National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children
Link to Briefings on the new Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children
Ms Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs has launched Children First 2011 – National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children.
Children First is a National Guidance that promotes the protection of children from abuse and neglect. It states what organisations need to do to keep children safe, and what different bodies, and the general public should do if they are concerned about a child’s safety and welfare. The Guidance sets out specific protocols for HSE social workers, Gardaí and other front line staff in dealing with suspected abuse and neglect.
Link to National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children
Link to Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook
Link to Our Duty to Care: The Principles of Good Practice for the Protection of Children and Young People
Click here to link with DCYA website for more information on the National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children.
Child Protection Poster
Child Protection is a topic central to all childcare services. Clear, concise Information and knowledge are crucial to creating an environment where childcare providers feel confident in acting on child protection concerns. With this in mind, Galway City & County Childcare Committee has launched the "Concern, Contact, Consult" child protection poster. This poster, a collaboration between HSE and the Childcare Committee, highlights the 3Cs "Concern, Contact and Consult" and is a simple, step by step guide for childcare providers to deal effectively with child protection issues.
Following on from the ongoing Keeping Safe Child Protection training being carried out by HSE and Galway City & County Childcare Committee, the poster contains spaces in which the names and contact details of designated persons may be written along with another section for the details of the local HSE Duty Social Workers and Gardaí. The "Concern, Contact and Consult" poster includes tick boxes for each service to confirm that they have a child protection policy, Garda Vetting for staff and codes of behaviour in place. All childcare services in Galway will receive a poster to be displayed in their service. The poster will serve as a step-by-step guide for staff and will also make parents aware of the service's child protection policies and procedures. Click here to download "Concern, Contact, Consult" Child Protection Poster.
Link to HSE Galway Child Protection Social Work Services, Galway - contact details for Duty Social Workers
Information Leaflet: Keeping Children Safe
Galway City & County Childcare Committee offers Keeping Safe Child Protection training to childcare providers on a regular basis. Check out the in-service training calendar for information and dates, call 091 752039 or email: mail@galwaychildcare.com
Garda Vetting
According to the Child Care (Pre-school Services) Regulations 2006, all childcare providers and childminders notified to the HSE must ensure appropriate vetting for all their staff, students and volunteers. Click here to view HSE document: "Questions & Answers on Garda Vetting and References".
Contact details of organisations that carry out Garda Vetting for childcare providers:
Members of Early Childhood Ireland should contact the organisation with regard to Garda Vetting at:
Hainault House, Belgard Square, Tallaght, Dublin 24
Phone: (01) 4040659
Website: www.earlychildhoodireland.ie
Providers who are not members of Early Childhood Ireland should contact:
Barnardos Vetting Service,
The Bowling Green,
White Street,
Cork.
Phone: 021 4547060 Email: vetting@barnardos.ie
Website: http://www.barnardos.ie
Childminders
It is recommended that childminders and any person over the age of 18 years in the childminder’s home be vetted. Childminders notified to the HSE are required to be vetted under the Child Care (Pre-school Services) Regulations 2006. Childminders should apply for Garda Vetting through Barnardos (phone 021 4547060 or email vetting@barnardos.ie).
