Club Children’s Officer Workshops

The Munster Rugby Development Department recently hosted a Club Children’s Officer (Safeguarding 2) training workshop in the new Irish Independent Park function room.

The workshop highlighted that Club Children's Officers should have the establishment of a child centred ethos within the club as their primary aim .

The Club Children’s Officer is the link between the children and the adults in the club and the training educates club volunteers on how to carry out their required functions and to support the implementation of best practice in their club.

Participants also received a Club Children's Officer Action Planning document as part of the training.

The next Club Children's Officer (Safeguarding 2) training workshop is scheduled for 7pm on Thursday, 5th March in Cashel RFC.

If you wish to attend please register by contacting janeburns@munsterrugby.ie as places are limited.

All Club Child Welfare Officers should be qualified to the level of Club Children's Officer. Please note that your Child Welfare Officer needs to have previously completed the 3 hour Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness Course (Safeguarding 1) before attending the Club Children's Officer (Safeguarding 2) workshop.

The Irish Sports Council has recently changed the structure of Child Welfare & Protection (Code of Ethics) workshops for Clubs. The details of the three stages of training are outlined here as follows:

1. Safeguarding 1 – Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness Course

All Coaches, Children's Officers and Designated Liaison Persons (DLP) must first complete the 3 hour 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.

2. Safeguarding 2 – Club Children's Officer (CCO)

A person appointed to the Club Children's Officer position in a club must have completed safeguarding 1 (Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness workshop) and should complete the NEW Club Children's Officer 3 hour workshop. This course will help the Club Children's Officer to carry out the function of their role in the club 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.

3. Safeguarding 3 – Designated Liaison Person(DLP)

The third part of the ISC Child Welfare & Protection Training Programme is the Designated Liaison Person workshop. A person appointed to the Designated Liaison Person position in a club must have completed the Child Welfare & Protection Basic Awareness Course. 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. This workshop is currently under review and will be available to clubs in the Spring /Summer of 2015.