Child Safeguarding Statement

Name of service being provided:

The Childhood Development Initiative (CDI) works to improve outcomes for

children, families and communities in Tallaght and throughout Ireland.

We deliver evidence-informed prevention and early intervention programmes, in partnership with communities and services; Each of these services are obliged to have their own safeguarding statement and policies relating to child protection as required by legislation.

We support the child and family workforce through professional development training and consultancies.

Although we rarely have children within the building we are located next door to an ELC service and adhere to the same guiding principals to safeguard children.

Guiding principles to safeguard children from harm:

We believe that:

1. Our priority to ensure the welfare and safety of every child and young person who  attends our building, is paramount.

2. Our guiding principles and procedures to safeguard children and young people reflect national policy and legislation and we will review out guiding principles and Child Safeguarding Procedures every year.

3. All children and young people have an equal right to be respected as individuals and encouraged to reach their potential, regardless of their background.

4. We are committed to upholding the rights of every child and young person who attends our building, including the right to be kept safe and protected from harm, to be listened to and to be heard.

5. Our guiding principles apply to everyone in our organisation.

6. Workers/volunteers must conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of our organisation.

2.       Risk Assessment

We have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) to a child while availing of our services.  Below is a list of the areas of risk identified and the list of procedures for managing these risks.

Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015)

Procedure in place to manage identified risk

Examples of risk include, but are not limited to:

–         Rough handling of children by staff in a way that causes harm to a  child

–         Staff/volunteers shouting at or chastising children to the extent that it causes harm to a child

–          

–         Complaints Procedure/Policy

–         Staff Training Procedure/Policy

–         Staff Induction Procedure/Policy

–         Child Safeguarding Procedure/Policy

–         Reporting Procedure/Policy

–         Child Safeguarding Training Procedure/Policy

–         Garda Vetting Procedure/Policy

–         Allegation of Abuse Against Staff/Students/Volunteers Procedure/Policy

Examples of risk include, but are not limited to:

–         Children placed at risk due to inadequate  supervision

–         Children being harmed as a result of staff not reporting appropriate concerns

–         Children being harmed by inappropriate actions or interactions by staff

–         Staff Supervision Procedure/Policy

–         Reporting Procedure/Policy

–         Child Safeguarding Procedure/Policy

–         Allegations of Abuse against Staff/Students/Volunteers Procedure/Policy

–         Complaints Procedure/Policy

–         Code of Behavior for staff and volunteers Procedures/Policy

Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.

The procedures listed in our Risk Assessment and the Specified Procedures below support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our service:

–   Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against       

    workers/volunteers of a child whilst in our building or whilst in the community;

–   Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with

    children;

–   Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information,         

    including the identification of the occurrence of harm;

–   Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla;

–   Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are       

    mandated persons;

–   Procedure for appointing a Relevant Person.

This Child Safeguarding Statement will be displayed prominently.

All procedures will be made available to staff, parents, young people, members of the public and Tusla, if requested.

We recognise that implementation is an on-going process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our service.

This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed on 03/02/2022 or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

Signed: ______________________________ (Provider of the Relevant Service)

For queries, please contact [insert name and role], Relevant Person under the Children First Act 2015.