Code of
Ethics
And
Good
Practice
Education Commission IWS – Issued 2012
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National Guidelines for
the Protection and
Welfare of Children
Issued by Dept. Health
& Children 2011
Education Commission IWS
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The Irish Sports Council
Guidelines
Education Commission IWS
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Key Legislative Provisions
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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
Education Commission IWS
Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003
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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
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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
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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
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Core Values For IWS
members
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Quality of Instruction
Commitment
Continual Professional Development
Equality and Inclusion
Collegiality
Collaboration
Respect
Care and Co-Operation.
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Guiding Principles
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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
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Adult Child Relationships in
Sport
Entered by choice
 Open, Positive and Encouraging
 Mutually agreed goals
 Respectful of children’s rights
 An ethical code of conduct
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Education Commission IWS
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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
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Quality Leadership
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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
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Good Practice
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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
Education
CommissionEquipment
IWS
Photographic and
Filming
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Child Protection
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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
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Disclosures
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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
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Types of Abuse
Neglect; omission-different
deprivations-among them safety
 Emotional Abuse; need for affection,
approval, consistency and security
 Physical Abuse
 Sexual Abuse
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Education Commission IWS
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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
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Education Commission IWS
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Emotional Abuse
persistent criticism, sarcasm, hostility or
blaming, over-harsh disciplinary
measures or exposure to violence
 abusive interactions become typical of
the relationship
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Education Commission IWS
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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.
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Education Commission IWS
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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
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Education Commission IWS
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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
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confidentiality
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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
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Education Commission IWS
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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.
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Education Commission IWS
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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
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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
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Education Commission IWS
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Allegations of Abuse
Against Volunteers
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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
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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
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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
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Response to a child
Reporting Abuse
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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
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Response
Detailed account of what child said
should be written
 Detailed account of the steps must also
be kept
 Parents informed if appropriate
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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
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Education Commission IWS
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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
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Education Commission IWS
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Reporting Chain
Member
Senior Colleague
Designated Liaison Person
WSAC Senior Officers & National DLP
Chief Executive
Alleged Abuser
HSE & Gardaí
CEO, Chairman & National DLP
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Designated Liaison
Person
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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
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