Safeguarding Children Policy

CONTENTS

1.        PURPOSE

2.        SCOPE OF POLICY

3.        PRINCIPLES

4.        GUIDANCE AND LEGISLATION

5.        SAFEGUARDING DEFINITIONS

6.        LEGAL FRAMEWORK

7.        OUR BELIEFS

8.        SAFEGUARDING AT SKYDIVE IRELAND

9.        MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

10.   RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING

11.   INSTRUCTOR AND COACH RESPONSIBILITIES

12.   BRITISH SKYDIVING

13.   CONTACT DETAILS

PURPOSE

The goal of this policy is to ensure that Skydive Ireland takes a proactive stance and assumes responsibility for safeguarding children. Skydive Ireland recognizes that safeguarding entails considering all potential risks that may compromise safety, making it a top priority in practice. We are committed to upholding the rights and safety of staff, volunteers, customers, and visitors. This policy is reinforced by comprehensive guidelines and aligns with British Skydiving’s Instructor Code of Practice. Safety considerations extend beyond operational regulations for the safe conduct of the sport to encompass the protection of all participants, safeguarding them from harm as outlined in this policy. Our aim is to provide a safe environment for children and young people at Skydive Ireland.

The purpose of this policy statement is to safeguard young individuals participating in activities at Skydive Ireland from harm. This includes the children of adults utilizing our services. It also establishes overarching principles guiding our approach to child protection, benefiting staff, volunteers, children, young people, and their families.

SCOPE OF POLICY

This policy extends to all individuals representing Skydive Ireland, including employees, volunteers, instructors, coaches, students, customers, and visitors. It is imperative that all individuals associated with Skydive Ireland, regardless of their role, thoroughly review this policy and its accompanying documents.

PRINCIPLES

·        All children, irrespective of age, capability, gender, race, religion, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, marital or gender status, deserve protection from abuse and inappropriate practices, ensuring their participation in a safe and enjoyable environment.

·        The rights, dignity, and value of all adults will be upheld.

·        We acknowledge that a disabled child may not always self-identify or be recognized as 'at risk.'

·        Any allegations will be treated with utmost seriousness and addressed promptly.

·        Skydive Ireland acknowledges the roles and obligations of statutory agencies in safeguarding children and is dedicated to complying with the protocols of the Local Safeguarding Children Boards.

SAFEGUARDING DEFINITIONS

Safeguarding refers to measures in the United Kingdom and Ireland aimed at ensuring the health, well-being, and human rights of individuals, particularly children, young people, and vulnerable adults, allowing them to live free from abuse and harm, as safeguarded by the Human Rights Act 1998. Children are categorized as individuals under the age of 18, while a vulnerable adult encompasses anyone aged 18 or over who may lack the capacity to care for themselves or protect themselves from significant harm or exploitation.

Safeguarding in Ireland encompasses:

·        Ensuring a child's right to live safely, protected from abuse and neglect.

·        Collaborative efforts among individuals and organizations to prevent the occurrence of abuse or neglect and intervene in existing cases.

·        Promoting a child's well-being by considering their views, wishes, feelings, and beliefs.

Abuse refers to the infringement of an individual's human and civil rights by another individual or group.

Capacity denotes the ability to make decisions at a given moment, particularly under significant stress. It is assumed that individuals have the capacity to make decisions unless proven otherwise (MCA 2005).

The following delineates various forms of abuse and neglect (Care Act, 2014) applicable to skydiving:

·        Discrimination

·        Organisational abuse

·        Physical abuse

·        Sexual abuse

·        Financial or material abuse

·        Neglect

·        Emotional or psychological abuse

·        Self-neglect

LEGAL FRAMEWORK

This policy has been formulated based on legislation, policies, and guidance aimed at protecting children in England, along with input from British Skydiving and the Safeguarding Children’s Board. Skydive Ireland operates under the umbrella of the British Skydiving Operations Manual concerning all operational aspects of the business. It is imperative that all individuals working within the company, including any updates or amendments to this policy, are thoroughly familiar with its contents. It is the responsibility of everyone covered by this policy to ensure compliance with the outlined measures. The PTO is tasked with ensuring the implementation of a safeguarding policy and ensuring that all individuals participating in skydiving activities adhere to it.

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS

This policy statement should be read alongside our organisational policies, procedures, guidance and other related documents.

·        Skydive Ireland Safeguarding Children Policy

·        Skydive Ireland Code of Conduct (Staff & Volunteers)

·        Skydive Ireland Code of Conduct (Customers & Visitors)

·        Skydive Ireland Grievance Policy & Disciplinary Procedures

·        Skydive Ireland Modern Slavery Policy

·        Skydive Ireland Whistleblowing Policy

·        Skydive Ireland Standard Operating Procedures

·        Skydive Ireland Health and Safety Policy

Alongside British Skydiving forms:

·        Form 304 Safeguarding Policy Statement

·        Form 256 Grievance Policy

·        For 319(i) Equality and Diversity Policy

·        Form 323 Whistleblowing Policy

·        Form 288 Code of Practice for British Skydiving Instructors and Coaches

OUR BELIEFS

Skydive Ireland is committed to ensuring that children and young people are safeguarded from all forms of abuse. We have a duty to promote the welfare of every child and young person, ensuring their safety and practicing in a manner that prioritizes their protection.

