Garda Vetting & Child Welfare

As you are aware, there are a number of child welfare obligations under FAI Rule 72 for Affiliated Members and I wanted to bring these to your attention – The FAI Rulebook can be accessed here http://www.fai.ie/fai/policies-a-regulations/fai-rule-book.html

 –          The FAI’s New Child Welfare Policy is also accessible on the FAI web-site using the following link:  http://www.fai.ie/football-services-a-education/player-a-club-services/fai-child-welfare-policy.html

This document has replaced the FAI’s Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Childrens Soccer.  This document has a lot of information in relation  to Child Welfare particularly Section 4 – The role of the Designated Child Welfare Officer.

Please see the FAI Rulebook for a full list of responsibilities for Affiliated Members, but in summary the obligations are as follows:

1.       Appointment of Designated Child Welfare Officer

All FAI Affiliated Members shall appoint a person to be responsible for all child protection and welfare matters within their organisation.  “Affiliated Member” of the Association shall mean all National Bodies, Provincial Associations, leagues, clubs and AGM Members who have affiliated directly to the FAI or to their respective governing body.  This person will be known as the Designated Child Welfare Officer.  It is the responsibility of each League to ensure all clubs affiliated to them have appointed a Designated Child Welfare Officer.

In accordance with FAI Rule 72 (2)(a), this person shall be the person who holds the highest office with the club/league.  Ultimate responsibility for child welfare will rest with this person, particularly when it comes to recruitment, Garda vetting, child welfare courses, reporting matters to the Statutory Authorities etc.  Therefore, if a coach is taken into a club/league the  Designated Child Welfare Officer must be satisfied they are suitable to join their club/league.  PLEASE NOTE:  Receiving a Garda Vetting letter from the FAI is only one part of the recruitment process – reference checks & interviews should also be implemented and adhered to.

2.       Garda Vetting

Any person working or volunteering with children and or vulnerable adults in any capacity on behalf of an Affiliated Member shall be Garda Vetted.  It is the responsibility of the football body concerned to determine the relevant persons within their organisation who this applies to.

The Garda Vetting letter from the FAI is NOT AN APPROVAL LETTER TO WORK WITH CHILDREN.  The letter the FAI issue is based on the information the FAI receive back from the Garda Central Vetting Unit.  The information we receive from the Garda Central Vetting Unit only provides information if a person has a conviction/does not have a conviction.  For example, if a person has no convictions this does not mean they are suitable to work with children.  It simply means that this person has no convictions. In accordance with FAI Rule 72, Garda vetting is mandatory for all people working with children.  Therefore I have attached the Garda Vetting Form, Guidelines for completing the form and a parental consent form for coaches who are 16 or 17 years of age.  Please note: we will no longer accept a Garda vetting form without a copy of some form of Identification e.g. Passport/Driving License.

3.       Child Welfare Courses

Any person working or volunteering with children in any capacity on behalf of an Affiliated Member shall complete an FAI approved “Basic Awareness” training course. It is the responsibility of the football body concerned to determine the relevant persons within their organisation who this applies to, subject to the relevant legislation and guidelines.

Should any club have any queries, please contact Sandra McAuley