      Child Safeguarding Statement

The Children First Act 2015 requires organisations in Ireland that are providers of relevant services to prepare a Child Safeguarding Statement. This is good practice and funding requirement for all sporting organisations throughout Ireland. The Child Safeguarding Statement is a written statement that specifies the service being provided and the principles, that a child availing of the service is safe from harm.

What the Child Safeguarding Statement should contain

As outlined above, the Children First Act 2015 places obligations on organisations that provide relevant services to children. These obligations are:

1.     To keep children safe from harm while they are using the service (section 10) and promote the paramountcy principle that the welfare of the child is core

2.     To carry out a risk assessment to identify whether a child or young person could be harmed while using the service (section 11.3)

3.     To develop a Child Safeguarding Statement (section 11.3) which must include both the written risk assessment and the procedures that are in place to appoint a relevant person to be the first point of contact in respect of the organisation’s Child Safeguarding Statement

Manage any risk identified

·      Investigate an allegation against any staff/volunteer member about any act, omission or circumstance in respect of a child availing of the service.

·      Select and recruit staff /volunteer members who are suitable to work with children.

·      Provide information and training to staff /volunteer members on child protection and safeguarding issues.

·      Enabling staff/volunteer members, whether mandated persons or otherwise, to make a report to Tusla in accordance with the Act or any guidelines issued by the statutory authorities.

·      Maintain a list of persons in the organisation who are mandated persons under the Act.

·      Appoint a relevant person in the organisation for the purposes of the Act.

1.3 Garda Síochána Boat Club’s Safeguarding Audit Framework

1.3.1      What is Garda Síochána Boat Club’s Safeguarding Audit Framework?

The Garda Síochána Boat Club Safeguarding Audit framework will support National Governing Bodies to strengthen their adherence to safeguarding polices and procedures thereby ensuring that children and young people are protected in sport. It has been designed to help safeguard children from harm, meet their legal obligations and adopt best practice.

The framework is comprehensive and sets out expectations beyond those referenced in existing statutory guidance.

The framework provides the structure for risk assessments as required by Section 11(1) (a) of the Children First Act 2015 and as such, will complement the development of effective Child Safeguarding Statements. It also provides a robust reassurance process that benchmarks the quality of safeguarding practice and delivers a mechanism for ensuring ongoing compliance.

The framework is:

·      Fundamentally child focused.

·      Easy to access and simple to understand.

·      Designed to support the whole sporting community.

·      Configured to reflect the voices of children, parents, carers, staff and volunteers.

·      Fully compliant with legislation and statutory guidance.

1.3.2      Who is the Framework for?

The framework has been developed for use by all sports organisations that work with children, from grass-roots to the national level. It is applicable across the island of Ireland and covers individual sport clubs, and the National Governing Bodies of Sport.

1.3.3      Principles

In rowing, whilst practice might not make you perfect it will always make you better. This key principle should be applied when using the framework. Regular and consistent implementation of the framework will help us all make children safer.

The framework is underpinned by the requirements set out in relevant legislation, statutory guidance and Sport Ireland’s Safeguarding Guidance for Children & Young People in Sport. It has a fundamental focus on the context of children in rowing and the creation of safe spaces where they can be seen, heard and helped

1.4 Child Safeguarding and Protection - Policies, Procedures and Practice

By carrying out a risk assessment and producing a Child Safeguarding Statement Garda Síochána Boat Club is required to have in place detailed policies and procedures outlining how the organisation safeguards children and young people and addresses any potential risks identified.

The policies and procedures include the roles and responsibilities of the people within the organisation, safe recruitment and selection of people, and the procedures to follow in relation to identifying and reporting child welfare or child protection concerns and responding to allegations against someone within the organisation.

1.4.1      Safe Recruitment Procedures for those working with Children & Young People

The Risks

The vast majority of volunteers will help out through a genuine desire to see children or their particular organisation develop. Unfortunately, we must face the reality that a small minority of people do not. One important factor in deciding whether behaviour is a risk of abuse or neglect is the impact of that behaviour on the child rather than the intention of the adult.

In order to safeguard young people against such risks it is important that organisations should take all reasonable steps to ensure that only suitable people are recruited to work with children and families by adopting and consistently applying a safe and clearly defined method of recruiting staff and volunteers.

Any new or existing member who wishes to work with young people will also need to be assessed for their suitability for a role with children.

Easy Rules to Remember

The implementation of thorough recruitment and selection procedures will help to keep children and young people safe within the Garda Síochána Boat Club. Good practice in management and supervision of workers and volunteers after appointment is a further essential safeguard to help keep children/young people safe

Good recruitment procedures for ‘all’ members by

·      Ensuring the individual completes their vetting with the National Vetting Bureau through the Captain of Garda Síochána Boat Club prior to commencement of working with children or vulnerable people.

