Child Protection & Best Practice

The Irish Hockey Association is fully committed to safeguarding the well being of its participants. In working with young people our first priority is the welfare of young people. The IHA's Code of Ethics for Young People is a comprehensive document and can be downloaded from this website. Download Code here.

In order to answer some of your questions about Code of Ethics, the National Children's Officer, Jantien Findlater, has answered some of the most Frequently Asked Questions.

What is the Code of Ethics?

Hockey wants to provide the best possible environment for all young people involved in the sport. Young people deserve to be given enjoyable, safe sporting opportunities, free of abuse of any kind. The Irish Hockey Association and affiliates are fully committed to safeguarding the well being of its participants. Every individual in hockey should at all times, show respect and understanding for participants’ rights, safety and welfare and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the organisation and the guidelines contained in the Irish Sports Council's Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children’s Sport. In order to support its affiliated branches and clubs, Irish Hockey produced its own Code of Ethics for Young People. The Code clearly lays out the following, which should be followed by all members:

• Guidelines and Codes of Conduct: For players, parents and sports leaders
• Policies and Procedures: Disciplinary Procedures, Recruitment Policy for Sports Leaders and/or Volunteers, Bullying Policy, General Guidelines with Children
• Guidelines on use of photographic and mobile equipment     
• Child Protection Procedures
• Downloadable reporting forms, application forms, standard agreements, declaration forms

What is a Club Children's Officer?

For further information on the role of the Children's Officer, please download the following document:

Job Descriptions Club Childrens Officer and Designated Person

What is a Club Designated Person?

The role of the Designated Person is to report all child protection concerns to the statutory authorities. They should hold an up to date Irish Sports Council Code of Ethics Awareness Certificate or the Sport NI Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport CertificateI and be familiar with the IHA's Code of Ethics for Young People. Regardless of whether your club has a junior section or not, you should have a Designated Person.

For further information on the role of the Children's Officer, please download the following document:

Job Descriptions Club Childrens Officer and Designated Person

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Does my club have to adhere to the IHA's Code of Ethics for Young People?

Yes! In working with young people in hockey, the first priority of the Irish Hockey Association and its affiliate branches is the welfare of young people and we are committed to providing an environment that will allow participants to perform to the best of their ability, free from abuse, neglect, bullying and intimidation. Help and support is available to your club in order to make sure it adheres to the IHA’s Code of Ethics for Young People. Please see below for all relevant contact details.

Is there a difference if my club is based in Northern Ireland?

The Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children’s Sport covers all of Ireland. The same principles apply and the same criteria have to be met by clubs throughout the island of Ireland. However, different legislation applies to children’s welfare. In order to discuss Code of Ethics in Ulster, please contact the Development Officers for the branch as follows:

Grassroots & Club Development Officer: Dawn Millar, dawn.millar@nicssa.co.uk.

My club doesn’t have a junior section, do we still need a Designated Person?

Yes! Every club needs a Designated Person because a club member may have a concern about the activities of another club member in which case there needs to be a reporting procedure in place. The club also needs to assess what should happen to a club member against whom an allegation has been made.

How does my club become compliant?

The first step is to update your constitution. Your club constitution should have a Code of Ethics policy statement which reflects that the club has signed up to the IHA's Code of Ethics for Young People. This statement should be readily accessible to everyone in the club so that they know this is the case. For example, it could be on your club website or a copy posted in your clubhouse. This will indicate to all of your members that you follow the Code of Ethics. However, it is not enough to simply sign up to the Code - your club needs to follow the procedures that are included within the document.

The next step is to appoint a Designated Person and at least one Children’s Officers when the club has a youth section or a significant number of players under 18. Following on from this, you must ensure that everyone involved in your junior section (players, parents, coaches etc) are aware of WHO the Designated Person and the Children’s Officers are. Also, your members must understand WHY they would need to approach your DP or CO. This can be achieved by making these people known at registration or during coaching practice. You may also choose to email this information to parents and members. Additionally, you may decide to hand out flyers with this information. As well as your Club DP and Club CO, anyone within your club that has substantial access to U18s (coaches, leaders, volunteers etc.) must hold the relevant Irish Sports Council or Sport NI certificate.

