Verification
Trained by Michael Lynch.
You have followed a link from an organisation saying its people are trained by Michael Lynch Safeguarding. This page explains what that training is, so you can judge it for yourself.
The training
Assessed by conversation, not multiple choice.
Most safeguarding courses in Ireland end in multiple choice. Michael's asks each learner what they would do, and follows up on what they say.
In this course each learner is given a real situation, answers aloud in their own words, and is questioned on their reasoning across seven criteria of judgement. The certificate records what was assessed rather than only that they attended.
They were taught
Around three hours by Michael Lynch, who led Ireland's national child protection unit for fifteen years.
They were questioned
On real situations, aloud, with follow-up questions on what they said.
It was recorded
Their organisation holds a certificate naming what was assessed.
It is not the whole of it
Training is one of several things the Children First Act 2015 requires. An organisation must also have a written risk assessment, a child safeguarding statement, and a named first point of contact for concerns. You are entitled to ask for the statement.
If you are a parent or guardian
What you are entitled to ask for.
A provider of a relevant service to children — the services listed in Schedule 1 of the Children First Act 2015 — must have a child safeguarding statement, must display it where the service operates, and must give it to you if you ask. You are also entitled to know who its designated liaison person is — the named person you would raise a concern with.
Asking for those things is normal and reasonable, and a well-run organisation will hand them over without hesitation.
Organisations Michael has worked with
Tusla
HSE
United Nations
Interpol
European Commission
GAA
Scouting Ireland
Teaching Council
Dublin Rape Crisis Centre
CARI
Irish Red Cross
DSPCA
St John Ambulance
UCD
Trinity College Dublin
ERA — Academy of European LawFor organisations
Use the badge on your own site.
If your people have completed the training, you are welcome to say so. Paste this where it suits — a footer, an about page, or beside your safeguarding statement.
<a href="https://www.michaellynchsafeguarding.com/trained"
rel="noopener">Our people are trained by Michael Lynch Safeguarding</a>Please only use it while your training is current, and please link to this page rather than to your learner portal — a login page tells a parent nothing.