1. Youth Arts Certificate
Presentation:
Child Protection
8th of December 2014
Olive Ring
Child Protection Programme
NYCI

2. Child Protection Programme NYCI
Support
Advocacy
Garda Vetting
Training

3. Designated Person Training Child Protection Awareness Programme
Training Programmes
Certificate
Board of Management
Websafety Training
Designated Person Training
Training for Trainers
Child Protection Awareness Programme

4. Presentation Overview of Child Protection Responsibilities
Safe Recruitment Practice
Good Practice / Codes of Behaviour
Scenario’s

5. Legislation and Guidelines
Child Care Act 1991
Protection for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998
Education Welfare Act 2000
National Vetting Bureau Act 2012 – not yet commenced
Withholding of Information 2012
Children First Bill 2014 – Pending

6. Legislation and Guidelines
Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2011
‘Our Duty to Care’ – Department of Health and Children, 2002
Code of Good Practice – Child Protection for the Youth Work Sector

7. Definition of ‘child’
In Ireland the Child Care Act 1991 defines a child as:
any person under the age of 18 years, excluding a person who is or who has been married.

8. Best Practice in Child Protection
In our work with children/young people we should
always be guided by the principle of paramountancy
which requires that:
the welfare of the child should be the paramount consideration
(Children First; Principles for Best Practice
in Child Protection; 1.9)

9. Organisational Responsibilities
Child Safeguarding Statement/Policy
Safe recruitment process
Training
Reporting procedure and appointment of Designated Liaison Person
Procedures for dealing with allegations
Code of Behaviour
Anything else relevant to the organisation

10. Recruitment Pathway

11. Garda Vetting
Those involved in ‘any work or activity which is carried out by a person , a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of the person having access to, or contact with children in’ –
Exempts persons who assist occasionally and on a voluntary basis in certain activities.
Create offer a service to arts practitioners

12. Confidentiality Confidentiality is about managing sensitive
information that arises in a trusting relationship
and doing so in a manner that is respectful,
professional and purposeful.
Youth Work is based upon trusting relationships
and it is not uncommon for members to want to
share personal information with volunteers or
employees.
All information regarding concern or assessment
of child abuse should be shared only on a ‘need to
know’ basis.

13. Key elements of a code of behaviour
Supervision/ratio’s
Relationships and boundaries
Language
Behaviour
Bullying

14. Key elements of a code of behaviour continued
One to one/outreach/detached youth work
Technology
Images/photography
Physical contact;
Consideration for working with children with special needs or who are vulnerable

15. Guidelines around images
Photographs and visual images are regarded as personal data under the Data protection Acts
Must be obtained fairly, accurate, kept up to date and should be kept and used only for one or more specified lawful purposes
Children’s and parents consent should be sought in relation to use of images

16. Reporting Procedures

17. Resources Children First, National Guidance 2011 Code of Good Practice
Guidelines for the protection and welfare of children and young people in the arts sector
Guidelines for taking and using images of children and young people in the arts sector
Solo Practitioner code of practice for working with children and young people

18. Thank You
Olive Ring National Child Protection Manager Child Protection Programme National Youth Council of Ireland ie