Safeguarding

Longford Sports Partnership run the below course on behalf of Sport Ireland, the dates and times are on our events calendar. If your club or organisation wishes to run one in your locality, please contact us on 043 3343493 or email sports@longfordcoco.ie.

Safeguarding 1

All Coaches, Club Children’s Officers and Designated Liaison Persons must first complete the 3 hour, Safeguarding 1 - Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness Course. This course educates participants on the implementation of best practice in protecting the welfare of children involved in sport.

Safeguarding 2 (Club Children's Officer Workshop)

The Club Children's Officer should be child centred in focus and have as the primary aim the establishment of a child centred ethos within the club. S/he is the link between the children & the adults in the club. S/he also takes responsibility for monitoring & reporting to the Club Management Committee on how club policy impacts on young people & Sports Leaders.

This course will help the Club Children's Officer to carry out the function of their roles and support the implementation of best practice in the club. Participants will receive a Club Children's Officer Action Planning document as part of the training. You must have completed safeguarding 1 to be eligible to take part in this workshop.

Safeguarding 3 (Designated Liaison Person Workshop)

This is the third part of the Sport Ireland’s Child Welfare & Protection Training Programme. Every club/organisation should designate a person to be responsible for reporting allegations or suspicions of child abuse to TUSLA Child and Family Agency or Social Service (NI) and /or An Garda Siochána/ PSNI. It is recommended that this person is a senior club person. However, if there is difficulty identifying a separate individual to take this role, the Club Children’s Officer can be appointed as Designated Liaison Person once the club/organisation is clear about the responsibilities of each role. The organisation’s child protection policy and procedures should include the name and contact details of the Designated Liaison Person and the responsibilities attached to the role.

A person appointed to the Designated Liaison Person position in a club must have completed the Basic Awareness Workshop in Child Welfare & Protection and should complete the Designated Liaison Person 3 hour workshop. A club may appoint the same person to both the CCO and DLP positions, however best practice advises that they are kept as separate roles.

Further information on the safeguarding courses is available from Longford Sports Partnership at 043 3343493 or email sports@longfordcoco.ie.