Sport Ireland offers three in the area of Safeguarding and child protection. The details of the three stages of training are outlined here as follows;

Safeguarding 1 – Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness Workshop

All Coaches, Club Children’s Officers (CCO) and Designated Liaison Persons (DLP) must first complete the 3 hour Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness Workshop.  This workshop educates participants on the implementation of best practice in safeguarding the welfare of children involved in sport. 

Safeguarding 2 - Club Children’s Officer

A person appointed to the role of Club Children’s Officer within a club must have firstly completed Sport Irelands Safeguarding 1 (Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness workshop). They should also complete Sport Irelands Club Children’s Officer 3 hour workshop. The aim of this workshop is to help the Club Children’s Officer to carry out their role and support the implementation of best practice in the club. Participants will also receive a Club Children’s Officer Action Planning document as part of the training.

Club Children's Officers should be child centred in focus. Their primary aim is to establish a child centred ethos within the club. The CCO is the link between the children and the adults in the club.  They also have responsibility for monitoring and reporting to the Club Management Committee on how club policy impacts on young people and Sports Leaders.

Safeguarding 3 - Designated Liaison Person

A person appointed to the Designated Liaison Person position in a club must firstly complete Sport Irelands Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness Workshop and should complete the Sport Irelands 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.

Every club/organisation should designate a person to be responsible for dealing with any concerns about the protection of children. The Designated Liaison Person is responsible for reporting allegations or suspicions of child abuse to TULSA Child and Family Agency or Social Services (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.

Please check the Bookings section to check for training course availability.