Policies

Child Safeguarding Policy

Moy Davitts GAA is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all young people who participate in our Gaelic Games and activities. The Club’s Risk Assessment and Child Safeguarding processes contribute to this aim. Additionally, Moy Davitts GAA has adopted in full the GAA Code of Behaviour.

This Code of Behaviour affirms the policy position that all coaches who, on behalf of Moy Davitts GAA, work with children and young people must:

• Undergo Garda Vetting
• Attend relevant child safeguarding training as approved by the GAA
• Obtain a minimum coaching qualification
• Sign the GAA Code of Behaviour

The following Safeguarding Training procedures/requirements are put in place as a support mechanism to ensure that we take all practicable steps to protect children and young people from discernible forms of abuse, from harm, discrimination or degrading treatment and shall respect their rights, wishes and feelings. The procedures/requirements also ensure that individuals recruited by Moy Davitts GAA adhere to the best possible standards that we have adopted in ensuring that our games are played and promoted in an enjoyable, safe and developmental environment.

Whatever a person’s role in Moy Davitts GAA they are, where applicable, required to attend the relevant Child Safeguarding training when provided. Training developed and delivered by the Gaelic Games Associations also reflects the statutory legislation and guidance for the jurisdiction in which it is delivered.

Moy Davitts GAA has appointed individuals to the following roles to assist in the implementation of these procedures/requirements:

Club Children’s Officer:

Assists in promoting a child and youth centred ethos in the Club. In their work the Club Children’s Officer shall be the link between the children/young people and the adults within the Club and shall be the primary protagonist of the Code of Behaviour (Underage) in the Club.

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 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.

Designated Liaison Person

• Has knowledge of, and is committed to, the Guidance for Dealing with and Reporting Allegations and Concerns of Abuse’, the Code of Behaviour (Underage) and Children First (ROI)
• Receives child protection and welfare concerns
• Acts as a liaison with outside agencies and a resource person to any person who has child protection concerns o Responsible for ensuring that standard reporting procedures are followed
• Makes a formal report to the statutory authorities as required and makes a report with the Mandated Person, where requested
• Has knowledge of categories and indicators of abuse o Undertakes training in relation to child protection o Is familiar with, and able to carry, out Gaelic Games/Statutory reporting procedures
• Communicates with parents and/or agencies as appropriate
• Is easily contactable

Responsibilities:

• Provision of Child Safeguarding Workshops is the responsibility of Moy Davitts Children’s Officer
• Maintenance of a database of managers/coaches/mentors that have, or have not, completed Child Safeguarding training is the responsibility of the Children’s Officer
• Notification to members of their requirement to attend Child Safeguarding training, or any other relevant training, is the responsibility of the Children’s Officer
• Managers/coaches/mentors, and all others involved with children and young people within Moy Davitts GAA, are required to attend this training every 3 years Safeguarding Training Workshops. The Gaelic Games Association has developed three levels of Child Safeguarding training for members based on, and reflective of, similar training programmes initiated by Sport Ireland.
• Safeguarding 1 The Child Protection in Sport Awareness workshop for coaches and others who work with children
• Safeguarding 2 The workshop for Club Children’s Officers
• Safeguarding 3
• The Designated Liaison Person workshop