SAFEGUARDING AND VETTING IN NAVAN RFC
The Navan RFC Club Welfare Officer (CWO) is Gwen Searle
SAFEGUARDING POLICIES
Navan RFC Child Safeguarding Statement was published on the 22nd of October, following completion of the necessary risk assessment, and signed by the Club Chairperson, Eddie Lyons, and the CWO, Gwen Searle.
All club members, including parents, coaches and volunteers, are advised to read the Child Safeguarding Statement (CSS).
Copies of the CSS can be made available to any member of Navan RFC by request to the CWO, Gwen Searle.
CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT NAVAN RFC
Through the IRFU and related Branch, Navan RFC provides rugby activities to young people through participation in mini and youth coaching and competitions and participation programmes in related schools and/or the community. The club is committed to the enjoyment of rugby by young people. It values and encourages the participation of parents, coaches and volunteers in rugby for participants under 18-years of age. The club will adhere to the IRFU safeguarding policy, which strives to respect the dignity and rights of Age Grade Players.
The club will strive to promote, create and maintain safe environments for Age Grade Players. It will endeavour to maintain the key values of Respect, Inclusivity, Integrity, Excellence and Fun. A detailed safeguarding policy can be found here, https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/safeguarding-policy/ and is available through the Club Welfare Officer Gwen Searle. The Sports Councils’ Code of Ethics/Safeguarding Guidance should be used where the IRFU has not published specific guidelines, in particular with regard to the principles to safeguard children from harm, https://www.sportireland.ie/ethics/safeguarding-guidance-for-children-and-young-people-in-sport
The club carried out a risk assessment for any potential harm to a child while involved in rugby. These risks were categorised under the following headings Recruitment, Club and Coaching Practices, Reporting, Complaints, Facilities, Communication and General Risk of Harm. The assessment reviewed the areas of potential risk of harm, the likelihood of the risk occurring, and gives the required policy, guidance and document links required to manage these risks. The written risk assessment and the procedures for managing these risks is available in the full version of this statement.
Our Child Safeguarding Statement (CSS) has been developed in line with requirements of the IRFU and under the Children First Act 2015 and in Northern Ireland, the Club Framework for Safeguarding Standards. In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the club adheres to the following procedures that are in place as part of the IRFU Safeguarding Policy and our intention to safeguard children:
● Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children, http://www.irishrugby.ie/playingthegame/development/safeguarding/recruitment.php
● Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm, http://www.irishrugby.ie/playingthegame/development/safeguarding/training.php
● Procedure for the reporting of child protection and welfare concerns to Tusla (Ireland) and Gateway (Northern Ireland) through the National Safeguarding Officer and appointed Mandated Person within IRFU: Anne Marie Hughes . The Club Welfare Officer Gwen Searle is the Relevant Person as per Children First Act. Other staff and volunteers within the club may hold the role and responsibility of a Mandated Person as per Schedule 2 of the Act but have not been appointed by the club/IRFU. They are always expected to act as a Mandated Person and when making a report in their professional capacity that involves rugby should always inform the IRFU Mandated Person that such a report has been made by them.
● Procedure for the management of allegation of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our service and can be found in the case management policy, http://www.irishrugby.ie/playingthegame/development/safeguarding/concerns.php
● Procedure for appointing a relevant person for the purposes of the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement
● Procedures to minimise risk of harm of a child have been put in place and are available in the IRFU Safeguarding Policy, https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/safeguarding-policy/
All procedures listed are available on the IRFU website, http://www.irishrugby.ie/safeguarding .
The club management expects those involved within age-grade rugby to adopt and supervise the implementation of these safeguarding principles and standards. The club recognises that implementation is an ongoing process. It is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and accompanying safeguarding policy and procedures to keep children involved in rugby safe from harm. We will do this through the implementation of the Club Safeguarding Action Plan and IRFU safeguarding audit, https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/31120516/Club-SafeguardingAction-Plan.pdf
A link to the IRFU Safeguarding Policy is included in relevant club documentation and is available here and on the club website https://navanrfc.ie. Coaches and volunteers have received a copy of the policy and signed adherence through the Declaration of Intent.
The Child Safeguarding Statement and related safeguarding policies are available to all parents/guardians and members of the public though the IRFU website and is available on request from the CWO, https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/
The club will work with the Branch Spirit of Rugby Officer on the implementation of the policy and are available to assist Club Welfare Officers and related personnel and to deal with club queries. They can be contacted at:
● Leinster: Stephen Gore – stephen.gore@leinsterrugby.ie
Club Welfare Officers have completed relevant safeguarding training. Their ID templates are on display on https://navanrfc.ie. The club has completed the necessary risk assessment and published the child safeguarding statement. The club follows the safeguarding club action plan, the anti-bullying statement, uses the club pavement signs and Spirit of Rugby ‘Let Them Play’ video clips. Coaches and volunteers have also received training in vetting and safeguarding through the IRFU.
This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed in September 2023, or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers. For queries please contact the Relevant Person, Gwen Searle on 0862185498.
Signed: Eddie Lyons, Club Chair
Signed: Gwen Searle, Welfare Officer
The IRFU SAFEGUARDING POLICY DOCUMENT is available via the link https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/safeguarding-policy/
SOCIAL MEDIA GUIDANCE is available via the link https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/31120545/Staying-Safer-Online.pdf
TRAVEL GUIDANCE (including hosting and away trips) is available via the link https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/25120840/Travel-touring-hosting.pdf
CODES OF CONDUCT for Age-Grade Players, Parents and Spectators, are available via the link https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/16153845/Code-of-Conduct-Parents.pdf
The ANTI-BULLYING STATEMENT is available via the link https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/31120508/Anti-Bullying-Statement.pdf
For any further information in relation to Safeguarding issues, please do not hesitate to contact Gwen Searle (0862185498).
VETTING
All coaches/volunteers in Navan RFC who are involved in ‘relevant work’, that is work or activity that is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of the person having access to, or contact with, children or vulnerable adults, must complete Garda Vetting via RubgyConnect.
Volunteers who only occasionally help out, for example, COVID officers or parents providing lifts to training or matches, do not need to be vetted but should complete the “Declaration of Intent” for occasional work through RugbyConnect.
It is the responsibility of all new coaches/volunteers to the club to ensure that they meet their vetting requirements.
Any coach or volunteer who has not completed the vetting process will not be allowed to work with age grade players in our club.
For information on completing the vetting process via RugbyConnect, please copy to your browser the video link below:
https://www.loom.com/share/f98fd0310efb4fc29a2f79e7c5630684
Please contact Gwen (CWO), Thanuja (Minis Co-ordinator) or Cyril (Youths Co-ordinator) for any further information.
