Code of Ethics A nd Good Practice

Education Commission IWS – Issued 2012 1

Code of Code of Ethics Ethics AAnd nd Good Good PracticePractice

Code of Code of Ethics Ethics AAnd nd Good Good PracticePractice

Education Commission IWS 2

National Guidelines for National Guidelines for the Protection and the Protection and Welfare of ChildrenWelfare of Children

Issued by Dept. Health Issued by Dept. Health & Children 2011& Children 2011


The Irish Sports The Irish Sports Council GuidelinesCouncil Guidelines


Key Legislative Key Legislative ProvisionsProvisions

Children Act 2001Children Act 2001 Child Care Act 1991Child Care Act 1991 Criminal Justice Act 2006Criminal Justice Act 2006 Domestic Violence Act 1996Domestic Violence Act 1996 Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abust Act Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abust Act

19981998 Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 Education Act 1998Education Act 1998 Education (Welfare) Act 2000Education (Welfare) Act 2000 Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003


GuidelinesGuidelines

All organisations, whether statutory or All organisations, whether statutory or voluntary, have an overall corporate voluntary, have an overall corporate responsibility to safeguard childrenresponsibility to safeguard children

The welfare of the child is the first and The welfare of the child is the first and paramount considerationparamount consideration

Organisations may be legally Organisations may be legally responsible for their failure to provide responsible for their failure to provide adequate care and safeguards for adequate care and safeguards for childrenchildren


Guidelines 2Guidelines 2

Safe and clearly defined methods of Safe and clearly defined methods of selecting staff and volunteersselecting staff and volunteers

Effective procedures for the reporting and Effective procedures for the reporting and management of child protection concernsmanagement of child protection concerns

Designated staff member /volunteer to act Designated staff member /volunteer to act as a liaison with outside agencies and as a as a liaison with outside agencies and as a resource person to any volunteer who has resource person to any volunteer who has child protection concernschild protection concerns


Purpose of Purpose of GuidelinesGuidelines

Provide members with basic information Provide members with basic information on the nature of child abuseon the nature of child abuse

Inform members on the procedures they Inform members on the procedures they should followshould follow

Raise members’ awareness of the Raise members’ awareness of the necessity for good practice so as to help necessity for good practice so as to help to ensure the protection of young people to ensure the protection of young people from abuse and protection of members from abuse and protection of members against false accusations of abuseagainst false accusations of abuse


Core Values For IWS Core Values For IWS membersmembers

Quality of InstructionQuality of Instruction CommitmentCommitment Continual Professional DevelopmentContinual Professional Development Equality and InclusionEquality and Inclusion CollegialityCollegiality CollaborationCollaboration RespectRespect Care and Co-Operation.Care and Co-Operation.


Guiding PrinciplesGuiding Principles Integrity in relationshipsIntegrity in relationships Quality atmosphere and ethosQuality atmosphere and ethos EqualityEquality Fair PlayFair Play CompetitionCompetition Code of Conduct for young peopleCode of Conduct for young people Guidelines for ParentsGuidelines for Parents Guidelines for IWS membersGuidelines for IWS members Code of conduct for IWS membersCode of conduct for IWS members Complaints and Appeals ProcedureComplaints and Appeals Procedure Recruitment and selection PolicyRecruitment and selection Policy


Entered by choiceEntered by choice Open, Positive and EncouragingOpen, Positive and Encouraging Mutually agreed goalsMutually agreed goals Respectful of children’s rightsRespectful of children’s rights An ethical code of conductAn ethical code of conduct

Adult Child Adult Child Relationships in SportRelationships in Sport


Adult Child Adult Child Relationships in Relationships in

SportSport

protection of childrenprotection of children free from all types of abusefree from all types of abuse Developmental stages of childDevelopmental stages of child Enjoyment and ProgressEnjoyment and Progress Governed by Code of EthicsGoverned by Code of Ethics


Quality LeadershipQuality Leadership

Education and TrainingEducation and Training Implementation of CodeImplementation of Code Specific Education in Child ProtectionSpecific Education in Child Protection Selection and ScreeningSelection and Screening Competent and QualifiedCompetent and Qualified Positive , Enthusiastic , CheerfulPositive , Enthusiastic , Cheerful Principles of Fair PlayPrinciples of Fair Play Anti-Bullying PolicyAnti-Bullying Policy


