Through the IRFU and related Branch, Malahide 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 Margaret Brophy. 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 at the end of this statement.
Our child safeguarding statement 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 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
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 IRFU Club Safeguarding Guide and annual audit, https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/14123920/Club-Safeguarding-Guide.pdf
A link to the IRFU Safeguarding Policy is included in relevant club documentation and is available here, (insert link to club website/relevant platform). 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 Club Welfare Officer, 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:
Club Welfare Officers have completed relevant safeguarding training. Their ID templates are on display within club grounds and/or club websites. The club has completed the necessary risk assessment and published the child safeguarding statement. The club follows the Club Safeguarding Guide, the anti-bullying statement, uses the club pavement signs and Spirit of Rugby ‘Let Them Play’ video clips. Coaches and volunteers have also received safeguarding training through the IRFU. This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed in September 2025, 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, Margaret Brophy, brophymags@gmail.com phone: 0857250195 for Club Welfare Officer
Signed: Aidan Brophy | Signed: Mags Brophy
Chair Club Welfare Officer
SAFEGUARDING RISK ASSESSMENT
This risk assessment considers the potential for harm to come to children whilst they are in the care of this club and gives the required policy, guidance or process documents required to alleviate these risks. This risk assessment has been carried out prior to the publication of the Child Safeguarding Statement (Section 11 (1b) Children First Act 2015). In this context and in accordance with the requirements of Section 11 (1) of the Children First Act 201, that states “as a provider of a relevant service we will undertake an assessment of any potential harm to a child while availing of the service”; the risk is of abuse and not general health and safety risk. This risk assessment is also in accordance with Sport Northern Ireland’s Club Framework for Safeguarding Standards in Sport and as such can be used by the IRFU’s constituent.
Provinces and clubs.
The risk assessment indicates the areas of potential risk of harm, the likelihood of the risk occurring, and gives the required policy, guidance or process documents required to alleviate these risks. The list of risks identified and procedures to manage these risks are listed in relevant categories overleaf and are based on the IRFU Safeguarding Guide.
Responsibilities
The club has appointed a Club Welfare Officer to implement the Child Safeguarding Statement and IRFU Safeguarding Policy and to monitor the implementation of the associated Safeguarding Guide
The Club Welfare Officer holds the role of Relevant Person for the organisation’s Child Safeguarding Statement and links with the nationally appointed Mandated Person of the IRFU
This risk assessment has been completed with Club Welfare Officer and other members of Club Committee
All Age-Grade staff and volunteers (e.g. coaches, manager, team assistants) working regularly and continuously with minis or youths (or where their role is a necessary part of working) with young people and/or vulnerable adults have been vetted and have signed the Declaration of Intent.
This document was completed by the Club Welfare Officer on behalf of the Club Committee and approved by the Committee in September 2023.
Aidan Brophy Mags Brophy ________________ _________________
Signed by Chair
Signed by Club Welfare Officer
The Risk Assessment was undertaken in _____________ and will be reviewed in September 2025 in line with updated Safeguarding Polices
The prevention of harm requires both awareness and practical implementation of the policies and procedures listed below put in place to manage risks identified by IRFU to keep children safe from harm as defined in legislation.
Risk Assessment
|
Risk Identified: Club and Coaching Practices |
Level |
Procedures in Place |
Monitoring of Risk |
|
Risk if relevant staff and volunteers are not aware of the safeguarding policy as it relates to club and coaching practicesConsiderations
These policies have been made known to those working with Age-grade players and available through registration process for parents |
High |
Safeguarding Policy – https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/safeguarding-policy/ Codes of Conduct – https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/16153845/Code-of-Conduct-Parents.pdf Social media guidance – https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/31120545/Staying-Safer-Online.pdf Travel guidance – including hosting and away trips https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/25120840/Travel-touring-hosting.pdf |
Information sessions to parents, coaches and members, includes codes of conducts
|
|
Risk Identified: Communication |
Level |
Procedures in Place |
Monitoring of Risk |
|
Risk of harm if not communicating with staff, volunteers, parents and playersConsiderations
|
High |
IRFU Policy and Child Safeguarding Statement visible on website and available to all parents on registration process – https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/safeguarding-policy/ ID template distributed to Spirit staff and made available to CWOs Policy is available through Rugby Connect membership registration |
CWO ID |
|
Risk Identified: Recruitment |
Level |
Procedures in Place |
Monitoring |
|
Risk of recruiting inappropriate people to work with young peopleConsiderations
|
High High High |
Recruitment Policy, https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/recruitment/ Audit of Rugby Connect for outstanding vets weekly, emails Spirit of Rugby Officer as necessary for update. CWO to check with head coaches that adequate supervision is in place according to guidelines, https://d19fc3vd0ojo3m.cloudfront.net/irfu/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/25120828/Supervision-Safety.pdf |
Vetting and DoI renewals every 2-years through Rugby Connect, CWO has access to confirm coach/volunteer has completed their vet |
|
Risk Identified: Complaints / Concerns |
Level |
Procedures in Place |
Monitoring |
|
Risk of harm if complaints and reporting procedures are not in place Considerations
|
High Med High High High Med Med |
Reporting Procedures – https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/concerns/ Parents information – https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/parents-guardians/ Case Management Reporting Form https://forms.office.com/FormsPro/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=JRvazqodokKeM_ 5uIrGDeIERAZC3HTJNlFmj9hBUz8ZUMllVSjQxNjEzUTQ4MFRRMVBIOVpXSTBGUi4u Young People rights and reporting procedures – https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/young-people/ |
Necessary links to IRFU policy are displayed within CSS Spirit Officers deliver training regularly |
|
Risk of harm when using facilitiesConsiderations
|
Facilities Information – https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/medical/ Coach/club member hiring facility to request CSS and/or safeguarding policy, along with anti-bullying statement and CWO ID templates |
|
Risk Identified: General |
Level |
Procedures in Place |
Monitoring | ||
|
Risk of untrained people working with young peopleConsiderations
|
Training Policy, https://www.irishrugby.ie/playing-the-game/spirit-of-rugby/safeguarding/training/ Spirit staff send out link to online training
CWO to link with Spirit of Rugby Officer for course facilitation of face-to-face module after coaches have completed first 2 modules on Gainline |
Coaches training recorded in Gainline and Rugby Connect | |||