The NUI Certificate in Child Protection & Welfare Certificate is a Level 8 Special Purpose Award delivered by the National Youth Council of Ireland in partnership with the Department of Applied Social Studies, Maynooth University. The certificate will provide a key opportunity for those in the youth work sector to build on their competence, expertise and knowledge to ensure safeguarding is understood in its entirety and implemented across youth work organisations using a whole organisational approach.
The Certificate will be of interest to those who have an interest in and a role in safeguarding and child protection within their organisation, and are in a position to affect change within their organisation to cultivate, support and embed a culture of safeguarding.
The programme is delivered over 100 contact hours across five learning blocks. It will be delivered mainly using an in-person learning approach, with some online seminars.
The Certificate is funded by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
Application process
Please note:
- To apply, please complete the online form below to request an application form.
- We will need your contact information and contact information for senior management in your organisation who will sign off on your application.
- Please check your eligibility before you apply and email siobhan@nyci.ie if you have any questions.
- The deadline for applications is: 12pm 15th May 2025.
- Shortlisted applicants will be invited to a short online interview on Friday 23rd May or Monday 26th May 2025.
- 16 places will be offered to applicants.
- The Certificate start date is September 29th 2025.
If you have any questions about the NUI Certificate in Child Protection & Welfare or the application process, please contact siobhan@nyci.ie.
Information Sessions: Certificate in Child Protection & Welfare 2025/2026
Join the National Child Protection Programme team for one of our online Information Sessions to find out more about the NUI Certificate in Child Protection & Welfare and the application process for the 2025/2026 Certificate!
Certificate Description and Objectives
The Certificate in Child Protection and Welfare aims to provide those with a professional interest in, and responsibility for, child safeguarding, protection and welfare, with the knowledge, skills and competencies related to the issues involved for their organisation.
Students will explore:
- An understanding of the key issues in child protection, safeguarding and welfare
- Develop a critical awareness and understanding of the role and responsibilities of an organisation in relation to the implementation of its child safeguarding protection policies and procedures
- Examine best practice in responses to child protection, safeguarding and welfare issues.
The Certificate aims to provide a supportive learning community for all participants and provide a wide range of learning experiences including specialist inputs from NYCI and Maynooth staff as well as experts from a range of relevant organisations; practical exercises; opportunities for group discussion and reflection.
As part of the Certificate programme, students are supported to complete 4 assignments that will range from a short essay, to reviewing and developing relevant organisational safeguarding policy, procedures and documents, and project work related to relevant issues in child safeguarding.
The course content of the Certificate in Child Protection & Welfare will be delivered across five learning blocks as outlined below:
- Principles, Values and Legal Framework
- Organisational Context
- Practice Issues
- Working in Partnership
- Workshop development and delivery
Dates
The NUI Certificate in Child Protection and Welfare will run over 15 days from September 2025 to May 2026 and involves over 100 hours of learning, including:
- Regular online sessions that will be agreed with course tutors (with breaks for mid-term, Christmas, Easter and when in-person learning is scheduled).
- Orientation Day: 29th September 2025
In-person learning blocks that will take place as follows:
- Block 1: 13th & 14th October 2025
- Block 2: 3rd, 4th, 10th & 11th November 2025
- Block 3: 26th & 27th January, and 9th & 10th February 2026
- Block 4: 23rd & 24th March 2026
- Block 5: 13th & 14th April 2026
A complete list of session times will be made available to students in September 2025.
Cost
The fee for the 2025/2026 course will be €550.
The Certificate is offered at a subsidised rate of €550 which is payable upon acceptance to the Certificate programme. This fee includes the student registration fee with Maynooth University, and contributes towards the cost of venues and catering.
Please note:
- Payment in instalments can be arranged if needed by contacting siobhan@nyci.ie
- To support the participation of youth workers and practitioners from minority backgrounds, NYCI is offering two bursary places for the 2025/2026 Certificate. If you are interested in applying for a bursary, please contact siobhan@nyci.ie
Venue
- In-person learning in Dublin (venues TBC)
- Online learning.
Designed For
This course will be of interest to youth workers and staff working in youth sector who want to:
- Deepen their understanding of their role in relation to child protection in youth work settings and the principles and values underpinning child safeguarding.
- Build their child safeguarding toolkit, developing new skills, building their knowledge, and exploring legislative, policy and practice frameworks across a range of areas.
- Develop their competency in child safeguarding practice that can be applied within their work and the wider organisation with young people in youth work settings.
Eligibility
Please note that applicants for the Certificate must:
- Be aged at least 21 years old on 1st January 2025.
- Be based in Ireland.
- Be currently working as a volunteer/paid employee/contractor with young people in a youth work/non-formal education setting.
- Be committed and motivated to attend the Certificate and complete the assignments.
- Hold a role in their organisation that is directly related to safeguarding and child protection and be in a position to affect change within their organisation in order to cultivate, support, and embed a culture of safeguarding and child protection.
- Have support from their organisation to take part in the Certificate and transfer the learning back to their organisation.
If you are interested in the Certificate and would like to discuss your eligibility, please contact Siobhán at siobhan@nyci.ie.
Programme Award
Certificate in Child Protection and Welfare (LEVEL 8) awarded by Maynooth University.
The Specialist Certificate in Child Protection and Welfare is a Level 8 award on the National Framework of Qualifications.
Delivered by
The NUI Certificate in Child Protection & Welfare is developed and delivered in partnership by Maynooth University and the National Youth Council of Ireland.
The Certificate team is led by the National Child Protection Programme team at NYCI in conjunction with staff from the Department of Applied Social Studies at Maynooth University, and with the participation of a wide range of guest facilitators and inputs from experts in child rights, child safeguarding, and youth work.
The course coordinator is Siobhán Laffey, National Child Protection Programme Manager and a member of staff at the Department of Applied Social Studies, Maynooth University acts as Academic Director of the Certificate programme.
Request an Application Form
To request an Application Form for the NUI Certificate in Child Protection & Welfare 2025/2026, please complete the form below. An Application Form will be sent to you via DocuSign to complete and must be submitted before the deadline of Thursday 12pm 15th May 2025. The Application Form must be completed by you, and a senior member of your organisation (line manager, director, CEO, chairperson etc as relevant).
Please contact Siobhán Laffey, National Child Protection Programme Manager, at siobhan@nyci.ie with any questions about the Certificate!
The Importance of Safeguarding Children and Young People in Youth Work
Child safeguarding in youth work is essential to creating environments where young people can engage in positive development and fully participate in activities without fear of harm. Youth work organisations have a responsibility under Children First 2015 to ensure they are fulfilling their obligations to keep children and young people safe and to promote their welfare through comprehensive risk assessment, policy development and practice implementation. By taking a whole organisational approach, safeguarding efforts are coordinated in a way that ensures a culture of safeguarding is embedded throughout the organisation.
By fulfilling these obligations, youth work organisations not only comply with legal requirements, but more importantly, promote a culture of trust, respect, and empowerment for young people in their care.
The National Youth Council of Ireland in partnership with Maynooth University administers the part-time Level 8 Certificate in Child Protection and Welfare.