CHILD PROTECTION POLICY STATEMENT
Athy Tennis Club is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of its members. Every individual in the club should at all times show respect and understanding for their rights, safety and welfare, and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the club and the guidelines contained in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport.
Child Protection Officers
The club’s Children’s Officers are responsible for leading the implementation of Child Protection Policies and Procedures. In this task they will have the full support of the Committee of the club.
The club’s Children’s Officers will play a fundamental role in the creation of a child centered ethos that promotes the positive aspects of tennis.
This will be achieved by communicating to every adult in the club that they have a duty of care to safeguard the welfare of children and young people in order to protect them from inappropriate behavior and to promote a culture of safety and fun.
In order to do this the club’s Children’s Officers require certain knowledge and skills – some of which are a pre-requisite for the role and others that will be obtained through training and experience.
Role and Responsibilities
- To establish and promote a child-centered ethos within the club.
- To make themselves known to all members of the club but particularly the junior members.
- To act as an advisory and support resource to those working with children and young people.
- One of the Children’s Officers to serve on the Committee of the club and report at each meeting of the committee on matters pertaining to Child Protection within the club.
- To ensure that children, coaches/volunteers and parents/guardians know how to voice concerns within the club or to external agencies.
- To implement, with support from the Committee, the club’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures and to ensure that they are communicated to all members and embraced at all levels within the club
- To ensure that the Child Protection Policy and Procedures are ratified by the Committee.
- To ensure the sign-up to the club’s Codes of Conduct by all coaches/volunteers, children and parents/guardians.
- To influence policy and practice in regard to Child Protection by serving on the Committee of the club.
- To manage and report concerns and to advise on poor practice issues which might not reach the threshold of intervention by statutory agencies but nonetheless require to be addressed.
- To promote greater consultation with and participation in club activities by junior members. Further, to ensure that there are ways for junior members to express their views and concerns about their activities and experiences within the club.
- To develop and maintain a register of club personnel who are engaging in regulated activity (as defined by government legislation) with children and young people within the club.
- To implement the required training and vetting needs of club personnel engaging in regulated activity with children.
- To commit to attendance at training as required.
- The Children’s Officers do not have the responsibility of investigating or validating child protection concerns within the club and therefore have no counselling or therapeutic role. This is the responsibility of statutory organizations.
Child Protection Officers
The Child Protection Officers for Athy Tennis Club are Tom Lane (087 676 2245) and Tetyana Shumska (086 051 3138).
The Designated Person
In certain limited circumstances it may be necessary to report suspected or known child abuse allegations to the HSE or An Garda.
The club has in place a Designated Person whose job it is to receive such reports from club members. They will then decide if a report should be made to the Health Service Executive (HSE) or indeed in certain circumstances to An Garda Siochana.
The Designated Person has received specific training for this role. In addition the person chosen to fulfill the role will be a senior and experienced member of the club.
Role and Responsibilities
To receive reports from club members (Senior or Junior) regarding suspected or known child abuse.
- To assess such reports and to seek advice from the HSE in regard to the particular circumstances.
- To make formal reports to the HSE and/or to the Garda Siochana regarding suspected or known child abuse.
- To inform the Chairperson of the club that such a report has been made or advice sought (without disclosing any of the details of the incident).
- To inform the family of an alleged victim of his/her intention to make such a report. (unless doing so would endanger the child or undermine an investigation)
- Assisting the Chairperson/President and other Club Officers in relation to any internal procedures where an allegation concerns a Coach, Club Employee or Sports Leader.
Designated Liaison Person for ATC is Tim Scully (087 633 2976)