"Work hard, have fun"
|| CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT
Lusk United AFC in line with Children First Act 2015 and in line with the National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), in house policies and procedures and with guidance from the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).
Lusk United AFC is community-based Club which provides sporting activities and opportunities for children and young people through participation in matches, training and activities within the club. The club offers sporting activities to children and young people from the age of four years old right through to adulthood.
The club has over 900 members and over 100 volunteers. The club is committed to safeguarding children and by working under the guidance of our Safeguarding Policies and Procedures. Volunteers and coaches working with our children and young people, throughout the club, seek to create a safe and fun environment for children and young people to participate in their sport.
Principles to Safeguard Children from Harm:
This statement recognises that in accordance with legislation and the requirements of our Handbook, Child Welfare and Safeguarding Policy, other policies and procedures that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. Lusk United AFC base their ethos on several core principles:
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the needs of the Child,
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integrity and respect,
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environment,
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equality,
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fair play, and
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welfare and safety in football.
These underlying principles underpin our rules, policies and procedures to ensure that when children and young people participating in our activities, they do so, as far as is practicable, in a safe and enjoyable environment.
Risk Assessment:
In preparing this statement the executive committee have completed a Risk Assessment of the potential risk of harm to children when they are participating in any of our games, training sessions and attending our activities. The risks were reviewed under the following headings:
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Club and Coaching Practices,
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Complaints & Discipline,
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Reporting Procedures,
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Use of Facilities,
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Recruitment,
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Communications, and
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General Risk of Harm.
The Risk Assessment was undertaken on February 2023. The table below lists the area of risk identified and the list of procedures and policies for managing these risks.
Risks identified:
Risk of harm including assault, ill treatment, or neglect of a child in a manner that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child’s health, development or welfare or sexual abuse of child.
Procedures/Policies in place:
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Children First Act 2015 and in line with the National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017)
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Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy
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Ensuring all coaches complete Safeguarding and specific coaching Trainings
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Ensuring all volunteers are Garda Vetted with the NRF
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Complaint’s procedure
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Clubs code of practice document
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Specific guidance, rules, or handbooks in place for events, trips, competitions, or camps
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Following all health and safety guidance set out by the HSE, government and FAI
Risk of harm of abuse when hosting an activity and or an away trip.
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Children First Act 2015 and in line with the National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017)
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Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy
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Ensuring all coaches complete Safeguarding and specific coaching Trainings
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Complaint’s procedure
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Clubs code of practice document
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Specific guidance, rules, or handbooks in place for events, trips, competitions, or camps
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Following all health and safety guidance set out by the HSE, government and FAI
Risk of harm of online abuse through social media.
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Stand-alone social media Policy
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Clubs code of practice document
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Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy
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Complaint’s procedure
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Specific guidance, rules, or handbooks in place for events, trips, competitions, or camps
Risk of bullying of a child.
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Child Welfare and Safeguarding policy
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Complaint procedure
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Social Media policy
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Clubs code of practice document
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Specific guidance, rules or handbooks in place for event, trip, competition or camps
Lusk United AFC Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015 and the National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.
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Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct by staff or volunteers against a child availing of any activity within our club
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Procedures for the safe recruitment and selection of volunteers and coaches to work with children in our club
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Procedures for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm
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Procedure for reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Statutory Authorities such as Tusla and An Garda Siochana
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Clear guidance to parents, players, and volunteers of our nominated Designated Liaison persons
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The executive committee have nominated a suitable person for the role of the child Welfare Officer for the club.
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Child Safeguarding statement is clearly displayed in the Clubhouse and clubs website
Any of the policies mentioned above can be requested from a member of the executive committee at any stage.
Lusk United AFC recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Our executive committee are committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the accompanying child welfare and safeguarding policies and procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while participating in activities in our club.
This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed on 02.04.2023 or as soon as practicable after there has been material change in any matter to which the statement refers.
