Vetting and Safeguarding

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Vetting and safeguarding help us to keep our sport safe for all of our members. We have a range of documents and resources to help our Clubs make sure that they are up to date and compliant with the relevant regulations and legislation.

We aim to provide a safe, structured, inclusive, friendly environment for all members through our clubs and providers. We are committed to good practice which protects children and vulnerable adults from harm. Staff and volunteers accept and recognise their responsibility to provide an environment which promotes safety at all times.

The legislation in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is based on a clear and consistent set of principles, designed with the common aim of promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Children and vulnerable adults have the right to be safe; all coaches should ensure that this fundamental principle takes precedence over all other considerations. Our vetting and safeguarding policies are free and apply to all those involved in Rowing Ireland, including coaches, administrators, officials, volunteer drivers, parents and participants

Therefore, any Rowing Ireland member that interacts with any participant under the age of 18, must complete a Child Safeguarding Course. Vetting is also mandatory for all members of Rowing Ireland, the regions, clubs and any person seeking to engage with junior members and vulnerable adults.

Safeguarding

Rowing Ireland believe that we, and our clubs, have a duty to promote a positive experience and safeguard children and vulnerable persons from abuse or poor practice. By encouraging all clubs to implement the following guidance, we believe that everyone in rowing will benefit – participants, carers and coaches.

We have produced a free safeguarding guidance document for clubs, to compliment our Safeguarding Policy. This can be downloaded below.

Club Self-Assessment Child Safeguarding Audit – templates of the documents required as part of the audit can be downloaded by clicking here.

What clubs should do?

In Northern Ireland the Club framework for safeguarding standards in sport clubs is applicable, with a self-assessment checklist document for sport. This is based on the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) sponsored document for the voluntary sector, called Getting It Right. Clubs in the Republic of Ireland can still use the framework as a guide.

  • Designated Officer RoI:  Tom Fennessey –  086 830 8610
  • Designated Officer NI: Brenda Ewing – 07979 253 900

To support clubs in implementing best practice we have produced a range of documents which are available below.

For further information, please contact the Child Protection in Sport Unit www.thecpsu.org.uk or pstephenson@nspcc.org.uk 

Vetting

There are two types of vetting checks available to Rowing Ireland – through the National Vetting Bureau and Access NI; both checks are free and applicable to members of Rowing Ireland and must be complete every three years.

Rowing Ireland is a Registered Organisation with the National Vetting Bureau (NVB) with three appointed Liaison Persons; Ceara O Connor (events@rowingireland.ie) and Pat Kiely (clubsupport@rowingireland.ie) and Lucy Hanrahan (lucy.hanrahan@rowingireland.ie).

1) Rowing eVetting steps (ROI)

Step 1

The vetting subject completes a Rowing Ireland (RI) eVetting Invitation & ID Validation form (HERE)

Step 2 

They then present their original IDs with photocopies that meet the 100 point check, including date of birth and proof of address within the last 6 months to their Club Children’s Officer for validation. 

The individual looking to be vetted must have their Rowing Ireland registration number on the application form. 

The vetting subject then mail their eVetting Invitation form (hardcopy) along with photocopies of the ID used to the Liaison Person at Rowing Ireland, Irish Sport HQ, Sport Ireland Campus, Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown D15 DY62

Step 3

RI staff will start the process and then the vetting subject will get an email from the Garda Vetting unit inviting him/her to complete the online eVetting Application Form.

Step 4

The vetting subject completes an eVetting Application Form online and submits it.

Step 5

The RI Liaison Person will be asked to review the Vetting Application Form by the NVB and submits it to the National Vetting Bureau for processing.

Step 6

The National Vetting Bureau processes the application and forwards a vetting disclosure to the RI Liaison Person.

Step 7

RI then reviews the vetting disclosure and as soon as is practicable and  provides a response to the vetting subject.

Sports leaders under 18 may also be required to complete the vetting process. To apply for vetting there must be a completed parental consent. Vetting cannot be conducted for a person under the age of 16. Children under 18 may not have appropriate ID; therefore the 100 point rule is allocated differently. This can be seen in the download below. The Children’s Officer completes the ID validation form and signs it confirming that they have verified the identity of the applicant.

RI Ulster Branch, as a regional body of Rowing Ireland, is a Registered Body with Access NI (ANI), with one appointed Lead Signatory.

This video outlines the Garda Vetting Process for Clubs in the Republic of Ireland:

Downloads

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