So that's the easy stuff done! The main way of ensuring your club is compliant with the Code of Ethics is to delve into the document to make sure that your club is following the best practice that is contained within it. This ranges from having the correct Recruitment & Selection Procedures in place to having an anti-bullying policy to have a Complaints Procedure up and running. But don't worry - most of the work is already done for you!! The IHA's Code of Ethics document has copies of all of these things, it's a case of adapting them for your club and ensuring that they are implemented. And don't forget, following the Code of Ethics is all about making your club a better place for your members.

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How can my club gain access to Awareness Courses?

In order to receive information on attending courses or organizing awareness courses in your club, please contact your Regional Development Officer. Alternatively, awareness courses are run by Local Sports Partnerships. The dates and venues will vary based on your LSP. For a full list of LSP’s, please click here. Anyone attending the Level 1 coaching course will attend the basic awareness course as part of the course. If you are based in Northern Ireland, you will need to attend the Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Certificate. For a list of courses run by Sport NI, click here.

How can I learn more about Code of Ethics?

For more information on the Code of Ethics, go to the Irish Sports Council's website. This site includes a range of information on the Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children in Sports. This includes downloadable copies of the Code of Ethics and Good Practice booklet and the Code of Ethics leaflet for Parents and Leaders.

Contact Details

Development Officers

National Development Officer, Fiona Mills: fiona.mills@hockey.ie
Eastern Regional Development Officer, Lucas Piccioli: lucas.piccioli@hockey.ie
Western Regional Development Officer, Phil Oakley: phil.oakley@hockey.ie
Ulster Hockey Grassroots & Club Development Officer: Dawn Millar, Dawn.Millar@nicssa.co.uk

Ulster Hockey Coach Education & Talent Development Officer: Scott McNeill, scott.mcneill@nicssa.co.uk

National Appointees

National Children's Officer, Jantien Findlater: coaching@iol.ie or +353 (0) 86 1708183 or +353 (1) 2955554
Designated Person ROI: Jan Ovington: janovington@gmail.com or +353 (0) 86 3803926 +353 (1) 4691726

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Branch Appointees

Connacht Branch, Children's Officer, Mary O'Brien: j.obrien@esatclear.ie or 090 6485843

Connacht Branch, Designated Person, Theresa Concannon: theresaconcannon@hotmail.com  or

091 523890

Leinster Branch, Children's Officer, Orlaith Cagney, ocagney@hotmail.com or 087 2797266

Leinster Branch, Designated Person, Susan Keogh. skeoghwhelan@eircom.net

Munster Branch, Children's Officer, Reg Treacy: regeen@eircom.net or 086 261 2082

Munster Branch, Designated Person, Nikki Stokes: richiestokes@eircom.net or 086 606 6215

Southeast Branch, Children's Officer/Designated Person, Gayle Porter: soniport@yahoo.com or 086 1954078

Ulster Hockey, Children's Officer/Designated Person: Hilary Reid: hilaryreid@talktalk.net or

+ 44 (0) 7802 381 444

Code of Ethics and Child Protection Awareness Courses

Any person (paid or unpaid) working/coaching/volunteering with children (Under 18's) is advised to attend an Irish Sports Council Code of Ethics and Child Protection Awareness course. If based in Northern Ireland, you are advised gain the Safeguarding Children and Young People in Sport Certificate.

Northern Ireland

If you reside in the North of Ireland please click here to find out about courses being run in your area.

Republic of Ireland

To find out where there is a course on near you, contact your local sports partnership. To locate the nearest one to you please click here. Alternatively see below. Details are updated on a regular basis.

CARLOW

Please contact Sandra on 059 9170300 ext 451 or 087 2145262.

