Non-commercial bodies under the aegis of the Department of Education

Child Safeguarding Statement

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”

Drumcondra Education Support Centre has its legal basis under Section 37 of the Education Act (1998).  The Management Committee is 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.

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 (2019),  the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools (revised 2023) and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, Drumcondra Education Support Centre has agreed the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in this document.

 

  • The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Frances Moss, Director

director@ecdrumcondra.ie  0873358550 

                      

  • The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Bridget Quigley

BridgetQ@ecdrumcondra.ie   0863212093

 

(The designated liaison person (DLP) is responsible for ensuring that reporting procedures within your organisation are followed, so that child welfare and protection concerns are referred promptly to Tusla.) https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/organisations/appointing-a-designated-liaison-person/

 

  • The Relevant Person is Frances Moss, Director

director@ecdrumcondra.ie  0873358550

(Children First Act 2015: “relevant person” means a person who is appointed by a provider of a relevant service to be the first point of contact in respect of the provider’s child safeguarding statement.)

 

  • In its policies, procedures, practices and activities, Drumcondra Education Support Centre will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and safeguarding:

 

Drumcondra Education Support 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 executive staff and members of the Centre and those contracted on behalf of Drumcondra Education Support centre 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.
  • commit to upholding the rights of every child and young person who participates in activities involving Drumcondra Education Support Centre executive staff and members of the Centre and those contracted on behalf of the Drumcondra Education Support Centre, including the right to be kept safe and protected from harm, listened to and heard.
  • Drumcondra Education Support centre is committed to providing staff and members of the Centre with training in accordance with their needs, responsibilities and the purpose of their interaction with children and young people.
  • Drumcondra Education Support Centre will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult student with a special vulnerability.

The following procedures/measures are in place:

  • Appropriate reporting procedures are in place to reflect the Act’s reporting requirements to meet best practice reporting obligations for all persons set out under the updated the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools (revised 2023)
  • In relation to the selection or recruitment of staff and members of the Centre and their suitability to work with children, Drumcondra Education Support Centre adheres to the statutory vetting requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016.

 

  • In relation to the provision of information and, where necessary, instruction and training, to centre staff and members of the management committee in respect of the identification of the occurrence of harm (as defined in the 2015 Act) Drumcondra Education Support centre:

 

  • Has provided centre staff and members of the management committee with a copy of the Child Safeguarding Statement
  • Ensures all new centre staff and members of the Management Committee are provided with a copy of the Child Safeguarding Statement
  • Encourages centre staff and members of the Management Committee to avail of relevant training.
  • Maintains records of all training provided for centre staff and members of the Management Committee.

 

  • In relation to reporting of child protection concerns, all Centre staff and members of the Management Committee are required to adhere to their procedures for Reporting Child Protection Concerns which come to the attention of Centre staff and members of the Management Committee of Drumcondra Education Support Centre.
  • Drumcondra Education Support Centre has appointed the above named “relevant person” (as defined in 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 and the Addendum to Children First (2019),

Drumcondra Education Support centre has carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child or young person who participates in activities involving Drumcondra Education centre staff and members of the Management Committee and those contracted on behalf of Drumcondra Education Support Centre.

 

A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and the procedures for managing those risks is included with this Child Safeguarding Statement.

 

Note:  The above is not intended as an exhaustive list.

  • This statement has been published on our website and has been provided to all Centre staff and members of the Management Committee.

 

It is readily accessible on request.

A copy of this Statement will be made available to Tusla’s Child Safeguarding Statement Compliance Unit (CSSCU) if requested.

 

  • This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed at intervals of not more than 24 months or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

 

Risk Assessment

Written Assessment of Risk of Drumcondra Education Support Centre

In accordance with section 11 of the Children First Act 2015 the following is the Written Risk Assessment of Drumcondra Education Support Centre.

 

  1. List of Drumcondra Education Support Centre’s activities

 

Drumcondra Education Support Centre (DESC) provide both National and local CPD for the Education Community in our area. DESC provides room rental for external groups and also runs a number of projects and programmes. The following list outlines activities where children might engage with the Centre:

 

  • Show Case Events held in the Centre involving pupils from Primary and/or Post Primary Schools: e.g. The Teacher Artist Partnership Project, Scriobh Leabhar, Student Voice, Concern Debates, School Excellence Awards, Creative Clusters & BLAST Programme.
  • Show case Events held in a public venue but organised by DESC: Write A Book Project; STEM activities & Debates.
  • Programmes rolled out through the Centre where personnel are employed by us to visit schools: e.g. HSA Choose Safety Programme, Active School Flag Programme & TL 21 Programme, Creative Clusters, TAP, BLAST etc.
  • Projects directly involving children where the children visit the Centre.
  • CPD Courses for teachers which may involve demonstration activities which include Children e.g. Maths teaching, Use of ICT, TAP and STEM Activities.

