Child Protection Overview Child Protection Overview Best practice is the only practice Superintendent Pat Burke Garda Central Vetting Unit The most resilient young people against g i bullying bullyi g or abuse bu are generally those with i h the h most fun f and d friendship f i d hi in i their h i life lif Ruth Hughes Support pp Officer Child Protection & Risk Management g Scouting Ireland Safe from Harm Conference at the World Jamboree 4 members of Scouting Ireland with 300 participants from around the world g p p Keynote speeches ‐ – Queen Silvia of Sweden – UNICEF’s Susan Bissell UNICEF’s Susan Bissell – Helene Gestrin, President of the Swedish Scout and Guide Council – WOSM’s Secretary General, Luc Panissod, are here http://www.worldscoutjamboree.se/2011/08/speeches‐from‐safe‐from‐harm‐conference/ • Main points ‐ » 220 million people in the world whose births are not registered; » 150 million children are used in labour, over a range of work activities/roles » 13 countries at war are using child soldiers in roles from porters g p and cooks, to fighting and for sex. » Scouting has been fighting these statistics for over 100 years . • Scou g e a d o s op ( o o o ) pa Scouting Ireland workshop (to follow) ‐ participants from c pa s o • Italy, Costa Rica, Greece, Holland, Denmark, Egypt & several from Sweden. The other workshops: – Stop Violence against Girls (World Assoc. Of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts) – Taking Scouting to Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances (Pakistan Boy Scouts Assoc.) – Youth Protection Training Programs (Boys Scouts of America) Youth Protection Training Programs (Boys Scouts of America) – Just Say No – campaign & advocacy (South Africa Scout Assoc.) – How to Listen and Talk to Children (B.R.I.S. Sweden – translates to Children’s Rights in Society) – How to Prevent Abuse or Harassment at Large Events (Swedish Guide & Scout Council) – Keeping Scouts Safe from Harm in a National Organisation (Kenya Scouts Association and PATH catalyst for global health) – Children Harm Free Organisation (Arab Region of WOSM – World Org. Of the Scouting Movement) – Prevention of Violence amongst Children and Youth, and taking Scouting to Sexually Abused Children & Youth (El Salvador Scout Assoc ) Abused Children & Youth (El Salvador Scout Assoc.) – Child Protection in a Globalizing World (UNICEF) If you would like more detail on any of these please contact Ruth at cpo@scouts.ie If you would like more detail on any of these please contact Ruth at cpo@scouts.ie Presentation Outline 1. Constant review of policy, procedure & practice. 2. Interaction with organisations outside Scouting. 3. Adult recruitment, screening & retrospective vetting. 4. Compulsory 4 hour Child Protection Awareness Programme. 5 5. Cl Clear reporting procedures when concerns are noted. ti d h t d 6. Training & monitoring of CP trainers. Policy procedure & practice Policy, procedure & practice 1. Act in an open & visible manner 2. Sometimes it’s better not to join in 3. Be positive in your conversation 4. Mixed gender sections need mixed leadership 5. Be alert to your own & others’ emotions 6. Consider the situation Consider the situation 7. Don’t put yourself or a young person in a vulnerable situation Links with statutory & other organisations Links with statutory & other organisations • CPO participates on inter sector Child Protection Network CPO participates on inter sector Child Protection Network • Vetting training from An Garda Siochána & newsletters from Access NI • Links with Children First Advice Officers in the Health Services • New North‐South New North South Child Protection Hub website Child Protection Hub website • Child Protection should be in conjunction with a Health Policy, Equality Policy and other training Adult recruitment Adult recruitment • Vetting is one of several recruitment steps, including 2 reference checks (non‐ i i f l i i l di 2 f h k ( family, one outside Scouting) • If a vetting result raises concerns re suitability for a position, the Child Protection Management Team consider all available details (except identity) • Membership refusals are communicated in writing to the applicant, the Group Leader and the County commissioner – Best to re‐vet every 3‐5 years or on internal movement – Vetting results stored no longer than needed Child Protection Awareness Programme Child Protection Awareness Programme • Compulsory, certified, 4 hour course when joining, refreshed after 3‐5 l f d h h f h d f years. Course size ‐ 20 max. • Stage 2 of 6 during Woodbadge training, refresher training available soon • Positive feedback from 95% of participants • Delivered by 60+ monitored CP trainers, nominated by provinces & trained Delivered by 60+ monitored CP trainers nominated by provinces & trained for 2 days by the National Youth Council and/or the health service Reporting Procedures Reporting Procedures • The onus is on everyone to raise any concern of child abuse, with the Child Protection Officer, without delay. • If there is any immediate danger, contact the police and/or the health services and then report to your CPO If a young person discloses If a young person discloses ‐ 1. React calmly and listen carefully 2. Reassure them it is right to tell 3. As soon as possible record their exact words and demeanour / body language / 4. Ask minimal questions only for clarification 5. Sign and date the record 6. Explain what may happen next (age appropriate) 7. Inform the CPO Do not Do not • Promise to keep the information secret • Ask leading questions or seek intimate Ask leading questions or seek intimate detail other than what is volunteered • Express any opinion on the alleged abuser • Investigate It is good practice to It is good practice to ‐ 1. Ensure appropriate ratio of adults to young people 2 Engage in appropriate physical contact only 2. Engage in appropriate physical contact only 3. Respect personal & sexual boundaries 4. Discuss uncertainties with the CPO or other 5. Maintain a healthy work‐family‐volunteer balance Do not Do not ‐ 1. Spend time alone with a young person, if avoidable 2 Give car lifts to young people on your own, if avoidable 2. Give car lifts to young people on your own if avoidable 3. Make sexual jokes with young people present 4. Be over involved with a particular young person 5. Tolerate favouritism, exclusion or harsh discipline Success factors Success factors • 60‐70 volunteers willing to train as Child Protection Trainers and field difficult questions from new and not‐so‐new not so new Scouters Scouters • Designated trained Child Protection Officer on g Jamboree Contingent Management Team • Relationships training with each Jamboree troop – respect, teamwork, good choices & tolerance • Critical Incident Training and Response Plan prepared Challenges • Recognising that abuse may happen in our own community, where we can & must influence • Once concerns are reported to statutory bodies ‐ timeframes are beyond Scouting control timeframes are beyond Scouting control • Repeated Repeated reassurance needed when further reassurance needed when further reports (historic and current) are publicised in Church and State bodies Church and State bodies Further references Further references • h // http://www.scouts.ie/uploads/files/Online_Code_of_Good_Practise.pdf / l d /f l / l d f d df • http://www.scout.org/en/information_events/library/diversity/guidelines http://www scout org/en/information events/library/diversity/guidelines _on_scouting_for_children_in_especially_difficult_circumstances • www.wagggsworld.org - 34th World Conference 2011, Edinburgh ‐ advocacy campaign ‐ girls worldwide say “stop the violence” – www.irishgirlguides.ie – http://www.youth.ie/startingout Best practice is the only practice Superintendent Pat Burke Superintendent Pat Burke Garda Central Vetting Unit The most resilient young people against bullying or abuse are generally a g ally those h with the most fun and friendship in their life Thank you Ruth Hughes cpo@scouts.ie g p @ 01 4956300, 086 0433799 ,