Code of Behaviour

OPEN SPECTRUM CODE OF BEHAVIOUR FOR PARTICIPANTS

  • Children and young people should:
    • Take part in the activity to the best of their ability and
    • respect others around them
    • Not use a mobile phone unless explicitly agreed with the coach and parent co-ordinator because it is being used as a sensory calming device.
  • Under no circumstances should photographs or recordings be made by any participant.
  • Behaviour which the coach considers unsafe will be reported to the parent co-ordinator.
  • The parent co-ordinator will hear the child/teen’s point of view before making a decision to report the behaviour to the Chair of Open Spectrum.
  • Suspension of any child/teen for an activity should only be a last resort however
  • if at a hearing of the board, a majority of the board and the parent co-ordinator agree that the child/teen should stay away from the activity for a period of time, the child/teen and his or her parent should respect this decision.
  • The reason for and the duration of the suspension must be clear to the child/teen and his/her parent.

 

OPEN SPECTRUM CODE OF BEHAVIOUR FOR PARENTS

  • Respect for others should be modelled at all times by parents of participants.
  • Parents should remain onsite during activities unless their absence is previously agreed with the coach and parent co-ordinator in which case they will share their phone numbers with the parent co-ordinator and keep their phones attended.
  • Lifts to and from activities will not be organised through Open Spectrum
  • Any concern about another participant’s behaviour should be addressed to the Parent Co-ordinator, not with any other parent in attendance.
  • Aggressive or intimidating behaviour by parents towards other parents will not be tolerated and may result in a suspension of that parent from the activity following a hearing by the Board of Directors.

 

OPEN SPECTRUM CODE OF BEHAVIOUR FOR COACHES/VOLUNTEERS

  • All volunteers must comply with Garda vetting regulations
  • Respect for all participants at all times is required. If a Parent Co-ordinator assesses that a coach or volunteer has not been respectful towards a participant he/she will bring it to the attention of the coach/volunteer and if a resolution cannot be reached, he/she will bring the breach of respect to the attention of the board of Open Spectrum who may decide to relieve the coach/volunteer of his or her duties.

 

ANY CONCERN OF A CHILD/TEEN OR OF A PARENT IN RESPECT OF A CHILD/TEEN CAN BE HEARD IN TOTAL CONFIDENCE BY THE CHILDREN’S OFFICERS:

Updated December 2022