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Geraldine McKavanagh

Learn about child protection practices in GAA clubs, including AccessNI benefits, key features, and implementation steps in this informative guide.

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Geraldine McKavanagh

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  1. Geraldine McKavanagh Child Protection

  2. Setting the Scene

  3. GAA Coach on trial …. A man has appeared in court on trail for allegations of indecent assault……

  4. Structure Designated Officer Children’s Officer HQ Provincial Councils County Boards Clubs

  5. Our Duty to Care 2007 The Protection of Children (NI) service The Human Rights Act 1998(implemented October 2000) Criminal Law Act 1967 ACCESSNI 2008 Getting It Right (2005) Legal The UN Convention on the rights of The Child Co-Operating to Safeguard Children 2003 The Children (NI) Order 1995 Code of Best Practice for Youth Sport - GAA Sexual Offences Act 2003 The Protection of Children & Vulnerable Adults (NI) Order 2003 The Data Protection Act 1984 and 1998

  6. The UN Convention on the rights of The Child Our Duty to Care 2002 Garda Vetting Service Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children’s Sport 2006 Legal The Child Care Act 1991 Children First 1999 Code of Best Practice for Youth Sport - GAA Sexual Offences Act 2002 The Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 Freedom of Information Act 1997 Criminal Justice Act 2006

  7. Training, Awareness and Vetting • 3 hour code of Ethics Course Incorporated into foundation coaching course • Certificate issued • Record kept of all who complete the course • Currently over 14,000 people have been awareness trained in Ulster • Ulster have awareness trained 250+ people in Britain • Ulster have ≈ 1500 people vetted through POCVA and ACCESSNI

  8. Exercise What is Best Practice for GAA Clubs?? • Recruitment Good Practice • Effective Management of Volunteers and Staff • Reporting • Codes of Behaviour • Sharing Information • General Safety & Management

  9. Best Practice • Club Child protection Policy • Implement Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport • Each club to have a Children’s Officer • Implement an Anti Bullying Policy • Implement Codes of Conduct • Parental Consent Forms • Have Clearly Defined recruitment procedures • Implement a policy in relation to use of Photographic and mobile equipment • Implement a policy that deals with drug misuse and substance abuse • Have good recording procedures

  10. Exercise How can Best Practice for GAA Clubs be implemented?

  11. Implementation of Best Practice Accessni

  12. “…It is a Criminal Offence to appoint an individual to work with Children or vulnerable adults to a full time or voluntary position knowingly or unknowingly ….. ”

  13. Background • New disclosure body • Legislative basis for enhanced disclosures • Police statutory code for disclosures • Bichard Reforms www.accessni.gov.uk Accessni

  14. Benefits of Accessni • One stop shop • Ability to search a number of Databases in Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales • Legislative basis for operation

  15. Key Features • Three types of disclosure – Basic / Standard / Enhanced • Charging regime applies • Performance targets apply • Requirement to Register

  16. AccessNI • Comhairle Uladh CLG is a registered body with AccessNI • Performs checks at a Provincial level for the Council, County Boards and Clubs • Clubs Need to Register with Comhairle Uladh for Comhairle Uladh to carry out these checks on their behalf

  17. Accessni/Garda vetting Disclosure Certificate Application Form

  18. What is checked? • The Criminal Record Viewer – which contains the NI criminal record, and • The Police National Computer – which contains Criminal Records from England, Scotland and Wales. • Disqualification from Working with Children (DWC (NI) List) • Disqualification from Working with Vulnerable Adults (DWVA (NI)) • List 99 held by Dept Children Schools & Families • DoH PoCA and PoVA lists • Unsuitable Persons List held by DE • Relevant Scottish Lists • AccessNI will ask relevant Police Forces for any additional non-conviction material, including cases pending, which the Police consider relevant for Disclosure.

