Child Protection Policy

CHILD SAFE-GUARDING STATEMENT

BURREN SONAS KINDERGARTEN,
KILFENORA, COUNTY CLARE

September 2019

Introduction
This Child-Safeguarding Statement is offered in compliance with the Children First Act, 2015, and Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children, 2017.
Burren Sonas Kindergarten welcomes this opportunity to set out its commitment to providing a safe and nurturing place for young children. The Statement follows the template recommended by the Early Years Child Protection Programme (2018). We would like to thank the staff at the Clare County Childcare Committee for their support in developing this Statement.

1. NAME OF SERVICE AND ACTIVITIES PROVIDED

Burren Sonas Kindergarten is a registered Community Pre-school providing a Sessional Serivce for children aged from two and a half to six years. It is open from Monday to Friday during term time, and occasional Summer/ Easter Camps are also offered.
The Kindergarten operates from premises in the middle of the village of Kilfenora, County Clare.
The Kindergarten is overseen by a Board of Management. Two staff members are presently employed by the Board: a Manager (full-time) and a Child Care Worker (part-time). Volunteers, mostly parents, participate in the daily activities of the Kindergarten and as members of the Board.

2. COMMITMENT TO SAFEGUARD CHILDREN FROM HARM

Burren Sonas Kindergarten is committed to safeguarding the children in our care and to providing a safe environment in which they can learn, play and develop.
Our service believes the welfare of the children attending our service is paramount. We are committed to child-centred practice in all our work with children.
We are committed to upholding the rights of every child and young person who attends our service, including the rights to be kept safe and protected from harm, listened to and heard.
Our policies and procedures to safeguard children and young people reflect national policy and legislation and are underpinned by Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, DCYA, 2017, Child Safeguarding: A guide for Policy, Practice and Procedure, Tusla, 2018, and the Children First Act, 2015.
Our policy declaration applies to all paid staff, volunteers, board members and students of work placement within our organisation. All board members, staff, volunteers and students must sign up to and abide by the policy, procedures and guidance encompassed by this policy declaration and our child safeguarding policy and accompanying procedures.
We will review our child safeguarding statement and accompanying child safety policy and procedures every two years or sooner if necessary due to service issues or changes in legislation or national policy.
Our Designated Liaison Person (DLP) for Child Protection and her deputy are:

DESIGNATED LIAISON PERSON (DLP)

DEPUTY DLP

DEIRDRE RIFFEL

Manager, Burren Sonas Kindergarten,
Main Street, Kilfenora, Co Clare

Phone 087 713 1590

 

Breda Headd

Child Care Worker, Burren Sonas Kindergarten, Main Street, Kilfenora, Co Clare

Phone 087 713 1590

3. RISK ASSESSMENT

In accordance with the Children First Act, 2015, the Board of Management and staff members have carried out an assessment of any potential harm to a child while attending the service or participating in service activities. A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and the service procedures for managing those risks is summarised below.

RISK IDENTIFIED
Policy and/ or Procedure in place to manage Risk
Recruitment of Board of Management, Staff and Volunteers
Procedure for Safe Recruitment of Board Members, Staff and Volunteers
Induction for Board of Management, Staff and Volunteers
Procedure for Induction of Board Members, Staff and Volunteers into Child Safeguarding training, procedures and information relevant to Burren Sonas
Outings on Foot or by Car with Children Outings Procedure

Visitors to the service while children are present Visitors Procedure

4. CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

As required by the Children First Act, 2015, and the Children First National Guidance for Protection and Welfare of Children, 2017, the following package of measures are in place at Burren Sonas Kindergarten:
(i) Key roles in Child Safeguarding
• Appointment of Designated Liaison Person (DLP) and Deputy DLP
• Maintenance of list of Mandated Persons
• Appointment of Relevant Person
(ii) Child Protection and Welfare Reporting Procedures
(iii) Confidentiality Policy regarding Child Abuse and Neglect
(iv) Statement on Management of Child Protection Records
(v) Policy for Dealing with Allegations of Abuse or Neglect Against Board Members, Staff members and Volunteers
(vi) Safe Recruitment Policy
(vii) Garda Vetting Policy
(viii) Procedure for Induction of Board Members, Staff and Volunteers into Child Safeguarding training, procedures and information
(ix) Safe Outings Procedure
(x) Safe Visitors Procedure
(xi) Code of Behavior for Working with Children
(xii) Staff Support and Supervision Policy
(xiii) Complaints Procedure
(xiv) Procedure for Managing Accidents and Incidents
(xv) Social Media Management Policy

5. IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW

We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Burren Sonas Kindergarten is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the accompanying child safeguarding policies and procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our service.
This Statement will be reviewed every two years or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the Statement refers.
This Statement has been published on the service website and is displayed in the service. It has been provided to all Board members, staff, volunteers and any other persons involved with the service. It is readily accessible to parents or guardians on request. A copy of this Statement will be made available to Tusla if requested.

Signed: __________Martin Harold_________________________________
MARTIN HAROLD, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT,
BURREN SONAS KINDERGARTEN, KILFENORA, COUNTY CLARE.

Date: _____01.09.2018______________________________________________

For further information of this Statement, please contact Relevant Person: Susie McNaughton (Board Member) : 0867354461 / susmcnaughton@yahoo.ie