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Midleton FC is committed to ensuring that children can participate in all football activities in a safe environment. Football provides an excellent opportunity to learn new skills, become more confident and maximise potential as members of teams and as individuals. The safety and welfare of all children is paramount.
It is important to note that the investigation of suspected child abuse is the responsibility of the Statutory Authorities (Gardai, HSE) and should not be undertaken by Children’s Officers or any other Club/League. All allegations of child abuse must be referred to the Statutory Authorities.
When an allegation is received it should be assessed promptly and carefully. It will be necessary to decide whether a formal report should be made to the HSE and this decision should be based on reasonable grounds for concern.
The following examples would constitute reasonable grounds for concern:
(i) a specific indication from a child that (s)he was abused;(ii) a statement from a person who witnessed abuse;
(iii) an illness, injury or behaviour consistent with abuse;
(iv) a symptom which may not in itself be totally consistent with abuse, but which is support by corroborative evidence of deliberate harm or negligence;
(v) consistent signs of neglect over a period of time.
Ref. Children First Act 2015
Step One
Any allegation of abuse must in the first instance be brought to the attention of the Chairperson of the Club. Should the Chairperson be unsure whether reasonable grounds for concern exist, the local HSE duty social worker can be informally consulted. Advice will be given as to whether or not the matter requires a formal report.
Coaches/volunteers may be subjected to erroneous or malicious allegations. Therefore, any allegation of abuse should be dealt with sensitively and appropriate support should be provided for staff/volunteers including counselling where necessary.
Step Two
Should Midleton FC become aware of an allegation of abuse of a child or children by a manager/coach/volunteer during the execution of that manager/coaches/volunteers duty, the Chairperson will privately inform the manager/coach/volunteer of the following:
the fact that the allegation has been made against him/her and the nature of the allegation
Step Three
The manager/coach/volunteer should be afforded an opportunity to respond. The Chairperson will note the response and pass on this information when making the formal report to the HSE.
The report to the HSE should contain observations, dates, times, locations and contexts in which the incident occurred or suspicion was aroused, together with any other relevant information.
In cases of emergency, where a child appears to be at immediate and serious risk and the Chairperson is unable to contact a duty social worker, the Gardai shall be contacted.
Under no circumstances will a child be left in a dangerous situation pending intervention by the Statutory Authorities
Step Four
Our Chairperson, if reporting suspected or actual child abuse to the Statutory Authorities will first inform the family of their intention to make such a report, unless doing so would endanger the child or undermine any statutory investigation.
Step Five
All subsequent actions following an allegation of abuse against a manager/coach/volunteer will be taken in consultation with the HSE and An Garda Síochána. An immediate meeting will be sought with these two agencies for this purpose. The Football Association of Ireland National Children’s Officer is also available to provide support and advice.
Step Six
Under Football Association of Ireland rules, any manager/coach/volunteer who is the subject of a statutory investigation into alleged child abuse, is required to stand down from all soccer activities until the investigation is completed. Therefore the FAI National Children’s Officer must be informed immediately of any formal notification to the Statutory Authorities.When a person is asked to stand down it should be made clear that it is only a precautionary measure in keeping with standard procedures/guidelines and will not prejudice any later disciplinary proceedings.The manager/coach/volunteer concerned should be advised that the procedures being undertaken are in accordance with statutory requirements. He or she should be treated with respect and fairness, and also be assured that all information will be dealt with in a sensitive and confidential manner.
Step Seven
Midleton FC will carefully consider the outcome of the statutory investigation and will then assess if there are any outstanding disciplinary issues in relation to their internal rules or infringements of the Football Association of Ireland best practice guidelines. It must be remembered that the fact that the alleged abuser has not been prosecuted or been found guilty does not mean that they are appropriate to work with young people in the future.
Internal Club disciplinary proceedings can only be initiated after the Statutory Authorities have completed theirs.
LINKS
FAI Child Welfare Policy
https://www.fai.ie/sites/default/files/atoms/files/FAI_Child_Welfare_Policy_-_2014.pdf
Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children
https://www.dcya.gov.ie/documents/Publications/ChildrenFirst.pdf