As a governing body, the Irish FA recognises its responsibility to support all football clubs and affiliated bodies to recruit and select suitable volunteers and coaches.
The Irish FA acts as an umbrella body for Access NI overseeing vetting checks for all volunteers from affiliated bodies and football clubs who are engaging in a regulated activity.
Irish FA AccessNI application process
All affiliated club/leagues/Associations must ensure appropriate AccessNI checks are completed within their organisation and updated every 3 years.
If you have previous cautions/convictions and/or investigations, you must submit the digital link to your Enhanced Disclosure Certificate you receive from AccessNI for further assessment. Failure to submit appropriate information and engage meaningfully in the assessment will result in your application being incomplete. As such, you will be deemed unsuitable to take up a role in affiliated youth football.
See process document for full guidance below.
FAQS
What is an enhanced Access NI check?
An AccessNI check is a criminal history record check which provides different levels of information.
An enhanced check discloses an individual’s full criminal record, giving:
- spent and unspent convictions from the Police National Computer
- cautions, informed warnings and other non-court disposals from the Police National Computer
- information held by the Disclosure and Barring Service (for positions in regulated activity)
- information held by the police that is relevant to the role applied for
Some old and minor convictions and non-court disposals on a criminal record may be filtered. Fixed penalty tickets or parking fines aren't included in an enhanced check.
Enhanced checks are normally required where the applicant will work or volunteer in a role providing services to or having close and regular supervision of children or vulnerable adults.
An individual cannot apply for an enhanced check. An application for an enhanced check must be counter-signed by an AccessNI-registered organisation.
Eligibility
If you are seeking to work/volunteer on behalf of a club that has affiliated to any Irish FA games programme you are required to complete an Enhanced Disclosure Check against the Children’s and/or Adult's Barred list.
This will let the Irish FA know if you have been convicted of a criminal offence or are barred from working with children or other vulnerable groups.
If you are 16 years old or over and are engaged in a Regulated Activity you should complete an Enhanced Disclosure Check.
In relation to working with children (any person under 18) as a youth football coach, Regulated Activity is defined as:
(i) Unsupervised activities such as teaching, training/instructing, caring for, supervising children, or providing advice/guidance on well-being or driving a vehicle only for children.
(ii) Relevant personal care (e.g. washing or dressing) or healthcare by or directed/supervised by a health professional
An Enhanced Disclosure check can only be applied for if the role is performed on a regular basis
How often should I make an Access NI application?
Applications should be renewed every 3 years. Enhanced Disclosure certificates cannot be transferred between clubs and certificates obtained through a workplace or other organisation are not valid.
If your role is transferred to another club or affiliated body within that period you must complete a new application for an Enhanced Disclosure check.
Clubs/Affiliated Bodies must request an Access NI check for any new volunteers/coaches before they begin to engage in any form of coaching activity.
How do you apply for an Access NI check?
An AccessNI check is only one part of the safe recruitment process that your club should adopt.
Your club welfare officer should provide you with a copy of the Irish FA Access NI procedure document to support you in the process of applying for an Enhanced Disclosure check.
This document contains the following:
- A detailed flowchart showing each step required by coaches and club welfare officers during the application process
- A declaration that you must sign to show that you meet the criteria for an enhanced disclosure check (as a youth football coach)
- A declaration you must sign to confirm you are not barred from working in Regulated Activity
You should complete this form in full and return it to your Club Welfare Officer after you have completed your part of the online application process with Access NI.
Your welfare officer will submit your signed self-declaration form to the Irish FA.
What happens after I submit my application?
There are three outcomes to an Enhanced Disclosure Check.
(i) Nothing to disclose – indicates that the applicant has no history of offending.
Applicants will receive an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate directly from Access NI and should inform their Welfare Officer that they are eligible to proceed with coaching.
(ii) Information disclosed – indicates there are previous convictions or information that should be made available to the Irish FA for risk assessment.
Applicants will receive an Enhanced Disclosure Certificate directly from Access NI. Should an applicant agree to engage in the assessment process, the original certificate should be shared with the Irish FA via the digital link provided by Access NI.
Applicants may be required to provide additional information relating to the disclosure certificate. Outcomes from the risk assessment process should be shared with the club Welfare Officer by the coach.
Should you wish to dispute or appeal against the information disclosed by AccessNI you should contact them directly following the process outlined on your disclosure certificate.
(iii) Further information required – there are occasions when Access NI require additional information to process the appropriate check. This information should be provided at the earliest opportunity to either the Irish FA or Access NI when requested.