special olympics ireland code of ethics and good practice Volunteer guide 4214 - Volunteer code of ethics 1 1 02/09/2005 15:03:50 Acknowledgements department of health and children (republic of ireland) department of health and social services and public safety (northern ireland) mr John ryan, social Worker, Kare, co. Kildare ms emer ingoldsby, social Worker, stewart’s hospital services, palmerstown, dublin 20 mr paul stephenson, nspcc, northern ireland ms mary connell, social Worker, Brothers of charity service, co. limerick ms mary tallon, advice and information officer, children’s first health service executive, south Western area irish sport council sports council of northern ireland mr derek moran, CPA ms lynn o’rourke, cpc, stewart’s hospital services, palmerstown, dublin 20 4214 - Volunteer code of ethics 2 2 02/09/2005 15:03:50 Contents Introduction 4.1 Neglect Intended audience 4.2 Emotional Abuse 1.0 Ethos and Core Values 4.3 Physical Abuse 1.1 Needs of the Athlete 4.4 Sexual Abuse 1.2 Equality 4.5 Material Abuse 1.3 Quality of Atmosphere and Ethos 4.6 Bullying 1.4 Fair Play 5.0 Managing an Alleged Incident 1.5 Integrity in Relationships 5.1 Overall Structure 1.6 Confidentiality 5.2 Initial receipt of a Report of Alleged Abuse 1.7 Complaints 5.3 Procedures for Reporting an Alleged Incident 2.0 Recruitment, Selection and Training 5.3.1 External Concerns 2.1 Recruitment and Selection 5.3.2 Internal Concerns 2.2 Training 5.4 Disciplinary, Complaints and Appeals 3.0 Code of Conduct Procedure 3.1 Code of Conduct for Athletes 5.4.1 Process and Management of Complaints and (including Unified Partners)TM Disciplinary Issues 3.1.1 Athletes and Unified Partners’ Rights 5.4.2 Appeals 3.1.2 Athletes and Unified Partners’ Code of 5.5 Dealing with Rumours and Anonymous Conduct Complaints 3.2 Code of Conduct for Family Members/Carers 6.0 Support for Persons Concerned 3.2.1 Rights of Family Members / Carers 6.1 Person Making the Allegation 3.2.2 Family Members/Carers’ Code of Conduct 6.2 Person Making the Report 3.3 Code of Conduct for Volunteers 6.2.1 The Law of Protection for Persons reporting 3.3.1 Rights of Volunteers in ROI 3.3.2 Volunteers’ Code of Conduct 6.2.2 The Law of Protection for Persons reporting in 3.4 Code of Conduct for Coaches Northern Ireland 3.4.1 Coaches’ Code of Conduct 6.3 Training 3.5 Code of Conduct for Mentors 3.5.1 Mentors’ Code of Conduct Appendices 3.6 Events and Games – Invitational, European Appendix 1: Contact details: Special Olympics and International Ireland Offices 3.7 Photography and Videography Appendix 2: Contact details: Health Boards 3.7.1 Rules for Volunteers, Family Members/Carers, - Area Social Worker Manager Mentors Appendix 3: Contact details: Health and Social 3.8 Transporting an Athlete Services - Northern Ireland 3.9 Substance Abuse Appendix 4: Additional Contact Numbers 3.9.1 Substance Abuse 3.9.2 Alcohol 3.9.3 Tobacco Products 4.0 Understanding & Recognising Protection and Welfare Concerns Special Olympics Ireland Code of Ethics and Good Practice Foreword by Mary Davis, Director, Special Olympics Ireland Special Olympics Ireland recognises that the welfare of all persons involved in the programme is paramount. In line with the requirements defined by the Irish Sports Council (ISC) and the Sports Council of Northern Ireland (SCNI) in the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport in Ireland (2000) Special Olympics Ireland has collated a Code of Ethics and Good Practice for the organisation. This Code of Ethics and Good Practice document is designed to help us to help you to understand how we need to work together to protect and serve all our members; athletes, coaches, volunteers, family and staff members as well as anyone who works with our athletes. In addition to the full text of the document the organisation has developed an edition for two of its main stakeholder groups; Athletes and Volunteers. This edition outlines the fundamental principles and addresses issues relating to the roles and responsibilities of volunteers involved in the programme. The Special Olympics Ireland Code of Ethics and Good Practice aims to promote best practice and to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for all. In Special Olympics Ireland we strive to provide best practice in everything we do; from sports training and competition to volunteer recruitment and training whilst at all times ensuring the organisation is athlete centred. Please take the time to read this document and if you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact us in Special Olympics Ireland. This literature is designed to inform, enlighten and guard the safety of all our participants... including you. Thank you Mary Davis Director, Special Olympics Ireland Special Olympics Ireland Introduction