 

 

  1. Drumcondra Education Support Centre has identified the following risk of harm in respect of its activities

 

  • Risk of harm not being recognised by the centre staff and members of the management committee.
  • Risk of harm not being reported properly and promptly by the centre staff and members of the management committee.
  • Risk of child or young person being harmed when using toilet facilities in the centre or external venues unsupervised by an adult who they encounter.
  • Risk of harm to a child or young person who is unsupervised in the Centre / external venues by an adult who they encounter.
  • Risk of harm due to inappropriate use of online remote teaching and learning communication platform such as an uninvited person accessing the course/event link.
  • Risk of harm due to bullying
  • Risk of harm due to racism
  • Risk of harm due to inadequate supervision of children or young people
  • Risk of harm due to inappropriate relationship/communications between child or young person and another adult
  • Risk of harm due to children or young people inappropriately accessing/using computers, social media, phones and other devices while with staff and members of the management committee
  • Risk of harm to children or young people with SEN who have particular vulnerabilities, including medical vulnerabilities
  • Risk of harm in one-to-one situation
  • Risk of harm caused by staff and members of the management committee communicating with children or young people in an inappropriate manner via social media, texting, digital device or other manner
  • Risk of harm caused by member of the centre’s staff and members of the management committee accessing/circulating inappropriate material via social media, texting, digital device or other manner

3. Drumcondra Education Support Centre has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment

 The Centre has the following procedures in place to address the risks of harm identified in this assessment:

1.      All staff employed in DESC are Evetted and all staff have undertaken the Children First “TUSLA E Learning Programme”. All Management Committee members who are registered teachers are asked to share their Evetting with the Centre. All other members of the Management Committee of DESC are evetted. Safe Recruitment procedures are followed – references checked etc.

2.      All Groups visiting the Centre are made aware of the following:

  • All children (individual or in groups) visiting the Centre or any external event organized by the Centre should be accompanied by a teacher (during school day) or parent/guardian and adequately supervised.
  • Children should not be left unattended at any time during the organized event.
  • If a group of children are visiting the Centre or an external event organized by the Centre the same ratio of adults to children should apply as would apply in the school setting or on any school outing. All groups of children must be accompanied by adults.
  • The adults accompanying the children should be made aware that they are responsible for the safety, supervision and wellbeing of the children. This includes the supervision of safe toileting.
  • The same guidelines apply if any external group (other than a school) is bringing children into the Centre.
  • Centre Staff are not responsible for supervising children visiting the Centre and school/organisations/groups are informed of this.
  • Advance communication between the school and the Centre staff and Director may support schools to prepare any additional supports that may be required by children and young people with SEN or additional vulnerabilities taking part in Centre events.

 

3.      If staff or visitors (tutors / participants / Management Committee members) bring their own children into the Centre they are made aware of the fact that they must supervise them at all times.

 

4.      All visitors to the Centre must sign the visitor’s book.

 

5.      All personnel representing DESC paid / voluntary working in schools and who have direct contact with schools are Evetted. DESC facilitates the evetting of the personnel where the Centre is the direct employer and also ensures compliance with the provision of a Child Protection related Statutory Declaration and associated Form of Undertaking by all persons being appointed to teaching and on-teaching positions.

 

6.      The Centre liaises with all external organisations who provide courses/ projects in the centre involving children to ensure that the personnel are informed of our Safe Guarding Statement and our procedures as outlined above.

 

7.      Students on Work Experience – The Centre may facilitate Transition Year (TY) students on job work experience during the year. Before the commencement of each placement, the school is requested by us to inform us of the name of the DLP in the school.  The Centre will inform the school of its Child Protection Policy and will make a copy of the policy available to them. The Centre will ensure that the student is aware also of the policy and knows who the DLP / Deputy DLP are in the Centre. We will also ensure that the student is made aware of all other policies pertaining to their safety in the Centre, including Health and Safety and Internet Safety.

 

8.      Children and young people will be informed of their right to participate and their right to discontinue participation at any time, and Centre staff and Director will agree, in advance with the school, the procedure to facilitate this.

 

9.      Any personal details gathered as part of consent are stored securely as per the Centre’s Data Protection Policy.

 

10.   The Centre –

i.     Has provided each staff and members of the management committee with a copy of the Child Safeguarding Statement

ii.     Ensures all new staff and members of the management are provided with a copy of the Child Safeguarding Statement.

iii.     Encourages staff and members of the management committee to avail of relevant training.

iv.     Maintains records of all training for staff and members of the management committee.

 

 Important Note:

It should be noted that risk in the context of this risk assessment is the risk of

“harm” as defined in the Children First Act 2015 and not general health and safety risk.  
  • In undertaking this risk assessment, Drumcondra Education Support Centre has endeavoured to identify as far as possible the risks of harm to a child or young person who participates in activities involving Drumcondra Education Support Centre. Staff, members of the Management Committee and those contracted by the Centre will ensure that adequate procedures are in place to manage all risks identified.  While it is not possible to foresee and remove all risk of harm Drumcondra Education Support Centre has in place the procedures listed in this risk assessment to manage and reduce risk to the greatest possible extent.
  • This Child Safeguarding Statement (including a risk assessment) was adopted on  12 March 2025.

Signed:               Mary Friel

Chairperson of the Management Committee

Printed  Name: _______________________

Chairperson of the Management Committee

 

Date:     12 March 2025