CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY

FEBRUARY 2020

Bluebell knockmitten United fc is committed to safeguarding the children in our care and to providing a safe environment in which they can play, learn, develop, and play Matches

Bluebell knockmitten United fc is committed to child centred practice in all our work with children and full compliance with Children First Act 2015.

In the Republic of Ireland, as per Children’s First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, a ‘child’ means a person under the age of 18 years, who is not or has not been married.

• Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017 shall mean the guidance published by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in 2017 which includes information on the statutory obligations for those individuals and Organisations under the Act. It also sets out the best practice procedures that should be in place for all Organisations providing services to Children

. • Child Risk Assessment shall mean a Risk Assessment which is carried out to identify whether a Child could be harmed whilst using the service.

• Child Safeguarding Statement shall mean a statement that outlines the policies and procedures which are in place to manage the risks that have been identified through the Risk Assessment.

• Clubs Children’s Officer shall mean the person who the Child welfare day to day functions are delegated to. Their remit shall be a key component of the Safeguarding Statement and they shall be the Relevant Person for the Child Safeguarding Statement.

• Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport shall mean the Code which was developed by the Irish Sports Council (Sport Ireland) and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland. The Code has been adopted and implemented by governing bodies of sports, clubs, local sports partnerships, and community/voluntary groups.

• Designated Liaison Person shall mean the person who is responsible for ensuring that reporting procedures within the Club are followed so that Child welfare and protection concerns are referred promptly to Statutory Authorities and will also liaise with outside agencies. Additionally, they will be a resource person to any employee, Coach or volunteer who has Child protection concerns.

• Deputy Designated Liaison Person shall mean the person who carries out the duties of the Designated Liaison Person when the Designated Liaison Person is unavailable.

• Harm shall mean, as defined in the Children First Act 2015, in relation to a Child– • (a) assault, ill-treatment or neglect of the Child in a manner that seriously affects, or is likely to seriously affect the Child's health, development or welfare, or,

• (b) sexual abuse of the Child. whether caused by a single act, omission or circumstance or a series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances or otherwise.”

It is the responsibility of all services to ensure that service users are treated with respect and dignity, have their welfare promoted and receive support in an environment in which every effort is made to promote welfare and to prevent abuse and bullying.

This policy will be reviewed every two years or in line with changing legislation and best practice guidance on the welfare of children and young people.

Affiliated Member of the Club shall mean all National Bodies, Provincial Associations, leagues, clubs, and AGM Members who have affiliated directly to the FAI or to their respective governing body.

• Board shall mean the Board of Management/Committee of the Club.

• Children, Child, or Young Person shall mean a person under the age of 18 other than a person who is or has been married.

• Children First Act (2015) shall mean the Act for the purposes of making further and better provision for the care and protection of Children and for those purposes to require that preparation, by certain providers of services to Children, of Child Safeguarding Statements; to require certain persons to make reports to the Child and Family Agency in respect of Children in certain circumstances; to require certain persons to assist the Child and Family Agency in certain circumstances.

• Liaison Person shall mean the registered person(s) with The National Vetting Bureau for the purposes of Garda Vetting

. • Mandated Persons shall mean, as set out in the Children’s First Act 2015, persons who have contact with Children and/or families and who, because of their qualifications, training and/or employment role, are in a key position to help protect Children from harm.

• Participants shall mean a Player, Official, Manager, Match Official, Match Agent, Intermediary and all such persons who are from time to time participating in any activity sanctioned by The Club or by any Affiliated Member.

• Relevant Person- shall mean the person who is appointed as the Children’s Officer within National Bodies, Provincial Associations, Leagues, Clubs, to be the first point of contact in respect of an Organisation’s Child Safeguarding Statement.

• Relevant Service- shall mean Organisations that have statutory responsibilities under the Children First Act 2015, any work or activity which consists of the provision of educational, research, training, cultural, recreational, leisure, social or physical activities to Children.