·      All Sports Leaders should be adequately managed and inducted into policies and procedures.

·      When storing information in relation to applicants this should be treated as highly sensitive and confidential. It should be kept in a locked cupboard that is accessible only to a nominated officer and a deputy nominated officer

·      Ensuring they have agreed to and signed up to the relevant Code of Conduct for those working with young people.

·      Ensuring they have met with club officials and that they understand the role they are taking on. This is especially important if moving from one role to another among different skill sets, ages, genders, etc. Working with young people will have additional responsibilities attached due to their vulnerability.

·      Ensuring they give a commitment to complete the necessary safeguarding training

·      Ensuring they understand that supervision is a vital safeguard for the club so they should avoid working alone.

·      Ensuring they know who the Children’s Officer/Designated Liaison Person within the club is and understand the youth structures of the club/organisation.

1.4.2      Safeguarding Training

Who is Safeguarding Training for?

All staff and volunteers should receive safeguarding training appropriate for their role. Basic face to face awareness courses or workshops are appropriate for those working in sport with regular responsibility for children and young people. Training should be updated and reviewed regularly for staff and volunteers, and in line with national guidance and changing legislation.

What this training should include:

·      A basic awareness and understanding of safeguarding issues and roles within organisation/club.

·      Establishing minimum standards of best practice and codes of conduct.

·      Exercises to identify, respond and report concerns.

·      Signposting for further information and sources of support.

Who provides Safeguarding training?

·      Sport Ireland offers three different levels of safeguarding workshops, each are 3 hours long.

Basic Safeguarding Workshops

Safeguarding 1 (face to face workshop)

·      Validation period: 3 years

·      Expected attendees: any person working with or has interaction with or who is involved in the planning/ administration of activities or events with young people (according to the requirements of NGB)

·      Renewal: Safeguarding 1 certificate may be renewed by attendance at Safeguarding 1 (face to face workshop) or Safeguarding 1 Refresher (e-learning module)

Safeguarding 1 Refresher (e-learning module)

·      Prerequisite: Valid Safeguarding 1 (face to face workshop)

·      Validation period: NGB recommendation

·      Expected attendees: any person having completed Safeguarding 1 (face to face workshop) within the NGB recommendations

·      Renewal: Safeguarding 1 Refresher certificate may only be renewed by attendance at Safeguarding 1 (face to face workshop)

Advanced Safeguarding Workshops – Role specific

Safeguarding 2 (Club Children’s Officer Workshop)

·      Prerequisite: Valid Safeguarding 1

·      Validation period: 3 years

·      Expected attendees: any person taking on the role of Club Children’s Officer

·      Renewal: Safeguarding 2 certificate may only be renewed by attendance at Safeguarding 2 (CCO workshop)

Safeguarding 3 (Designated Liaison Person workshop)

·      Prerequisite: Valid Safeguarding 1, Safeguarding 1 Refresher

·      Validation period: 3 years

·      Expected attendees: any person taking on the role of Designated Liaison Person

·      Renewal: Safeguarding 3 may only be renewed by attendance at Safeguarding 3 (face to face workshop)

Renewing Safeguarding certificates:

·      Safeguarding training requires renewal in line with NGB recommendations. Renewal may be achieved by attending any of the above Safeguarding workshops where the prerequisites required are met.

·      Roles requiring Safeguarding 2 must be renewed by attending a Safeguarding 2 workshop.

·      Roles requiring Safeguarding 3 must be renewed by attending a Safeguarding 3 workshop.

Learning Outcomes from workshops

SAFEGUARDING 1:

 Sports Leaders will be able to:

·      Implement best practice in protecting the welfare of participants.

·      Create a child-centred environment within the sports club.

·      List categories of abuse and some indicators associated with abuse.

·      Make appropriate response to a disclosure.

·      Make a report to Designated Liaison Person or appropriate Statutory Authorities

SAFEGUARDING 2:

·      Understanding how to communicating with young people.

·      How to deal with safeguarding issues.

·      Your reflections on the Club Children’s Officer (CCO) role.

SAFEGUARDING 3:

To provide training to the Designated Liaison Person who is responsible for reporting allegations or suspicions of child abuse to TUSLA Child and Family Agency and/or An Garda Síochána.

·      Describe how the child protection system and its associated processes work.

·      List the role and responsibilities of the DLP in relation to protecting and safeguarding children.

·      Identify the categories and indicators of abuse.

·      Communicate with parents and/or agencies as appropriate.

