Mandatory Template 1: Child Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment Template

Mandatory Template 1: Child Safeguarding Statement and Risk Assessment Template

Child Safeguarding Statement

Arklow C.B.S. is a post-primary school providing post-primary education to pupils from First Year to Leaving Certificate Year.

In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Addendum to Children First (2019), the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023), the Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures for Boarding Facilities associated with Recognised Schools 2023and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, the board of management of Arklow C.B.S. has agreed the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in this document.

• The board of management/management authority of [insert boarding facility name] has adopted and will implement fully and without modification the Department’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools (revised 2023) and the Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures for Boarding Facilities associated with Recognised Schools 2023 as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement.
• The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Peter Somers
  
• The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Michelle White
• The Relevant Person is Peter Somers

(The relevant person is one who can provide information in respect of how the child safeguarding statement was developed and will be able to provide the statement on request. This person can also be the DLP)

• The Board of Management/Management authority of [insert boarding facility name] recognises that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of school and boarding school life and must be reflected in all of the school’s/management authority’s policies, procedures, practices and activities. In its policies, procedures, practices and activities, the board of management/management authority will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare:

The board of management/management authority will:

• recognise that the protection and welfare of children is of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations;
• fully comply with its statutory obligations under the Children First Act 2015 and other relevant legislation relating to the protection and welfare of children;
• fully co-operate with the relevant statutory authorities in relation to child protection and welfare matters;
• adopt safe practices to minimise the possibility of harm or accidents happening to children and protect workers from the necessity to take unnecessary risks that may leave themselves open to accusations of abuse or neglect;
• develop a practice of openness with parents and encourage parental involvement in the education and care of their children; and
• fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters.

The school/boarding facility will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability.

6. The following procedures/measures are in place:

• In relation to any member of staff who is the subject of any investigation (howsoever described) in respect of any act, omission or circumstance in respect of a child attending the school/boarding facility, the board of management/management authority adheres to the relevant procedures set out in Chapter 7 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023), the relevant procedures set out in the Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures for Boarding Facilities associated with Recognised Schools 2023 and to the relevant agreed disciplinary procedures for school/boarding facility staff which are published on the gov.ie.

• In relation to the selection or recruitment of staff and their suitability to work with children, the board of management/management authority adheres to the statutory vetting requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 and to the wider duty of care guidance set out in relevant Garda vetting and recruitment circulars published by the Department of Education and available on gov.ie.

• In relation to the provision of information and, where necessary, instruction and training, to staff in respect of the identification of the occurrence of harm (as defined in the 2015 Act) the board of management/management authority-

• • Has provided each member of staff with a copy of the school/boarding facility’s Child Safeguarding Statement
  • Ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of the school/boarding facility’s Child Safeguarding Statement
  • Encourages staff to avail of relevant training
  • Encourages board of management/management authority members to avail of relevant training
  • The board of management/management authority maintains records of all staff and board member training

• In relation to reporting of child protection concerns to Tusla, all school/boarding facility personnel are required to adhere to the procedures set out in the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023) and the Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures for Boarding Facilities associated with Recognised Schools 2023 including, in the case of registered teachers and any boarding facility staff who are mandated persons, those in relation to mandated reporting under the Children First Act 2015.

• There is a procedure in place for maintaining a list of mandated persons. All registered teachers employed by the school/management authority are mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015.

(A boarding authority may have mandated persons other than teachers employed in the facility e.g. pastoral care worker, registered nurse, member of the clergy or others who could be listed in this paragraph. Please refer to Schedule 2 of the Children First Act 2015. This link may be helpful: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/mandated-persons/am-i-a-mandated-person/ and this bracketed section should be deleted when this paragraph has been completed)

• In accordance with the Children First Act 2015 and the Addendum to Children First (2019), the board/management authority has carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while attending the school/boarding facility or participating in school/boarding facility activities. A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and the school/boarding facility’s procedures for managing those risks is included with the Child Safeguarding Statement

• The various procedures referred to in this Statement can be accessed via the school/boarding facility’s website, gov.ie or will be made available on request by the school/boarding facility.

Note: The above is not intended as an exhaustive list. Individual boards of management/management authorities shall also include in this section such other procedures/measures that are of relevance to the school/boarding facility in question.

• This statement has been published on the school/boarding facility’s website and has been provided to all members of school/boarding facility personnel, the Parents’ Association (if any) and the patron. It is readily accessible to parents and guardians on request. A copy of this Statement will be made available to Tusla and the Department if requested.

• This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed annually or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which this statement refers.

This Child Safeguarding Statement was adopted by the board of management on 07/02/2018.

This Child Safeguarding Statement was reviewed by the board of management/management authority on 20/09/2023.

For information in respect of how the child safeguarding statement was developed or to request a copy of the statement, please contact the relevant person noted at the beginning of this child safeguarding statement

Phone:____040232564_____________________________ or email: admin@arklowcbs.ie

Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment

Written Assessment of Risk of Arklow C.B.S.

In accordance with section 11 of the Children First Act 2015 and with the requirements of Chapter 8 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023) and the Child Protection and Safeguarding Procedures for Boarding Facilities associated with Recognised Schools 2023, the following is the Written Risk Assessment of Arklow C.B.S.

1. List of school activities

1.1 List of boarding facility activities

2. The school has identified the following risk of harm in respect of its activities

2.1 The boarding facility has identified the following risk of harm in respect of its activities

3. The school has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment

3.1 The boarding facility has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment