Setanta Orienteers

Setanta Orienteers

Dublin/Wicklow Orienteering Club

Child Protection

Child Protection

Setanta Orienteers Risk Assessment and Child Safeguarding Statement (CSS).

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 carry out a risk assessment of harm and produce a Child Safeguarding Statement.

As stated in the Children First Act 2015 (ROI) 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.

The Children First Act 2015 (ROI) 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.

*Children First Act 2015.  SCHEDULE 1 Section 2 (5) Any work or activity which consists of the provision of— (a) educational, research, training, cultural, recreational, leisure, social or physical activities to children …

See Children First Act 2015

Earlier this year Sport Ireland launched ‘Sport Ireland Safeguarding Guidance for Children and Young People in Sport’. This explains in detail the obligations and responsibilities that organisations and their clubs have with regard to safeguarding children and Setanta Orienteers would recommend thatall members of the club should read it.

You can download the  Sport Ireland Safeguarding Guidance for Children and Young People in Sport  with the following link. https://www.sportireland.ie/Participation/Code_of_Ethics

Setanta Orienteers Child Safeguarding Statement (CSS)

Setanta Orienteers provides various sporting activities and opportunities for young people through participation in clubs, regional/provincial events and through our national teams.

Setanta Orienteers is committed to safeguarding children and by working under the guidance of our NGB Safeguarding Policies our  volunteers, working with our young people, throughout the organisation, seek to create a safe environment for young people to grow and develop within sport. The following set of principles should be adhered to:

  • Importance of childhood – The importance of childhood should be understood and valued by everyone involved in sport.
  • Needs of the child – All children’s sport experiences should be guided by what is best for children. This means that adults should have a basic understanding of the emotional, physical and personal needs of young people.
  • Integrity in relationships – Adults interacting with children in sport are in a position of trust and influence. They should always ensure that children are treated with integrity and respect, and the self-esteem of young people is enhanced.
  • Fair Play – All children’s sport should be conducted in an atmosphere of fair play. The principles of fair play should always be emphasised, and organisers should give clear guidelines regarding acceptable standards of behaviour.
  • Quality atmosphere & ethos – Children’s sport should be conducted in a safe, positive and encouraging atmosphere.
  • Competition – Competition is an essential element of sport and should be encouraged in an age appropriate manner. A child centred ethos will help to ensure that competition and specialisation are kept in their appropriate place.
  • Equality – All children should be valued and treated in an equitable and fair manner regardless of ability, age, gender, religion, social and ethnic background or political persuasion.

Melanie Walsh
Children’s Officer (Setanta Orienteers)

Eileen Walsh
Designated Liaison Person (Setanta Orienteers)

Risk Assessment 

Setanta Orienteers written Risk Assessment document indicates the areas of potential risk of harm, the likelihood of the risk occurring, and gives the required policy, guidance or process documents require to alleviate these risks.

The list of risks identified and procedures to manage these risks are contained in the following categories:

  • Club and Coaching Practices.
  • Complaints & Discipline.
  • Reporting Procedures.
  • Use of Facilities.
  • Recruitment.
  • Communications.
  • General Risk of Harm.

Each risk that has been identified should have a procedure in place to manage that risk.

The Risk Assessment was undertaken in March 2020 and can be found here: Child Safety – Risk Assessment.

This is based on the Sport Ireland/IOA template ‘Risk Assessment Template for clubs – IOA’ and the risks were discussed at a Setanta Orienteers committee meeting.

This is a Sport Ireland / IOA template. 

All the questions were discussed at a Setanta Orienteers committee meeting and the committee are satisfied that there are procedures in place in Setanta Orienteers to deal with any Child Protection issues.

Procedures 

Setanta Orienteers Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, (the Children First: National Guidance, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice). In addition to our Risk Assessment document described above, there are further procedures that support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our activities.

Setanta Orienteers has the following procedures in place as part of our Safeguarding Policies:

  • Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or volunteers against a child availing of our activities.
  • Procedures for the safe recruitment of staff and volunteers to work with children in our activities.
  • Procedures for access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.
  • Procedure for reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Statutory Authorities.

The above procedures are contained in the IOA Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport, which can be found here:

http://www.orienteering.ie/about-us/resources/child-protection#coedoc  and then click : ‘ioa_code_of_ethics_and_good_practice_for_childrens_sport 2016’

Implementation 

Setanta Orienteers recognises that implementation is an ongoing process. Setanta Orienteers is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our activities. Please note the following:

  • That the committee have been furnished with a copy of this statement.
  • This statement is available to parents/guardians, the Agency and members of the public on request

This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed at each club annual general meeting.

Useful link for Setanta event Organisers:
Here is a link to the two Child Safety Notices that need to be displayed at every event:
Child-Safeguarding-Statement-Setanta