• Statutory Authorities shall mean those state bodies which promote the welfare and protection of Children and Vulnerable Persons and have a legal responsibility for the investigation and/or validation of suspected abuse, and these include but are not limited to An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and the Child and Family Agency (Tulsa).

• The Policy shall mean this Bluebell Knockmitten United Fc Child Welfare and Safeguarding Policy

CHILD PROTECTION AND WELFARE POLICY

We recognise the right of children to be protected from harm, abuse, neglect, and unequal treatment. Each child will be treated with respect, listened to, and have their views taken into consideration in matters that affect them.

Management, staff, volunteers and work experience students in this service recognise that the welfare of children is paramount and the Bluebell knockmitten United fc is committed at all time to ensuring their safety and welfare by upholding children’s rights specifically and human rights generally.

We will endeavour to safeguard children and young people by:

Having procedures to recognise, respond to and report concerns about children’s protection and welfare
Having a safe recruitment procedure for staff and volunteers
Having procedures for managing/supervising coaches, work experience students and volunteers
Providing supervision, support and training for coaches and volunteers.
Ensuring the Garda Vetting process for all coaches and volunteers is managed.
Having a procedure to respond to accidents and incidents
Having a procedure to respond to complaints
Having procedures to respond to allegations of abuse and neglect against staff members.

Having an anti bullying attitude and procedures
Appoint both a Designated Liaison Person for dealing with child protection concerns and a Deputy
Provide induction training on the Child Protection Act 2015 and Welfare Policy to all coaches, volunteers, work experience students and members of the board of management
Ensure that staff attend Child Safeguarding Training as appropriate
Work and cooperate with the relevant statutory agencies as required.

Bluebell knockmitten United fc’s Child Safeguarding Policy applies to all staff, coaches and volunteers working within and on behalf of the organisation.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Name of service being provided: Football Coaching
Nature of service and principles to safeguard children from harm Bluebell Knockmitten United Fc is the provider of football Coaching and Mentoring to all kids and youths, we provide training in all aspects and support for Match Days as well as Management and Coaching. as arts and crafts groups, activity groups, events, amongst others.
Risk Assessment

Risk Identified

Procedure in place to manage identified risk

1 Risk of harm including assault, ill treatment, or neglect of a child in a manner that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child’s health, development or welfare or sexual abuse of a child

Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy Concern-Complaint policy Safeguarding training, Specific Guidance

2 Risk of harm of abuse when hosting an activity and or an away trip

Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy Concern-Complaint policy Safeguarding training, Specific guidance

3 Risk of harm of online abuse through social media

Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy Social Media policy, Specific guidance, rules, or handbooks in place for various events

4 Bullying of a child

Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy Concern-Complaint policy, Social Media policy, Specific guidance, rules, or handbooks in place for various events

Procedures

Our child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.

Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our service.
Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children.
Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.
Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla

Childrens safeguarding Policy: List

CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY

Bluebell knockmitten United fc is committed to safeguarding the children in our care and to providing a safe environment in which they can play, learn, develop, and play Matches

Bluebell knockmitten United fc is committed to child centred practice in all our work with children and full compliance with Children First Act 2015.

In the Republic of Ireland, as per Children’s First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, a ‘child’ means a person under the age of 18 years, who is not or has not been married.

​

. • Child Risk Assessment shall mean a Risk Assessment which is carried out to identify whether a Child could be harmed whilst using the service.

• Child Safeguarding Statement shall mean a statement that outlines the policies and procedures which are in place to manage the risks that have been identified through the Risk Assessment.

• Clubs Children’s Officer shall mean the person who the Child welfare day to day functions are delegated to. Their remit shall be a key component of the Safeguarding Statement and they shall be the Relevant Person for the Child Safeguarding Statement.

• Deputy Designated Liaison Person shall mean the person who carries out the duties of the Designated Liaison Person when the Designated Liaison Person is unavailable.