Intended audience This code outlines the fundamental principles This document is for use by all volunteers and addresses issues relating to the roles and involved in all aspects of the Special Olympics responsibilities of all persons involved in the Ireland Programme throughout the island of programme. Ireland. It is the responsibility of all persons involved in the organisation to familiarise themselves with the Special Olympics Code of Ethics and Good Practice in its entirety. Code of Ethics and Good Practice Volunteers Guide .0 Ethos & Core Values The following section identifies the values and the person about whom a complaint has and ethos that are central to Special Olympics been made are protected. Note: A guarantee Ireland and its programme. cannot be given that the information offered will be kept absolutely confidential, as the 1.1 Needs of the Athlete welfare of the person making the complaint Sports should be guided by what is best for will supersede all other considerations. the athlete whilst being conducted in a safe, positive and encouraging atmosphere. 1.2 Equality All persons should be valued, treated in an equitable and fair manner regardless of ability, age, gender, social and ethnic background, religion or political persuasion, with opportunities to foster inclusion encouraged whenever possible. 1.3 Quality of Atmosphere and Ethos Sports training and competition should be conducted in a safe, positive, and encouraging atmosphere. 1.4 Fair Play The principles of fair play should always be emphasised with participation, best effort and enjoyment rather than a emphasis on winning. 1.5 Integrity in Relationships Athletes should be treated with respect. 1.6 Confidentiality Confidentiality must be maintained in respect to all issues and persons involved in concerns about the welfare of a person or about bad practice within any element of the Special Olympics Ireland organisation. 1.7 Complaints Special Olympics Ireland recognises that the rights of both the person making a complaint Special Olympics Ireland .0 Recruitment, Selection and Training 2.1 Recruitment and 2.2 Training Selection Special Olympics Ireland is committed to the Special Olympics Ireland takes all reasonable provision of effective training to volunteers, steps to ensure that only suitable people at the appropriate time, to enable them to are recruited to work with athletes on a perform their roles efficiently and consistently. voluntary basis. All applicants undergo the following There is a determined training path for each recruitment process volunteer to equip them with the necessary • definition of roles of volunteers skills to perform their role. For example, the • completion of the appropriate written volunteer training path is comprised of application form • General Induction • mandatory reference checks from two • Special Olympics Ireland Code of Ethics non-family referees and Good Practice training • obtaining the applicant’s signed permission • On site introduction for new volunteers in to provide personal information to Garda their chosen role Síochána (Republic of Ireland)/PSNI • Job specific training including, as (Northern Ireland) for the purpose of appropriate: conducting a background security check • Sports specific coaching skills • obtaining the applicants (NI only) signed • Affiliate Group management team permission to provide personal information development for the Department of Health, Social • Network committee training Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS)for • Events and Games planning the purpose of conducting a Protection of • Competition management Children and Vulnerable Adults (POCVA) • Committee roles and responsibilities Service Check • ALPs mentor training • Family messenger training The decision to ratify the assignment of • Special Olympics Trainer a volunteer to an affiliated group is the responsibility of the Club Management Team following these successful checks. Code of Ethics and Good Practice Volunteers Guide .0 Code of Conduct This section provides information on Special them and congratulate the winners Olympics Ireland’s code of conduct for all • always try one’s best and participate persons within the organisation. fully during training, in divisioning and final rounds of competition 3.1 Code of Conduct for • Responsibility for actions Athletes (including • not make inappropriate or unwanted Unified Partners)TM physical, verbal, or sexual advances on others 3.1.1 Athletes and Unified Partners’ • not to bully or verbally abuse others Rights • abide by the policies and procedures of They have the rights to Special Olympics Ireland • receive quality coaching from • obey all laws and Special Olympics appropriately qualified coaches rules and the National Governing Body • participate in