Holy
Family National School, Rathmore, Co. Kerry.
Template 2:
Child Safeguarding Statement
Holy Family Natiional School is a primary school providing
primary education to pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.
In accordance with the requirements of the Children First
Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of
Children 2017, the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary
Schools 2017 and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding
Statements, the Board of Management of Holy Family National School has agreed
the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in this document.
1
The Board of Management has adopted and
will implement fully and without modification the Department’s Child Protection
Procedures for primary and post-primary Schools 2017
as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement.
2
The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is:
Diarmuid McCarthy
3
The Deputy Designated Liaison Person
(Deputy DLP is Paudie Dineen
4
The Board of Management recognises that
child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of school life
and must be reflected in all of the school’s policies, procedures, practices
and activities. The school will adhere to the following principles of best
practice in child protection and welfare.
The school will:
a.
recognise that the protection and
welfare of children is of paramount importance, regardless of all other
considerations
b.
fully comply with its statutory
obligations under the Children First Act 2015 and other relevant legislation
relating to the protection and welfare of children
c.
fully co-operate with the relevant
statutory authorities in relation to child protection and welfare matters
d.
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
e.
develop a practice of openness with
parents and encourage parental involvement in the education of their children;
and
f.
fully respect confidentiality
requirements in dealing with child protection matters
The school will also adhere to the
above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability.
5
The following procedures/measures are
in place:
a.
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, the
school adheres to the relevant procedures set out in Chapter 7 of the Child
Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 and to the
relevant agreed disciplinary procedures for school staff which are published on
the DES website
In relation to the selection or recruitment of staff
and their suitability to work with children, the school 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 DES and available on the DES website
b.
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 school:
i. Has
provided each member of staff with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding
Statement
ii. Ensures
all new staff are provided with a copy
of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement
iii. Encourages
staff to avail of relevant training
iv. Encourages
Board of Management members to avail of relevant training
v. The
Board of Management maintains records of all staff and Board member training.
c.
In relation to reporting of child
protection concerns to Tusla, all school personnel are required to adhere to
the procedures set out in the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and
Post-Primary Schools 2017, including in the case of registered teachers, those
in relation to mandated reporting under the Children First Act 2015
d.
In this school, the Board has appointed
the above named DLP as the ‘relevant person’ (as defined in the Children First
Act 2015) to be the first point of contact in respect of the school’s child
safeguarding statement.
6 All registered teachers employed by the
school are mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015
7 In accordance with the Children First
Act 2015, the Board has carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to
a child while attending the school or participating in school activities. A
written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and the school’s
procedures for managing those risks is attached as an appendix to these
procedures
8 The various procedures referred to in
this Statement can be accessed via the school’s website, the DES website or
will be made available on request by the school
Note: The above is not intended as an exhaustive
list. Individual Boards of Management shall also include in this section such
other procedures/measures that are of relevance to the school in question
9 This statement has been published on
the school’s website and has been provided to all members of school personnel,
the Parents’ Association 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.
10 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 Friday
Athbhreithnithe 09/01/2017