  19. Individuals Responsibility • Complete forms fully • Complete forms in block capitals • Provide all previous address histories • Produce ID Club Responsibility • Make sure ID belongs to applicants • Put in full purpose of post • Check form completed correctly • Return to Ulster Council HQ with accompanying letter clarifying ID

  20. Weakness • Not portable • Multiple checked being done • Only as good as the day it was done • Different requirements to different sectors • Speed of returns

  21. Independent Safeguarding Authority (Vetting and Barring Scheme VBS) Implications for GAA Club’s

  22. Social Services The family are known to social services because the mother has difficulty coping with the children Police CARE Unit Have information about an allegation made by the child of a former partner of the step-father Sports Club Child tells the coach that she does not want to go home after training School The teachers in the child’s school have noticed changes in their behaviour and concentration this year School Friend Tells their mother that Kate has told her a special secret Kate Aged 10 Local Police Receive a call from the child’s mother to say she has run away, but returns 3 hours later Probation Are aware that the child’s stepfather received a probation order for a sexual offence when he was 21 Doctor Treats the child for an infection in the genital area

  23. Soham • Information known not passed on • Flawed check

  24. Online checking of scheme membership Scheme Member Not barred Online Status checking Not applied Not a Scheme Member Voluntarily withdrawn BARRED

  25. Implementation Independent Safeguarding Authority Is due to come into operation from 12th October 2009.

  26. Gearóid Ó Maoilmhichíl National Children's Officer

  27. National Children's OfficerOifigeach Náisiúnta Leanaí National Children’s Office Croke Park – Established October 2008 • CLG child centred & welfare approach • Appoint National Children’s Officer • Club and County Childrens’ Officers • Adhere to ISC/Sports NI requirements • Adhere to legislation and guidelines on the island of Ireland • Adhere to GAA Code of Best Practice • Support the Association in achieving these aims

  28. Immediate Priorities for National Children’s Officer • Review all child/youth focussed services, guidelines, training, policy, practice and reporting procedures • New GAA Code of Best Practice in Youth Sport • Develop a new Code of Conduct • Promote best practice in recruitment and selection of personnel working with children • Introduce Garda Vetting of all persons working with children* to complement ACCESSNI • Develop a team of sports code trainers (tutors) • Integrate and support our desired levels of best practice into all aspects of Gaelic Games delivery

  29. Review of Existing Services and Procedures • Internal & external consultations • Guidelines on dealing with allegations • Relationship with sports councils • Direct and in-direct relationships with HSE, Gardaí, DHSSPS, PSNI… • Integrate our training and coaching • Build our capacity

  30. New GAA Code of Best Practice for Youth Sport • Code of Ethics Group drafted new Code • Policy, code of conduct, child centred approach, role of parents, young people administrators and spectators • Recruitment, vetting, insurance • Role of Childrens Officers • Child Welfare & protection procedures • Subject to agreement internally/externally

  31. Garda Vetting ROI To carry out Garda vetting and Police checks on all personnel in GAA working with children and vulnerable adults • 1st Pilot programme commenced 5 Nov 2008 with Dublin Co Board and Croke Park staff • 2nd pilot programme - all GPOs and Coaches • Roll out of vetting in all counties early 2009 • Central role by CLG Croke Park • Appeals mechanism etc • Integral part of new recruitment & selection process

  32. Tutor Training • Low number of tutors in ROI • Agreement with ISC to train 75 tutors in 2009 • Target to have 150 tutors trained by 2011 • Redesign ISC four hour programme ROI to reflect GAA ethos and practices • Share new design with Comhairle Uladh • Roll out county and regional training 2009 • Move towards tutor trainers in 2011/2012

  33. Support Services • Support counties and provinces in delivering best practice in child welfare and sport • Support Club and County Childrens Officers • Act on behalf of CLG in allegations etc. • Provide advice as appropriate • Monitor the implementation of the new Code of Best Practice and delivery of training • Ensure compliance with guidelines and legislation in all jurisdictions through a range of support services

  34. Contact Details Uladh CLG: 8-10 Market Street, Armagh, BT61 7BX (028/048) 37521900 Danny Murphy:ulster@gaa.ie Geraldine McKavanagh: gmckavanagh@ulster.gaa.ie CLG: Croke Park, Dublin 3 (003531/01) 8363222/8658675 Gearóid Ó Maoilmhichíl: gearoidom@admingaa.ie NSPCC Helpline 0808 800 5000 www.nspcc.org.uk Child Protection in Sport Unit 028/048 90351135 pstephenson@nspcc.org.uk www.thecpsu.org.uk SVG Team 028/048 90538223 www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/hss/svg.htm/ Volunteer Development Agency 028/048 90236100 www.volunteering-ni.org

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