1. Child Protection

2. Legislative Basis Child Care Act 1991 Domestic Violence Act 1996
Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997
Freedom of Information Act 1997
Data Protection Act 1988
U.N. Convention ratified 1992
Childrens Act 2001
Protection for Persons reporting Child Abuse –Act 1998

3. Child Care Act 1991
Places Statutory duty on Health Authority to promote the welfare of children
Strengthens the power of the Health Authority to provise child care and familty support services
Facilitates the immediate intervention of the Health Authority and Gardai where children are in danger
Enables court to place children under supervision or in care
Supervision and inspection of pre-school services
Registration and inspection of residential services

4. Domestic Violence Act 1996 Safety Order-Barring Order Section 6-
Empowers Health Authority to seek orders
Consultation required but not consent
Section 7-
Court may direct HA to carry out investigation with a view to protection the welfare of a dependent person

5. Freedom of Information Act 1997
Right of access to records and personal info
Right to make personal corrections
Right to know criteria used to make decisions
Right of Appeal
Records include- all paper and computer records ie diaries, post-it notes; discs, savers, databases, sudio visual, tapes, photographs etc.

6. Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998
Provides protection for anyone making a report of abuse’reasonably and in good faith’ to a designated officer
From civil liability and penalization by employers
From prosecution for false reporting

7. Childrens Act 2001 Raises criminal age from 7 to 12 years
Special Care Order –residential
Community based sanctions –curfews, mentors, restrictions
Implications for parents
-to attend court
-fines
-parenting programmes
Family conferences

8. Confidentiality and Exchange of Information
Giving information to others for the protection of children is not a breach of confidentiality
Information regarding concerns or assessments are only hsred on ‘a need to know’ basis
No undertakings of secrecy can be given

9. Dealing with Disclosure Do!
Stay calm
Listen
Believe
Reassure
Record
Discuss
Report

10. Dealing with Disclosure Don’t!
Panic
Promise to keep secrets
Ask leading questions
Make child repeat story unnecessarily
Delay
Start to investigate

11. Assessment/investigation process
Phase one
Referral to Health Authority Social Worker
Phase Two
Notification to Child Care Manager
Phase Three
Further evaluation of risk
Negotiation of child protection plan
Allocation of tasks/treatment and other interventions

12. How to protect yourself (1)
Document
Keep records accurate
Stick to the facts
Be clear on procedures
Be clear of role
Seek supervision and advice

13. How to protect yourself (2)
Make time for regular team meetings
Be trained-keep up to date
Maintain good working relationships with colleagues
Recognise stress-in yourself and others
Take time off
Seek support

14. Principles for Best Practice(1)
Welfare of children comes first
Parents/carers have right to respect and consultation
Children have right to be heard and taken seriously
Children should be involved and consulted-in line with age and understanding

15. Principles for Best Practice(2)
Children should only be separated from families as a last resort
Re-union should always be seen as a possibility
There must be a multi-disciplinary approach
All agencies must co-operate in the best interests of the child