Child Welfare

Children First Guidance

Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children was first published in 1999 and has been revised and updated a number for times since, most recently in 2017. The key messages of the guidance have remained unchanged. The guidance seeks to assist people to recognise where a child is being abused or neglected, and to report reasonable concerns about abuse or neglect to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The guidance also assists organisations working with children with information about best practice in child safeguarding.

The most recent version of the Children First Guidance in 2017 also incorporates information on the Children First Act 2015 and in particular, sets out the specific child protection statutory obligations imposed on certain categories of persons and organisations under that Act.

Children First Guidance 2017;

Children First Act 2015.

A central goal for all those involved in sport for young people is to provide a safe, positive and nurturing environment where children can develop and enhance their physical and social skills. Promoting a child-centred environment should go hand in hand with identifying and eliminating practices that impact negatively on a young person’s safe and enjoyable participation in sport.

Tipperary Ladies Gaelic Football Association believes that all children have the right to play Gaelic Football in a safe environment and are committed to creating and maintaining this environment.

The appointment of a Child Welfare Officer is an important part in creating a safe environment for young girls who wish to participate in Gaelic Football and we have appointed Ann Marie Martin (Arravale Rovers) 087 8454688 as our Child Welfare Officer.

The welfare and the protection of young people is the concern of all adults at all times, irrespective of their role within the organisation. Each club and organisation must accept this as part of their responsibility and duty to care for young people. The prevention and detection of child abuse depends on the collaborative effort of everyone concerned.

What does this mean for our Clubs?

All persons who have a regulated role with children, (i.e. coaches, referees, members, parents who regularly assist within the club) must be registered with the Club and:

• Be Garda Vetted - if a person, who has not been vetted, continues to act in any of the above roles after 1st January 2018 they will be breaking the law as may their Club, for offering or facilitating such a role.
• Complete the Safeguarding 1 - Child Protection in Sport Awareness Workshop.
• Complete the FUNdamentals Course.

All Clubs must have the following:

• A Child Welfare Officer who must complete the Safeguarding 2 – Club Children’s Officer Training Workshop.
• A Designated Liaison Person (DLP) who is responsible for ensuring that reporting procedures are followed so that child welfare and protection concerns are referred promptly to Tusla – the Child & Family Agency.  The DLP must complete the Safe Safeguarding 3 – Designated Liaison Person Training workshop.
• Mandated Person whose role shall be to report child protection concerns to Tusla.
• Complete a Risk Assessment document.
• Create a Child Safeguarding Statement.