11. Complaints, Disciplinary and Appeals Policy

If you wish to make a complaint, first of all please be aware that we are using the FAI policy on Concerns and complaints, click here

All complaints should be made in writing to the Juvenile Club Chairperson who will determine who will hear the complaint. Depending on the severity of the complaint, you should receive a response within 5 days.

A committee of three will be formed consisting of at least one representative from the Larkview committee, the Children’s Officer [if a child is involved in the complaint] and one or two ordinary registered members of the club if required.

If the complaint involves suspected child abuse or a criminal offence the children’s officer will be consulted, and the disciplinary committee disbanded. The statutory authorities will then be informed.

• The disciplinary committee should review any relevant paperwork and hold any necessary
• meetings with all parties to proceed with complaints into any incident of suspected misconduct that does not relate to child abuse. This should be done within 10 working days.
• The disciplinary committee should furnish the individual with the nature of the complaint being made against him/her and afford him/her the opportunity of providing a response either verbally or in writing, but usually at a meeting with the disciplinary committee.
• Written confidential records of all complaints will be safely and confidentially kept and club
• procedures will be defined for the possession of such records in the event of election of new
• officers where it is established that an incident of misconduct has taken place, the disciplinary
• committee should notify the member of any sanction being imposed.
• The notification should be made in writing, setting out the reasons for the sanction. If the member is under 18 years of age, correspondence should be addressed to the parents/guardians.
• If the member against whom the complaint was made is unhappy with the decision of the
• disciplinary committee they will have the right to appeal the decision to the Chairman or committee member of the Club.
• Any appeal should be made in writing to the chairman within 10 days of the decision of the
• disciplinary committee. The Club committee should consult with the Children’s Officer in
• relation to issues of child welfare and codes of conduct. The club committee will have the
• power to confirm, set aside or change any sanction imposed by the disciplinary committee.

The procedures for investigation and sanction will follow the guidelines set out by FAI in their Concern and Complaint Policy

Click here for an overview of the FAI Complaint and Concern Procedure.