Children’s Officer

Children’s officer: Rachel O’Donovan - 087 608 8246

childrensofficer.blessington.wicklow@gaa.ie

Designated Liaison officer: Pat Molloy

Role:

The key role of the Club Children’s Officer is to ensure the implementation and promotion of the relevant Child Welfare and Protection Codes and Guidelines for good practice in their Club so as to ensure that young people can participate, enjoy and benefit from our Gaelic Games in safe and enjoyable surroundings. The Code of Behaviour (Underage) is the agreed good practice reference and policy document that is central to guiding the Children’s Officers in their roles.

Responsibilities:
• Promote awareness of the Code of Behaviour within the Club
• Ensure that all persons, in accordance with their allocated roles, fulfil their vetting, child safeguarding and coach educational requirements as appropriate
• Identify the need and facilitate the delivery of Child Protection in Sport Awareness Workshops and other relevant Child Protection and Welfare training within the Club
• Distribute and oversee the implementation of the Code of Behaviour – when working with underage players and ensure in so far as possible, that all Players, Coaches, Team Mentors, Parents, Guardians, Officials and Spectators adhere to the Code
• Promote an Anti-Bullying ethos in the Club and deal with instances or allegations of Bullying in a fair, impartial and constructive manner and in collaboration with others as appropriate. Any concerns around bullying or inappropriate behaviour should be reported to the club children’s officer.
• Display the Association’s Anti Bullying Statement and ensure it is adopted at Club level
• Ensure that each under age member signs and submits an annual membership form, a parental consent form as required (away trips etc) and that the necessary medical information of an underage player, as deemed relevant, is made known to the Club and/or the team coaches
• Support the implementation of the RESPECT initiative at Club level in co- operation with team personnel, members, referees, spectators, parents/ guardians and the Club Executive

• Influence policy and practice in the Club in order to prioritise the needs of our underage players and make an annual report the Club AGM
• Promote greater consultation with under age players and participation by them in Club activities and Planning and that young people are afforded the opportunity to express concerns about their sports activities/experiences within the Club

• Encourage the involvement of parents/guardians in organising Club activities
• Develop good practice procedures in the recruitment and selection of persons working with young people in the Club
• Retain Vetting ID documentation of Club members as part of the vetting process. • Oversee the implementation of Garda Vetting checks, as appropriate and for relevant personnel, within the Club
• Monitor, in association with team coaches, any significant trends or developments relating to the participation of young people in Gaelic Games and report accordingly to the Club Executive or Management Committee
• Maintain on-going contact with the County Board Children’s Officer and with other Club Children’s Officers and as required with the National Children’s Officer • Report regularly to the Club Executive as required
• Deal with breaches of the Code of Behaviour (Underage) as per relevant guidelines. There is a designated committee within the club to deal with such breaches as reported.
• Make referrals of alleged allegations of abuse to the Club Designated Person
• Oversee the carrying out of the annual risk assessment procedure and thereafter putting an agreed Child Safeguarding Statement on display in the Club

If you would like to download a copy of our child protection policy you can do so by clicking here