Code of Ethics A nd Good Practice

1. Code of Ethics And Good Practice Education Commission IWS – Issued 2012

2. National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children Issued by Dept. Health & Children 2011 Education Commission IWS

3. The Irish Sports Council Guidelines Education Commission IWS

4. Key Legislative Provisions • Children Act 2001 • Child Care Act 1991 • Criminal Justice Act 2006 • Domestic Violence Act 1996 • Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abust Act 1998 • Data Protection Acts 1988 and 2003 • Education Act 1998 • Education (Welfare) Act 2000 • Non-Fatal Offences against the Person Act 1997 • Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003 Education Commission IWS

5. Guidelines • All organisations, whether statutory or voluntary, have an overall corporate responsibility to safeguard children • The welfare of the child is the first and paramount consideration • Organisations may be legally responsible for their failure to provide adequate care and safeguards for children Education Commission IWS

6. Guidelines 2 • Safe and clearly defined methods of selecting staff and volunteers • Effective procedures for the reporting and management of child protection concerns • Designated staff member /volunteer to act as a liaison with outside agencies and as a resource person to any volunteer who has child protection concerns Education Commission IWS

7. Purpose of Guidelines • Provide members with basic information on the nature of child abuse • Inform members on the procedures they should follow • Raise members’ awareness of the necessity for good practice so as to help to ensure the protection of young people from abuse and protection of members against false accusations of abuse Education Commission IWS

8. Core Values For IWS members • Quality of Instruction • Commitment • Continual Professional Development • Equality and Inclusion • Collegiality • Collaboration • Respect • Care and Co-Operation. Education Commission IWS

9. Guiding Principles • Integrity in relationships • Quality atmosphere and ethos • Equality • Fair Play • Competition • Code of Conduct for young people • Guidelines for Parents • Guidelines for IWS members • Code of conduct for IWS members • Complaints and Appeals Procedure • Recruitment and selection Policy Education Commission IWS

10. Entered by choice Open, Positive and Encouraging Mutually agreed goals Respectful of children’s rights An ethical code of conduct Adult Child Relationships in Sport Education Commission IWS

11. Adult Child Relationships in Sport • protection of children • free from all types of abuse • Developmental stages of child • Enjoyment and Progress • Governed by Code of Ethics Education Commission IWS

12. Quality Leadership • Education and Training • Implementation of Code • Specific Education in Child Protection • Selection and Screening • Competent and Qualified • Positive , Enthusiastic , Cheerful • Principles of Fair Play • Anti-Bullying Policy Education Commission IWS

13. Good Practice • Recruitment and Selection Policy • Preparation and Supervision • Guidelines on Supervision • Behaviour of Leaders • Balanced approach to winning • Supervision on away trips • Supervision in changing rooms • Discipline-Breaches and Appeals • Photographic and Filming Equipment Education Commission IWS

14. Child Protection • The ability to recognise child abuse depends as much on a persons willingness to accept the possibility as it does on their knowledge and information Education Commission IWS

15. Disclosures • young person discloses to a member that he/she is being abused • young person discloses to a third party who in turn tells the member • member may overhear other young people discussing their concerns about a particular person • member witnesses abuse • allegation or report is made to the member Education Commission IWS

16. Types of Abuse • Neglect; omission-different deprivations-among them safety • Emotional Abuse; need for affection, approval, consistency and security • Physical Abuse • Sexual Abuse Education Commission IWS

17. Neglect • suffers harm or impairment of development • deprived of food, warmth, clothing, hygiene, intellectual stimulation,supervision and safety, affection from adults or medical care • ill treatment or impairment of health Education Commission IWS

18. Emotional Abuse • persistent criticism, sarcasm, hostility or blaming, over-harsh disciplinary measures or exposure to violence • abusive interactions become typical of the relationship Education Commission IWS

19. Physical and Sexual Abuse • Sexual------child is used by another person for his or her gratification or sexual arousal or that of others. • Physical----non-accidental injury that causes significant harm to a child. Education Commission IWS

20. Guidelines for Recognition • Three stages of recognition • 1 Considering the Possibility • 2 Looking for signs • 3 Recording of Information • Some signs are more indicative than others Education Commission IWS

21. Reporting • 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 Education Commission IWS

22. Procedure • If a member receives an allegation or suspects a child is being abused, the member reports the matter to the Senior Colleague. • The Senior Colleague must advise the Designated Liaison Person. The DLP will be an officer of the area committee • Allegation must be recorded by the DLP Education Commission IWS

23. Procedure • It is essential that the matter be treated in the strictest confidence and not discussed except among the parties involved • The role of the Senior Colleague is not to make enquiries of the parents or to take over the role of the Health Board • The CEO of IWS should be informed and briefed by the officers on the Area committee. Education Commission IWS

24. Procedure • Suspension of the member will only be done after meeting of Area Officers,CEO and the National DLP • Member will be informed in writing of his/her suspension • Member will meet the Officers and made aware of allegation against him/her • Person should be informed that this is not an accusation and the procedures being undertaken are in accordance with statutory guidelines Education Commission IWS

25. Procedure • Can present a formal response to allegations • Name of child and precise details of abuse will be with held • Sec.4.7 of the Rules and Regulations of Area Water Safety Committees shall govern termination of membership • Allegations must be reported to the Health Board or the Garda Siochana Education Commission IWS

26. Allegations of Abuse Against Volunteers • Two procedures • 1 The reporting procedure in respect of the child • 2 The procedure for dealing with the person. • The primary goal is to protect the child while taking care to treat the adult fairly • All members must be aware of line management reporting procedures • Allegations should be assessed promptly and carefully Education Commission IWS

27. Protections for persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 • Provision of immunity from civil liability to any person who reports child abuse “reasonably and in good faith” to designated officers of the Health boards of Gardai • creation of a new offence of false reporting Education Commission IWS

28. Protections • person reporting not liable in damages for reporting in his opinion that a child has been or is being assaulted, ill treated, neglected or sexually abused • a child’s health, development or welfare has been or is being avoidably impaired or neglected Education Commission IWS

29. Response to a child Reporting Abuse • Deal with accusation in sensitive competent way-let child tell story • Be calm and compassionate • experience of telling should be positive one • Non judgmental • Reassured right to tell--no false promises • Not questioned-no leading questions • Given indication of what is happening next Education Commission IWS

30. Response • Detailed account of what child said should be written • Detailed account of the steps must also be kept • Parents informed if appropriate Education Commission IWS

31. Common Difficulties • Disclosure is made and then withdrawn • disclosure is made and secrecy is expected • Young person may threaten suicide if report is passed on • Young person will often seek to protect his/her abuser Education Commission IWS

32. Summary of Response • Member to Supervising Instructor • Supervising Instructor to DLP • DLP to Area Officers and National DLP and CEO • CEO to Health Board and Alleged Abuser • Alleged Abuser meets CEO and Area Officers Education Commission IWS

33. Reporting Chain Education Commission IWS

34. Designated Liaison Person • To promote awareness of Code of Ethics • To influence policy and practice • To facilitate communication • To provide an accessible resource • To act as an advisor • Conduct research • Should receive training Education Commission IWS