Good PracticeGood Practice

Recruitment and Selection PolicyRecruitment and Selection Policy Preparation and SupervisionPreparation and Supervision Guidelines on SupervisionGuidelines on Supervision Behaviour of LeadersBehaviour of Leaders Balanced approach to winningBalanced approach to winning Supervision on away tripsSupervision on away trips Supervision in changing roomsSupervision in changing rooms Discipline-Breaches and AppealsDiscipline-Breaches and Appeals Photographic and Filming EquipmentPhotographic and Filming Equipment


Child ProtectionChild Protection

The ability to recognise child abuse The ability to recognise child abuse depends as much on a persons depends as much on a persons willingness to accept the possibility willingness to accept the possibility as it does on their knowledge and as it does on their knowledge and informationinformation


DisclosuresDisclosures

young person discloses to a member young person discloses to a member that he/she is being abusedthat he/she is being abused

young person discloses to a third party young person discloses to a third party who in turn tells the memberwho in turn tells the member

member may overhear other young member may overhear other young people discussing their concerns about people discussing their concerns about a particular persona particular person

member witnesses abusemember witnesses abuse allegation or report is made to the allegation or report is made to the

membermember


Types of AbuseTypes of Abuse

Neglect; omission-different Neglect; omission-different deprivations-among them safetydeprivations-among them safety

Emotional Abuse; need for Emotional Abuse; need for affection, approval, consistency affection, approval, consistency and securityand security

Physical AbusePhysical Abuse Sexual AbuseSexual Abuse


NeglectNeglect

suffers harm or impairment of suffers harm or impairment of developmentdevelopment

deprived of food, warmth, clothing, deprived of food, warmth, clothing, hygiene, intellectual hygiene, intellectual stimulation,supervision and safety, stimulation,supervision and safety, affection from adults or medical careaffection from adults or medical care

ill treatment or impairment of healthill treatment or impairment of health


Emotional AbuseEmotional Abuse

persistent criticism, sarcasm, persistent criticism, sarcasm, hostility or blaming, over-harsh hostility or blaming, over-harsh disciplinary measures or exposure disciplinary measures or exposure to violenceto violence

abusive interactions become abusive interactions become typical of the relationshiptypical of the relationship


Physical and Sexual Physical and Sexual AbuseAbuse

Sexual------child is used by another Sexual------child is used by another person for his or her gratification person for his or her gratification or sexual arousal or that of others.or sexual arousal or that of others.

Physical----non-accidental injury Physical----non-accidental injury that causes significant harm to a that causes significant harm to a child.child.


Guidelines for Guidelines for RecognitionRecognition

Three stages of recognitionThree stages of recognition 1 Considering the Possibility1 Considering the Possibility 2 Looking for signs2 Looking for signs 3 Recording of Information3 Recording of Information Some signs are more indicative Some signs are more indicative

than othersthan others


ReportingReporting

The safety of the young person must take priority

Reports must be made without delay Children or parents should not be

interviewed in detail No undertakings of secrecy can be given Giving information for the protection of

the child is not a breach of confidentiality


ProcedureProcedure

If a member receives an allegation or If a member receives an allegation or suspects a child is being abused, the suspects a child is being abused, the member reports the matter to the member reports the matter to the Senior Colleague.Senior Colleague.

The Senior Colleague must advise the The Senior Colleague must advise the DesignatedDesignated Liaison Liaison PersonPerson. The . The DLPDLP will be an officer of the area will be an officer of the area committeecommittee

Allegation must be recorded by the Allegation must be recorded by the DLPDLP


ProcedureProcedure

It is essential that the matter be treated in It is essential that the matter be treated in the strictest confidence and not discussed the strictest confidence and not discussed except among the parties involvedexcept among the parties involved

The role of the Senior Colleague isThe role of the Senior Colleague is not not to to make enquiries of the parents or to take make enquiries of the parents or to take over the role of the Health Boardover the role of the Health Board

The CEO of IWS should be informed and The CEO of IWS should be informed and briefed by the officers on the Area briefed by the officers on the Area committee.committee.


ProcedureProcedure Suspension of the member will only be done Suspension of the member will only be done

after meeting of Area Officers,CEO and the after meeting of Area Officers,CEO and the National National DLPDLP

Member will be informed in writing of his/her Member will be informed in writing of his/her suspensionsuspension

Member will meet the Officers and made Member will meet the Officers and made aware of allegation against him/heraware of allegation against him/her

Person should be informed that this is not an Person should be informed that this is not an accusation and the procedures being accusation and the procedures being undertaken are in accordance with statutory undertaken are in accordance with statutory guidelines guidelines


ProcedureProcedure

Can present a formal response to Can present a formal response to allegationsallegations

Name of child and precise details of Name of child and precise details of abuse will be with heldabuse will be with held

Sec.4.7 of the Rules and Regulations of Sec.4.7 of the Rules and Regulations of Area Water Safety Committees shall Area Water Safety Committees shall govern termination of membershipgovern termination of membership

Allegations must be reported to the Allegations must be reported to the Health Board or the Garda SiochanaHealth Board or the Garda Siochana


Allegations of Abuse Allegations of Abuse Against VolunteersAgainst Volunteers

Two proceduresTwo procedures 1 The reporting procedure in respect of 1 The reporting procedure in respect of

the childthe child 2 The procedure for dealing with the 2 The procedure for dealing with the

person.person. The primary goal is to protect the child The primary goal is to protect the child

while taking care to treat the adult fairlywhile taking care to treat the adult fairly All members must be aware of line All members must be aware of line

management reporting proceduresmanagement reporting procedures Allegations should be assessed promptly Allegations should be assessed promptly

and carefully and carefully


Protections for persons Reporting Protections for persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998Child Abuse Act 1998

Provision of immunity from civil Provision of immunity from civil liability to any person who reports liability to any person who reports child abuse “reasonably and in child abuse “reasonably and in good faith” to designated officers good faith” to designated officers of the Health boards of Gardaiof the Health boards of Gardai

creation of a new offence of false creation of a new offence of false reportingreporting


ProtectionsProtections

person reporting not liable in person reporting not liable in damages for reporting in his damages for reporting in his opinion that a child has been or is opinion that a child has been or is being assaulted, ill treated, being assaulted, ill treated, neglected or sexually abusedneglected or sexually abused

a child’s health, development or a child’s health, development or welfare has been or is being welfare has been or is being avoidably impaired or neglectedavoidably impaired or neglected


Response to a child Response to a child Reporting AbuseReporting Abuse

Deal with accusation in sensitive Deal with accusation in sensitive competent way-let child tell storycompetent way-let child tell story

Be calm and compassionateBe calm and compassionate experience of telling should be positive experience of telling should be positive

oneone Non judgmentalNon judgmental Reassured right to tell--no false promisesReassured right to tell--no false promises Not questioned-no leading questionsNot questioned-no leading questions Given indication of what is happening nextGiven indication of what is happening next


ResponseResponse

Detailed account of what child said Detailed account of what child said should be writtenshould be written

Detailed account of the steps must Detailed account of the steps must also be keptalso be kept

Parents informed if appropriateParents informed if appropriate


Common DifficultiesCommon Difficulties

Disclosure is made and then Disclosure is made and then withdrawnwithdrawn

disclosure is made and secrecy is disclosure is made and secrecy is expectedexpected

Young person may threaten suicide Young person may threaten suicide if report is passed onif report is passed on

Young person will often seek to Young person will often seek to protect his/her abuserprotect his/her abuser


Summary of Summary of ResponseResponse

Member to Supervising InstructorMember to Supervising Instructor Supervising Instructor to Supervising Instructor to DLPDLP DLPDLP to Area Officers and National to Area Officers and National

DLPDLP and CEO and CEO CEO to Health Board and Alleged CEO to Health Board and Alleged

AbuserAbuser Alleged Abuser meets CEO and Alleged Abuser meets CEO and

Area OfficersArea Officers


Reporting ChainReporting Chain

W S A C S e n io r O ff ice rs & N a tio na l D LP

C E O , C h a irm a n & N a tio na l D LP

A lle ge d A bu ser H S E & G a rd a í

C h ie f E xecu tive

D e s ig n a te d L ia ison P erson

S e n io r C o llea g ue

M e m b er


Designated Liaison Designated Liaison PersonPerson

To promote awareness of Code of EthicsTo promote awareness of Code of Ethics To influence policy and practiceTo influence policy and practice To facilitate communicationTo facilitate communication To provide an accessible resourceTo provide an accessible resource To act as an advisorTo act as an advisor Conduct researchConduct research Should receive trainingShould receive training

Documents

Code of Ethics A nd Good Practice