The Pillars of Safeguarding
PILLAR
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Recruitment & Selection In Ireland, organisations are required to have policies and procedures for recruitment of workers. Recruiting the right people to work with participants is a critical safeguard to have in place. The individuals who identify and select the youth workers, host families, teachers and support personnel play a vital role in the safeguarding process. All staff and volunteers who work on these projects are gatekeepers, as they all have a responsibility to report to a superior if they observe someone acting inappropriately with a young person. From an equality and rights basis, organisations need to ensure that all participants have an equal opportunity to participate in a project. They also need to ensure that the project is suitable for the participants. Good processes must be in place to ensure that the selection process for participants is appropriate to the age and understanding of the participant. The table below provides some advice that can support the selection process and to safeguard potential participants. Invest time in the selection process
Clearly explain what the project is
Consider whether the project is connected to other aspects of their lives
Support them Connect them to identify any fears/ with someone anxieties they have they trust
Inform them of some of the risks before they sign up
Give them responsibilities during the selection process
Inform them of the work that is involved
Have an open and honest selection process
Mind the ones who are not selected
Involve parents in the process
Use an application process that is easy to follow
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