Child Safeguarding Statement

TARGET Education and Counselling Service recognise and uphold the dignity and rights of all children and is committed to ensuring their safety and well-being. All staff and volunteers have a responsibility to safeguard children through promoting their welfare, health and development in a safe and caring environment that supports their best interests and prevents abuse.

TARGET provides services to children through its childcare service and supports families through adult education and counselling services. TARGET provides services across the life cycle to families in the Dublin 13 and surrounding areas.

Child Safeguarding Statement

In compliance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Board of Management of TARGET has agreed to the principles and practices set out in this Child Safeguarding Statement.

The Board of Management recognise that child protection and welfare considerations are wide reaching and thus must be reflected in all of the services policies, procedures, practices and activities.

TARGET Education and Counselling Service will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare:

• TARGET recognises that the protection and welfare of children is of paramount importance.
• TARGET will fully comply with its statutory obligations under the Children First Act 2015.
• TARGET will cooperate fully with statutory authorities in relation to child protection and welfare matters.
• TARGET will adopt safe practices to minimise the possibility of harm or accidents to children, service users and protect workers from the necessity to take unnecessary risks that may leave them open to accusations of abuse or neglect.
• TARGET will continue to develop a practice of openness with parents and service users.
• TARGET will fully respect confidentiality requirements when dealing with child protection and sensitive matters.

The following procedures/measures are in place:

• All staff and volunteers will be vetted as per statutory requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 and 2016.
• All vetting will be completed prior to commencement of work in TARGET.

Target will commit to:

• Provide each member of staff with a copy of the Child Safeguarding Statement.
• Ensure all new staff receive a copy of the statement during induction.
• Ensure all staff and volunteers completes the online ‘Introduction to Children First’ and certification is filed.
• Mange allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers within the disciplinary procedure.
• Maintain a list of the employees who are ‘Designated Liaison persons’.

The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Declan Reddy

The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) Louise Nolan

The above DLP has been appointed by the board as the ‘relevant person’, defined by the Children First Act 2015, to be the first point of contact in respect of the Child Safeguarding Statement.

In accordance with the Children First Act 2015, the Board has carried out an assessment of potential harm to a child attending our services. The centre acknowledges that offering its services to the public, a risk may arise, however, this risk is mitigated by the appropriate safety and security measures to minimise and manage this.

This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed annually or as soon as practicable after there has been a change in matters affecting its implementation.

This Child Safeguarding Statement was formally adopted by the Board of Management on: 05/12/2018