• Harm shall mean, as defined in the Children First Act 2015, in relation to a Child– • (a) assault, ill-treatment or neglect of the Child in a manner that seriously affects, or is likely to seriously affect the Child's health, development or welfare, or,

• (b) sexual abuse of the Child. whether caused by a single act, omission or circumstance or a series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances or otherwise.”

It is the responsibility of all services to ensure that service users are treated with respect and dignity, have their welfare promoted and receive support in an environment in which every effort is made to promote welfare and to prevent abuse and bullying.

This policy will be reviewed every two years or in line with changing legislation and best practice guidance on the welfare of children and young people.

​

Affiliated Member of the Club shall mean all National Bodies, Provincial Associations, leagues, clubs, and AGM Members who have affiliated directly to the FAI or to their respective governing body.

• Board shall mean the Board of Management/Committee of the Club.

• Children, Child, or Young Person shall mean a person under the age of 18 other than a person who is or has been married.

​

• Liaison Person shall mean the registered person(s) with The National Vetting Bureau for the purposes of Garda Vetting

. • Mandated Persons shall mean, as set out in the Children’s First Act 2015, persons who have contact with Children and/or families and who, because of their qualifications, training and/or employment role, are in a key position to help protect Children from harm.

• Participants shall mean a Player, Official, Manager, Match Official, Match Agent, Intermediary and all such persons who are from time to time participating in any activity sanctioned by The Club or by any Affiliated Member.

• Relevant Person- shall mean the person who is appointed as the Children’s Officer within National Bodies, Provincial Associations, Leagues, Clubs, to be the first point of contact in respect of an Organisation’s Child Safeguarding Statement.

• Relevant Service- shall mean Organisations that have statutory responsibilities under the Children First Act 2015, any work or activity which consists of the provision of educational, research, training, cultural, recreational, leisure, social or physical activities to Children.

• The Policy shall mean this Bluebell Knockmitten United Fc Child Welfare and Safeguarding Policy

CHILD PROTECTION AND WELFARE POLICY

We recognise the right of children to be protected from harm, abuse, neglect, and unequal treatment. Each child will be treated with respect, listened to, and have their views taken into consideration in matters that affect them.

We will endeavour to safeguard children and young people by:

Having procedures to recognise, respond to and report concerns about children’s protection and welfare

Having a safe recruitment procedure for staff and volunteers

Having procedures for managing/supervising coaches, work experience students and volunteers

Providing supervision, support and training for coaches and volunteers.

Ensuring the Garda Vetting process for all coaches and volunteers is managed.

Having a procedure to respond to accidents and incidents

Having a procedure to respond to complaints

Having procedures to respond to allegations of abuse and neglect against staff members.

Having an anti bullying attitude and procedures

Appoint both a Designated Liaison Person for dealing with child protection concerns and a Deputy

Provide induction training on the Child Protection Act 2015 and Welfare Policy to all coaches, volunteers, work experience students and members of the board of management

Ensure that staff attend Child Safeguarding Training as appropriate

Work and cooperate with the relevant statutory agencies as required.

Bluebell knockmitten United fc’s Child Safeguarding Policy applies to all staff, coaches and volunteers working within and on behalf of the organisation.

CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Name of service being provided: Football Coaching

Risk Assessment

Risk Identified

Procedure in place to manage identified risk

1

Risk of harm including assault, ill treatment, or neglect of a child in a manner that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child’s health, development or welfare or sexual abuse of a child

Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy Concern-Complaint policy Safeguarding training, Specific Guidance

2

Risk of harm of abuse when hosting an activity and or an away trip

Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy Concern-Complaint policy Safeguarding training, Specific guidance

3

Risk of harm of online abuse through social media

Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy Social Media policy, Specific guidance, rules, or handbooks in place for various events

4

Bullying of a child

Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy Concern-Complaint policy, Social Media policy, Specific guidance, rules, or handbooks in place for various events

Procedures

Our child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.

Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our service.

Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children.

Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.

Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla

​