We understand that the well-being of children and young people is of utmost importance. Regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation, every child has the right to be shielded from any form of harm or abuse. We acknowledge that some children may be more vulnerable due to past experiences, their level of dependence, communication needs, or other factors.

We are dedicated to upholding the rights, dignity, and value of all children. Any allegations will be treated with gravity and will be addressed following the established safeguarding procedures.

SAFEGUARDING AT SKYDIVE IRELAND

Everyone covered by this policy within Skydive Ireland holds the responsibility to promptly report any safeguarding concerns involving a child or young person to the Safeguarding Lead, owners of the Parachute Training Organisation, or designated Chief Instructor, and actively engage in any safeguarding measures. The Skydive Ireland Safeguarding Procedure must be adhered to if there is reasonable suspicion of a safeguarding issue or concern. It is crucial to assess whether staff, volunteers, customers, and visitors are adequately shielded from exploitative behaviour and treated professionally, particularly concerning children and young people.

Any employee with concerns regarding the welfare of a child or young person must discuss it with the Safeguarding Lead, owners of the Parachute Training Organisation, or designated Chief Instructor. This discussion will be confidentially recorded with password protection. The recording should outline agreements on actions and timelines, or reasons for no action. Additionally, all actions taken must be recorded and reviewed until the issue is resolved. In cases of immediate risk, the police and British Skydiving must be notified promptly. All staff are expected to fully participate in any safeguarding actions. Any allegation against an employee or instructor must be promptly reported to British Skydiving.

Our Actions:

·        creating a safe space in which children feel comfortable and are free from harm.

·        appointing a safeguarding lead

·        adopting child protection and safeguarding best practice through our policies, procedures and code of conduct for staff, instructors, coaches, students, volunteers and customers

·        recording, storing and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance.

·        providing effective management for staff through supervision, support, training and quality assurance measures so that all staff know about and follow our policies, procedures and behaviour codes confidently and competently.

·        making sure that children, young people and their families know where to go for help if they have a concern.

·        using our safeguarding and child protection procedures to share concerns and relevant information with agencies who need to know, and involving children, young people, parents, families and carers appropriately.

·        using our procedures to manage any allegations against staff appropriately.

·        ensuring that we have effective complaints and whistleblowing measures in place.

·        ensuring that we provide a safe physical environment for children, young people, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

·        building a safeguarding culture where everyone treats each other with respect and are comfortable sharing concerns.

 MANAGEMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

The primary responsibility for safeguarding within Skydive Ireland must be designated by the PTO. The management team of the PTO is informed about and concurs with the selection of the designated safeguarding lead, namely: Nicola Smith

RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING

Staff at Skydive Ireland are presently not mandated to have Disclosure and Vetting clearance. However, the safeguarding lead must maintain a valid DBS check. These checks undergo review every three years. All staff members will undergo fundamental safeguarding training, which will be refreshed every two years or in the event of legislative changes. New staff will receive a safeguarding briefing upon starting their employment, as part of the induction process.

INSTRUCTOR AND COACH RESPONSABILITIES

Instructors and coaches bear a duty of care and are always accountable for the well-being of their students. They will maintain a professional demeanour, ensuring students feel at ease and are treated with respect. Instructors and coaches are obligated to participate in safeguarding training provided by the Parachute Training Organisation. Upon completion, instructors will acknowledge their understanding of the Instructor's Code of Practice and Safeguarding Policy by signing a training sheet.

PARACHUTE TRAINING ORGANISATION

Skydive Ireland will embrace a duty of care towards its employees, volunteers, customers, and visitors, ensuring prompt and confidential handling of any potential allegations, with utmost respect and dignity. Skydive Ireland acknowledges its obligation to provide safeguarding training to its staff and ensure that all instructors have familiarized themselves with and followed the Skydive Ireland Safeguarding Adult Policy and British Skydiving Form 288, along with any subsequent updates. The PTO will furnish the Instructor Code of Practice annually and request a signature to confirm acknowledgment and compliance. The Safeguarding Lead will ensure that practices align with current and relevant legislation.

BRITISH SKYDIVING

As the governing body for sport parachuting, British Skydiving is committed to promoting safeguarding within Parachute Training Organizations (PTOs) and ensuring that instructors adhere to the Instructor Code of Practice. All British Skydiving instructors undergo rigorous training and are expected to always maintain a professional demeanour. British Skydiving values the equality and diversity of all association members.

CONTACT DETAILS

Safeguarding Lead Name: Ailbhe Cosbey

Phone/email: hello@skydiveireland.com