·      Carry out reporting procedures

1.4.3      Roles and Responsibilities

Everyone in rowing i.e. children, parents /carers and Sports Leaders should accept the role and responsibilities that they undertake in their commitment to maintaining an enjoyable and safe environment. Sports Leaders play a vital role in children’s rowing. Garda Síochána Boat Club ensures that the work of Sports Leaders which occurs mainly on a voluntary basis, is guided by this Safeguarding Guidance. Interaction between children and their peers and adults should be conducted in a spirit of mutual respect, equality and non-discriminatory with a spirit of fair play. Adults including parents /carers, who create an environment in which meaningful, open relationships are valued and where the integrity of everyone is respected, can promote such interaction.

National Governing Bodies of Sport

Rowing Ireland is the National Governing Body for the sport and is recognised by the Irish Government as being responsible for the administration of rowing on a countrywide basis or the national body responsible for national games. The Rowing Ireland is responsible for overseeing the adoption and implementation of this guidance, the legal requirements set out by and Children First.

Roles within safeguarding

·      National Children’s Officer

·      Club Children’s Officer

·      Relevant Person

·      Designated Liaison Person 

·      Mandated Persons

1.4.4      Reporting & Protection

All those involved in rowing have a moral duty of care to report child protection concerns in order to help create a safer environment for children. The procedure for reporting child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla is a specified procedure under the Children First Act 2015  and should be done online following a discussion with Tusla staff. It is recommended best practice that any telephone referral is followed up in writing.

Garda Síochána Boat Club have a duty to promote the welfare and safety of children. Members and volunteers should be alert to the possibility that children with whom they are in contact may be being abused or at risk of being abused. They should know how to recognise and respond to the possibility of abuse or neglect, so as to ensure that the most effective steps are taken to protect a child and to contribute to the ongoing safety of children.

The guiding principles on reporting child abuse or neglect may be summarised as follows:

1.     The safety and wellbeing of the child must take priority over concerns about adults against whom an allegation may be made.

2.     Reports of concerns should be made without delay to Tusla

It is not the responsibility of anyone working in a paid or voluntary capacity, or those working in affiliated organisations, to take responsibility or to decide whether or not child abuse is taking place. However there is a responsibility to protect children in order that appropriate agencies can then make enquiries and take any necessary action to protect the young person.

Under no circumstances should any individual be left with a worry or concern about a child and feel they are unable to discuss it with their club/organisation’s Designated Liaison Person (DLP).

Any individual can contact TUSLA to discuss or report a child protection/welfare concern.

If you think the child is in immediate danger and you cannot contact Tusla, you should contact the Gardaí without delay.

Ø  Tusla (ROI): www.tusla.ie/children-first/contact-a-social-worker3

Ø  An Garda Siochána: 999/112

1.4.5      Disciplinary, Complaints & Appeals of Code of Behaviour Breaches

Garda Síochána Boat Club ensures that it has an adequate disciplinary, complaints and appeals procedures in place. It is important to note that the investigation of suspected child abuse is the responsibility of the Statutory Authorities and should not be undertaken by Children’s Officers/Designated Liaison Persons or other club/organisation Sports Leaders. The standard reporting procedure outlined in the Statutory Authorities guidelines should be followed by and adhered to by every member.

1.5  Safeguarding Guidance

A central goal for all involved in children’s sport is to provide a safe, positive and nurturing environment where children can develop and enhance their physical and social skills

Promoting a child – centred ethos should go hand in hand with identifying and eliminating practice that impacts negatively on safe and enjoyable participation in children’s rowing.

This booklet includes templates to provide a safe environment for children and young people. The templates are in keeping with the values and gaols of Garda Síochána Boat Club.

1.6 Code of Conduct

Codes of conduct are an integral part of Garda Síochána Boat Club. They set a standard of behaviour that help build the club’s culture and make it easier to deal with conduct and behaviour issues as they arise. These can be many and varied, from on-field incidents, side-line abuse and mismanagement, to inappropriate social media posts, unfair treatment, poor sportsmanship and more. Codes of conduct set expectations for everyone involved – from the administrators, coaches and officials, to players, parents and spectators. The code of conduct should be informed by Garda Síochána Boat Club’s risk assessment and be a tool in the management of specific risks.

A code of conduct should be in place for administrators, coaches, officials, rowers and parents. They outline the agreed standard of behaviour for everyone.

Sports Leaders are expected to conform to ethical standards in a number of areas. To be part of the coaching team in the club, it is required that all coaches sign an agreement to abide by a code of conduct and return it to the Club Captain

All parents/guardians and rowers are expected to conform to ethical standards in a number of areas. They should read and sign the attached Code of Conducts in this booklet and return it to the Club Captain.

1.7 Implementation, Monitoring and Review

Garda Síochána Boat Club have a plan in place in order to ensure that all of its policies, procedures and practices are fully implemented, which requires an implementation plan. This plan sets out the tasks required to fully realise all procedures, and to ensure that these are regularly reviewed and updated in line with ongoing risk assessments, developments in best practice and any changes to policy and legislation.