Polasaí um Chosaint Leanaí/ Child Protection Policy

Ráiteas Tosaigh/ Introductory Statement

Tá an polasaí seo forbartha agus comhaontaithe ag foireann agus Coiste Bainistíochta Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach i gcomhréir le ceanglais an Achta um Thús Áite do Leanaí 2015, Tús Áite do Leanaí: Treoir Náisiúnta do Chosaint agus Leas Leanaí 2017, Aguisín do Thús Áite do Leanaí (2017), Nósanna Imeachta um Chosaint Leanaí do Bhunscoileanna agus Iar-bhunscoileanna (athbhreithnithe 2023) agus Treoir Tusla maidir le Ráitis um Chosaint Leanaí a ullmhú.

The staff and Management Committee of Drumcondra Education Support Centre have developed and agreed this policy 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 (2017), the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023) and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements.

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Chun críocha an pholasaí seo is éard is “leanbh” ann ná aon duine faoi bhun 18 mbliana d’aois nach bhfuil pósta/nár pósadh (mar atá sainmhínithe i dTús Áite do Leanaí). Cuirfear cóip aonair den doiciméad polasaí seo ar fáil don fhoireann agus do chomhaltaí uile an Choiste Bainistíochta. Tá sé de dhualgas ar gach ball foirne eolas a chur ar an doiciméad seo.

For the purposes of this policy a “child” is any person under the age of 18 years who is not/has not been married (as defined in Children First). An individual copy of this policy document will be made available to all staff and members of Management Committee. It is incumbent on all staff to familiarise themselves with this document.

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Cineál Seirbhíse agus Prionsabal chun Leanaí a Chosaint ó Dhíobháil

Is comhlacht neamhthráchtála é Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach faoi choimirce na Roinne Oideachais. Tá sé ar cheann de 21 Ionad Oideachais lánaimseartha a fheidhmíonn go náisiúnta chun cláir thacaíochtaí forbartha gairmiúla leanúnaí (FGL) a sholáthar do mhúinteoirí agus do scoileanna i gceantar Chathair agus Chontae Bhaile Átha Cliath Thuaidh. Sainmhíníonn an tAcht Oideachais (1998) Ionaid Oideachais mar “áit ina gcuirtear seirbhísí ar fáil do scoileanna, múinteoirí, tuismitheoirí, boird agus daoine ábhartha eile a thacaíonn leo a gcuid feidhmeanna a chomhlíonadh maidir le soláthar oideachais atá aitheanta chun na críche sin ag an Aire”.

 

 

Nature of Service and Principles to Safeguard Children from Harm

Drumcondra Education Support Centre is a non-commercial body under the aegis of the Department of Education. It is one of 21 full-time Education Centres which operates nationally to provide programmes of continuing professional development (CPD) supports for teachers and schools in the North Dublin City and County area. The Education Act (1998) defines Education Centres as “a place in which services are provided for schools, teachers, parents, boards and other relevant persons which support them in carrying out their functions in respect of the provision of education which is recognised for that purpose by the Minister”.

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Tá bunús dlí ag Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach faoi Alt 37 den Acht Oideachais (1998). Toghtar an Coiste Bainistíochta go bliantúil, agus tá sé freagrach as rialachas agus as maoirseacht a dhéanamh ar ghníomhaíochtaí an Ionaid. Déanann Stiúrthóir an Ionaid bainistíocht ar an Ionad ar bhonn laethúil.

Drumcondra Education Support Centre has its legal basis under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998).  The Management Committee are elected annually, and is responsible for the governance and oversight of the Centre’s activities. The Director of the Centre manages the Centre on a daily basis.

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Tá sé mar aidhm ag an bpolasaí seo an méid a leanas a dhéanamh:

  • Timpeallacht shábháilte a chruthú d’úsáideoirí ar fad ár nIonaid agus do na rannpháirtithe in aon ghníomhaíochtaí eagraithe ag an Ionad;
  • Feasacht agus freagracht i réimse na cosanta leanaí a fhorbairt i measc fhoireann agus Choiste Bainistíochta an Ionaid;
  • Nósanna imeachta maidir le dea-chleachtas a chur i bhfeidhm chun gach leanbh (atá rannpháirteach i ngníomhaíochtaí a bhaineann leis an Ionad) agus an fhoireann a chosaint;
  • A chinntiú go bhfuil gach ball foirne ar an eolas faoi Thús Áite do Leanaí agus faoi na treoirlínte agus na nósanna imeachta i dtaca le himní agus/ nó nochtadh drochúsáide leanaí a thuairisciú;
  • Soláthar a dhéanamh d’oiliúint leanúnach sa réimse seo agus réimsí gaolmhara don fhoireann ar fad.

This policy aims to:

  • Create a safe environment for all users of our Centre and for the participants in any activities organised by the Centre;
  • Develop an awareness and responsibility in the area of child protection amongst the staff and Management Committee of the Centre;
  • Put in place procedures for good practice to protect all children (engaged in Centre related activities) and staff;
  • Ensure that all staff are aware of Children First and the guidelines and procedures in relation to reporting concerns and /or disclosures of child abuse;
  • Provide for ongoing training in this and related areas for all staff.

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Déanfaidh an tIonad an méid a leanas:

  • a aithint go bhfuil cosaint agus leas leanaí thar a bheith tábhachtach, beag beann ar gach breithniú eile;
  • cloí go hiomlán lena oibleagáidí reachtúla faoin Acht um Thús Áite do Leanaí 2015 agus reachtaíocht ábhartha eile a bhaineann le cosaint agus leas leanaí;
  • comhoibriú go hiomlán leis na húdaráis reachtúla ábhartha maidir le cúrsaí cosanta agus leasa leanaí;
  • cleachtais shábháilte a ghlacadh chun an fhéidearthacht go dtarlódh díobháil nó timpistí do leanaí a laghdú agus chun oibrithe a chosaint ón ngá atá le rioscaí nach bhfuil gá leo a ghlacadh a d’fhéadfadh iad féin a fhágáil oscailte do líomhaintí mí-úsáide nó faillí;
  • meas iomlán a bheith aige ar riachtanais rúndachta agus é ag déileáil le cúrsaí cosanta leanaí.

The Centre 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;
  • fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters.

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Cloífidh Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach leis na prionsabail thuas freisin maidir le haon fhoghlaimeoir aosach a bhfuil leochaileacht speisialta acu.

Drumcondra Education Support Centre will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult learner who presents with a special vulnerability.

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Nósanna Imeachta

  1. Ghlac an Coiste Bainistíochta Nósanna Imeachta na Roinne um Chosaint Leanaí do Bhunscoileanna agus d’Iarbhunscoileanna 2017 agus cuirfidh sé i bhfeidhm go hiomlán agus gan athrú iad mar chuid den Ráiteas foriomlán um Chosaint Leanaí seo.
  2. Is í Frances Moss, Stiúrthóir, an Duine Sainordaithe.
  3. Is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an Duine Sainordaithe ag director@ecdrumcondra.ie nó 0873358550.
  4. Aithníonn an Coiste Bainistíochta go bhfuil cosaint agus leas leanaí mar thosaíocht. Cé go n-aithníonn muid gur múinteoirí agus foghlaimeoirí aosacha eile iad na cuairteoirí chuig ár nIonad, aithníonn muid freisin go mbíonn linbh ag tabhairt cuairte ar an Ionad lena dtuismitheoirí nó lena múinteoirí i ngníomhaíochtaí áirithe de chuid an Ionaid (bronnadh duaiseanna Reading Recovery srl.) agus ag glacadh páirte sna gníomhaíochtaí Ionaid sin. Cloífidh an Coiste Bainistíochta leis na prionsabail dea-chleachtais seo a leanas maidir le cosaint agus leas leanaí:
  5. Tá na nósanna imeachta/ bearta seo a leanas i bhfeidhm:

Maidir le haon bhall foirne atá ina ábhar d’aon imscrúdú (cibé a gcuirtear síos air) i dtaca le haon ghníomh, neamhghníomh nó imthosca i leith linbh atá ag freastal ar an Ionad, cloíonn Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach leis na nósanna imeachta ábhartha atá leagtha amach i gCaibidil 7 de Nósanna Imeachta um Chosaint Leanaí do Bhunscoileanna agus d’Iar-Bhunscoileanna 2017 agus leis na nósanna imeachta araíonachta comhaontaithe ábhartha d’fhoireann na scoile atá foilsithe ar shuíomh gréasáin na Roinne Oideachais (RO).

  1. Maidir le roghnú nó earcú foirne agus a n-oiriúnacht le bheith ag obair san Ionad, cloíonn Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach le ceanglais ghrinnfhiosrúcháin reachtúla na nAchtanna um an mBiúró Náisiúnta Grinnfhiosrúcháin (Leanaí agus Daoine Soghonta) 2012 go 2016, agus leis an treoir níos leithne maidir le dualgas cúraim atá leagtha amach i gciorcláin ábhartha ghrinnfhiosrúcháin agus earcaíochta an Gharda Síochána a d’fhoilsigh an RO agus atá ar fáil ar shuíomh gréasáin na RO.
  2. Maidir le faisnéis, agus nuair is gá, treoir agus oiliúint, a sholáthar don fhoireann maidir le sainaithint ar tharla an dochair (mar atá sainmhínithe san Acht 2015):
  • Chuir Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach cóip de Ráiteas um Chosaint Leanaí Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach ar fáil do gach ball foirne;
  • Cinntíonn Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach go gcuirtear cóip de Ráiteas um Chosaint Leanaí Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach ar fáil do gach ball foirne nua;
  • Spreagann Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach an fhoireann chun leas a bhaint as oiliúint ábhartha.
  • Coinníonn an Coiste Bainistíochta taifid ar oiliúint na foirne agus na mball coiste.

 

 

 

  1. Maidir le tuairisciú imní faoi chosaint leanaí do Tusla, caithfidh an fhoireann ar fad cloí leis na nósanna imeachta atá leagtha amach sna Nósanna Imeachta um Chosaint Leanaí do Bhunscoileanna agus d’Iarbhunscoileanna (athbhreithnithe 2023), agus iad siúd a bhaineann le tuairisciú sainordaithe faoin Acht um Thús Áite do Leanaí 2015.
  2. San Ionad seo, tá an Teagmhálaí Ainmnithe (TA) thuasluaite ceaptha ag an gCoiste Bainistíochta mar an “duine iomchuí” (mar atá sainmhínithe san Acht um Thús Áite do Leanaí 2015) le bheith mar an gcéad phointe teagmhála i dtaca leis an ráiteas um chosaint leanaí.
  3. Is daoine sainordaithe iad gach múinteoir cláraithe a oibríonn mar theagascóirí san Ionad, nó in ionaid lasmuigh nó i láithreacha, atá fostaithe ag Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach faoin Acht um Thús Áite do Leanaí 2015.
  4. De réir an Achta um Thús Áite do Leanaí 2015, tá measúnú déanta ag an gCoiste Bainistíochta ar aon fhéidearthacht díobháil a dhéanamh do leanbh agus é/ í ag freastal ar an ionad nó ag glacadh páirte i ngníomhaíochtaí an Ionaid. Tá measúnú scríofa, ina leagtar amach na réimsí riosca a aithníodh agus nósanna imeachta an Ionaid chun na rioscaí sin a bhainistiú, ceangailte mar aguisín leis an ráiteas seo.

 

Procedures

  1. The Management Committee 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 Mandated Person is Frances Moss, Director.
  1. The Mandated Person can be contacted on director@ecdrumcondra.ie or 0873358550
  1. The Management Committee recognises that child protection and welfare considerations are a priority. While acknowledging that the visitors to our Centre are teachers and other adult learners, we recognise that certain activities of the Centre (Reading Recovery prize giving etc) involve children visiting the Centre, with their parents or teachers, and engaging in Centre activities. The Management Committee will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare:
  2. 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 Centre, Drumcondra Education Support Centre 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 Department of Education (DE) website.

  1. In relation to the selection or recruitment of staff and their suitability to work in the Centre, Drumcondra Education Support Centre 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 DE and available on the DE website.
  2. 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) Drumcondra Education Support Centre
  • Has provided each member of staff with a copy of Drumcondra Education Support Centre Child Safeguarding Statement
  • Ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of Drumcondra Education Support Centre Child Safeguarding Statement
  • Encourages staff to avail of relevant training
  • The Management Committee maintains records of all staff and committee member training
  1. In relation to reporting of child protection concerns to Tusla, all staff are required to adhere to the procedures set out in the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools (revised 2023), and those in relation to mandated reporting under the Children First Act 2015.
  2. In this Centre, the Management Committee 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 child safeguarding statement.
  3. All registered teachers who work as tutors in the Centre, or in outside centres or venues, employed by Drumcondra Education Support Centre are mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015.
  4. In accordance with the Children First Act 2015, the Management Committee has carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while attending the centre or participating in Centre activities. A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and the Centre’s procedures for managing those risks is attached as an appendix to this statement.

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Tá an ráiteas seo foilsithe ar shuíomh gréasáin Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach agus cuireadh ar fáil do gach ball foirne é. Is féidir le tuismitheoirí agus caomhnóirí leanaí ar cuairt teacht air go héasca ach é a iarraidh. Cuirfear cóip den Ráiteas seo ar fáil do Tusla agus don Roinn Oideachais má iarrtar é.

Déanfar athbhreithniú bliantúil ar an Ráiteas um Chosaint Leanaí seo nó chomh luath agus is féidir nuair a thagann athrú ábhartha ar ábhar ar bith dá dtagraíonn an ráiteas seo.

Ghlac an Coiste Bainistíochta an Ráiteas um Chosaint Leanaí seo ar an 12 Márta 2025.

This statement is published on the Drumcondra Education Support Centre’s website and has been provided to all members of staff. It is readily accessible to parents and guardians of visiting children on request. A copy of this Statement will be made available to Tusla and the Department of Education 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 Management Committee on 12 March 2025

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Sínithe/ Signed: Frances Moss

Stiúrthóir Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach/ Director of Drumcondra Education Support Centre

Sínithe/ Signed: Mary Friel

Cathaoirleach Ionad Tacaíochta Oideachais Dhroim Conrach/ Chairperson of Drumcondra Education Support Centre