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Child Welfare & Vetting


Child Welfare - Child Safeguarding & Protection

  1. MISSION
  2. CONTACTS
  3. REQUIREMENTS TO MENTOR 
  4. GARDA VETTING
  5. SAFEGUARDING TRAINING
  6. CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT  
  7. CODE OF BEHAVIOUR (Underage) 
  8. ANTI-BULLYING STATEMENT
  9. GIVE RESPECT – GET RESPECT
  10. GUIDES & FORMS 


1. MISSION (< back to top)

Our mission is to maintain a child centred culture within St Sylvester's GAA that provides a safe and inclusive environment for all young people who participate in our sport activities.  We want sport for all under-age players in our club to be Safe, Fun, and conducted in a Spirit of Fair Play.  



2. CONTACTS (< back to top)

CLUB CHILDREN'S OFFICER  (CCO)

The key role of the Club Children’s Officer is to ensure the promotion and implementation of the relevant Child Welfare and Protection codes and Guidelines for good practice in the Club. This is to ensure that young people can participate, enjoy and benefit from our Gaelic Games in safe and enjoyable surroundings.  The CO also oversees the implementation of Garda Vetting checks and Safeguarding training courses as appropriate within the Club.

CCO for St. Sylvesters:

CLUB DESIGNATED LIAISON PERSON (DLP)

The Club DLP is responsible for ensuring that reporting procedures within the organisation are followed so that child welfare and protection concerns are referred promptly to Tusla.

DLP for St Sylvesters:

If you are concerned about a child out of hours, contact the Gardaí.
  • Malahide Garda Station: 1-2, St. James Terrace, Malahide, Co. Dublin, K36 NH50 | Tel: +353 1 666 4600.
  • District HQ: Coolock District HQ Tel: +353 1 666 4282
  • Emergency 999 / 121

MANDATED PERSONS IN OUR GAELIC GAMES ASSOCIATIONS

Statutory Agencies: 


3. REQUIREMENTS TO MENTOR (< back to top)

Anyone who coaches or volunteers in the club (GAA / LGFA / Camogie) and who works with children (U18’s), must be adequately vetted, safeguarding compliant and trained. This also applies to coaches/mentors of adult teams containing players who are under 18 yrs old.  Child safeguarding requirements are BY LAW and NON-NEGOTIABLE.

To mentor U18’s, You MUST:

  1. Be a member of St. Sylvester's club
  2. Have a valid Garda Vetting Letter of Acceptance with Ref No.
  3. Have a valid Child Safeguarding Level 1 Certificate (at minimum)
  4. Have a valid Gaelic Games Coaching Skills certificate - (required for coaches/mentors).  
    • Minimum coaching requirement is ICGG (Introduction to Coaching Gaelic Games) or previous foundation level certification

It is the responsibility of each club member/volunteer to ensure that they are in full compliance before taking on the role of coach/mentor.


4. GARDA VETTING (< back to top)

Any person (GAA/LGFA/Camogie) who carries out a role of responsibility such as coaching, managing or supervising underage teams or adult teams that contain an U18 player, must be vetted. It also applies to organising underage activities or refereeing underage games. 

How do I get Garda vetted?

All GAA/LGFA/Camogie Garda vetting applications and renewals must be completed via Foireann. therefore you must have a Foireann account on  www.foireann.ie      

  • Garda vetting must be renewed every 3 years.
  • For step-by-step guide on how to apply for vetting on Foireann, click HERE > OR DOWNLOAD the ‘Compliancy MUST HAVES for Sylvester's Coaches’ document below and go to page 5 for step by step details.
  • When you receive your Garda Vetting Letter of Acceptance, please inform your lead coach (or lead coaches if you mentor multiple teams) and supply them with your GV reference no.


5. SAFEGUARDING TRAINING (< back to top)

Any coaches/mentors/FLOs (GAA/LGFA/Camogie) or anyone that works with underage teams or with adult teams that contain U18 players must be safeguarding compliant and have, at minimum, a valid Gaelic Games Safeguarding Level 1 Certificate (SG1).

How do I get my Safeguarding Cert (SG1)?

  • To get your SG1 Cert, you must attend 3-hour Safeguarding Workshop (SG1).  On completion of this course, you will be issued a certificate which is valid for 3 years.  
  • When that Cert is due to expire, you MUST complete the SG Online Refresher (SG1) which certifies you for a further 3 years.  

THESE COURSES ARE AN ONGOING REQUIREMENT IN 3 YEAR CYCLES   

1. Safeguarding Workshop (SG1) 

What to do on completion of your Safeguarding Workshop (SG1)

  • Sync your Tobar account with your Foireann account (once-off action) to ensure your latest safeguarding & coaching qualifications are saved on Foireann. 
  • Supply your lead coach (or lead coaches if you mentor multiple teams) with your Safeguarding Workshop (SG1) Cert

3 years later...

2. SG Online Refresher (SG1)

  • The SG Online Refresher course is an eLearning ‘self-guided’ course. 
  • It takes 45 minutes to complete. 
  • You MUST have attended the Safeguarding Workshop (SG1) within the previous 3 years. 
  • The SG Online Refresher course will certify you for a further 3 years

To do the SG Online Refresher (SG1), do the following: 

  1. Login to your Tobar account (if you already have one) 
    • If you don't gave follow THIS GUIDE > on how to create a TOBAR account  
  2. After you login, click the following link > https://learning.gaa.ie/node/283509 (or copy/paste to your address bar) to access the course 
  3. Select Leinster Participants: Enrolment key = Leinster24 
  4. Enrol in the course and commence.  There are 5 sections and a quiz. It takes about 40/45 mins to complete. Once you've completed the Online Refresher, you'll receive your certificate via your Tobar account.

IMPORTANT:  The SG Workshop (3 hours) + SG Online Refresher (45 mins) are valid for 3 years each so after 6 years you MUST repeat the cycle above.


6. CHILD SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT (< back to top)

  • Please click HERE to view a copy of St. Sylvester's Child Safeguarding Statement.  
  • This is also on display in St. Sylvester’s GAA Clubhouse at No 2 Church Road, Malahide, Co. Dublin. Ireland.


7. CODE OF BEHAVIOUR (Underage) (< back to top)

All coaches, mentors, parents, players, supporters and club personnel should adhere to the principles and practices of the Code of Behaviour (Underage).  This Code has been agreed between the GAA, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association, the Camogie Association, GAA Handball and GAA Rounders. The Code is a mandatory Code of Behaviour for all Gaelic Games Associations in our work with underage players. It is a comprehensive good practice guidance publication.  It contains a number of different sections for coaches/players/parents/supporters.  

Coaches/assistants and any club volunteers involved with underage players should read and adhere to the sections relevant to them, in particular the following section - Maintaining Good Practice and Behaviour, and ensure they uphold good practices in fulfilling their agreed roles.

  • To access the complete GAA Code of Behaviour (Underage) click HERE >


8. ANTI-BULLYING STATEMENT (< back to top)



9. GIVE RESPECT – GET RESPECT (< back to top)

Give Respect–Get Respect is an awareness campaign that seeks to ensure Gaelic Games are promoted and played in a positive, fair and enjoyable manner and where Players, Coaches, Spectators and Referees Give Respect–Get Respect from each other.  St Sylvester's is committed to this programme.  

View the Give Respect-Get Respect Poster HERE


10. GUIDES & FORMS (< back to top)