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CAVAN

Nadine Crotty, Sports Co-Ordinator
Tel: (049) 4378582
Mobile: 0876308908
Email: ncrotty@cavancoco.ie

CORK CITY
Contact Eithne Lydon at 021 4924245 : 086 0487603
or eithne_lydon@corkcity.ie for an application form.

COUNTY CORK

Contact:

Natalia Strózyna
Tel: 021-4665081
Fax: 021-4665090
Web: www.cclsp.com

DONEGAL
Details can be found on our website:
www.activedonegal.com , Emailing: danny@activedonegal.com or by contacting the office on: 074 9116078

DUN LAOGHAIRE-RATHDOWN

Basic Awareness Workshops 2010

All places for these courses must be booked in advance by return of a completed application form and full payment of the required fee of €15 per person. Please note that all cheques and postal orders should be made out to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership.

For an application form and further details please contact the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership office on 01-27195072 or e-mail sportspartnership@dlrcoco.ie.

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FINGAL
For booking and enquiries please contact Pauline @ 8906256 or email pauline.gilsenan@fingalcoco.ie.

GALWAY
Details can be obtained from :
Michael Curley
Tel: 091 746862

Mobile: 087 3292393
E Mail: mcurley@galwaycoco.ie
Fax: 091 779082

LIMERICK COUNTY

Child Protection in Sport Awareness Training (Code of Ethics). 

Dates: Tuesday 23rd & Wednesday 24th February 2010

Venue: Woodlands Hotel Adare
Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Cost:  €20 per person

Please see link for further details: http://www.cllsp.ie/childProtectionFeb10.asp  

Booking is essential for this course. Please contact Kathleen at 061 49 64 63 or email kkennedy@limerickcoco.ie  for registration form.

LONGFORD

Enquiries can be directed to Longford Sports Partnership, Aras an Chontae, Great Water Street, Longford, Tel: 043 43307 or email smcguinness@longfordcoco.ie.

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MAYO

Code of Ethics and Best Practice in Sport Awareness course will be held on:

March 8th and 9th (7:30-9:30pm each night) in Castlebar. The cost is €15 per person. For contact and booking details, log onto www.mayosports.ie.

MEATH

Code Of Ethics/Child Protection Awareness Workshop

Tuesday, March 23, 2010 (6:30 PM)

Monday, April 19, 2010 (6:30 PM)

Thursday, May 13, 2010 (6:30 PM)

Monday, May 31, 2010 (6:30 PM)

Duration: 4 Hours 15 Minutes

Contact Info: Marcella Mitchell on 046-9067337

Email: mlsp@meathcoco.ie

The cost for this course is €20 per person for clubs in Meath, for clubs outside Meath the cost is €30 per person.

OFFALY
Training provided on an on-demand led basis. Minimum of 12 participants from the county nominated by clubs affiliated to a recognised NGB at a charge of €10 per head
Contact: ehenry@offallycoco.ie

SOUTH DUBLIN

Contact Information:

Audrey Grainger

Sports Administrator

South Dublin County Sports Partnership

Comhpháirtiocht Spóirt Átha Cliath Theas

C/o County Hall, Tallaght, Dublin 24

T 01 414 9000 |Ext: 2678 |Fax 01 414 9306

WATERFORD
Contact the Dungarvan Office on 058 21194 or info@waterfordsportspartnership.ie for an 'expression of interest' form.

WESTMEATH
Details:
David Scally Tel: 044 93 90208
Fax: 044 93 43533
E- Mail: info@westmeathsports.ie

WEXFORD

Code of ethics courses:

WICKLOW

Should you wish to book on any of the Code of Ethics workshops in 2010, application forms and further information are available by contacting the office of Wicklow Local Sports Partnership on 01 287 8184.

Code of Ethics & Good Practice for Children’s Sport /Child

Protection Awareness Workshops

Wicklow Local Sports Partnership

Children's Officer Training 2010

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