Child Safeguarding Statement

1. Service Provided:

Craobh Bheartla Uí Fhlatharta (CBUíF) Comhaltas Ceoltóiri Éireann (CCÉ), Leixlip promotes traditional music, song, dance and the Irish language through classes, sessions, competitions, performances, recitals and concerts. We aim to provide a safe and secure environment where children and adults can participate fully in all of our activities.

Craobh Bheartla Uí Fhlatharta CCÉ accommodates and respects the rights of all children. The Branch recognises that the welfare of children is paramount.

 

2. Principles to safeguard children from harm:

  • CBUíF has adopted the Child Protection Policy as circulated by CCÉ Árd Comhairle.

  • Regular review and appropriate updating of the CBUíF Child Safeguarding Statement taking local provision into consideration.

  • Each branch committee member and teacher/tutor will be issued with a copy of the CCÉ Child Protection Policy, CBUíF Child Safeguarding Statement and CBUíF Safety Statement.

  • Copies of all CBUíF documents will be available at Supervisors desk for inspection by parents.

  • Our branch has an appointed Designated Liaison Person (DLP) for matters in relation to Child Protection and Guidelines and Procedures in respect of Branch Involvement with Children/Young persons and Vulnerable Adults.

  • CBUíF has the responsibility for the appointment of teachers and volunteers for classes and groups.

  • All CCÉ personnel with regular access to children and/or vulnerable adults are requested by the organisation to apply for CCÉ Garda Vetting.

  • All such personnel are asked to submit their notice of confirmed Vetting with their vetting number to CBUíF for any activity that involves regular access to children/ vulnerable adults.

  • If for circumstances the regular adult e.g. volunteer teacher/tutor/ organiser/activity leader is not available at short notice, CBUíF will ensure that any replacement adult working with the children is in the company of a CCÉ vetted adult.

  • Minors - between 16 years and 18 years - can get CCÉ Garda vetted, with consent from their parent/guardian.

  • Parents and guardians of children attending classes and activities are at all times notified of appropriate schedules, locations etc of activities.

  • Parents and guardians are informed of CBUíF policy and practices as related to activities organised for children and pupils e.g. if regular attendance at a class is necessary to ensure consideration for a branch activity.

  • CCÉ officers/mentors are volunteers who need to use the most efficient means of communicating details of activities relevant to their pupils/young members etc. Parents/guardians give consent to their personal details being held by CBUíF’s Data Protection Officer(DPO) in this regard under GDPR guidelines. Information will be used by CBUíF teachers/volunteers to communicate branch activities/classes. CCÉ adults do not knowingly communicate with a pupil/minor using any means of digital or other communication including/social media.

  • Any photographs or audio/visual recordings of any minor taken by a CCÉ officer/member are taken with the consent of the parent/guardian. It should be noted that recordings of artistes, whatever age, are very much part of the intergenerational transmission of Irish traditional music and are understood to be a standard means of transmission in oral art form. Any such recordings will be maintained by the DPO for historic and archive purposes.

  • As applies in any informal / formal instruction/activity regarding young persons it is regarded as part of the parents/guardian’s duty to ensure that the child is accompanied safely to the appointed location where the activity is taking place and into to the temporary care of the designated adult. CBUíF’s Safety Statement clearly outlines procedures for dropping children to and collecting children from classes.

  • A class register/attendance sheet is an important element of Child Protection Policy & implementation. Attendance sheets will be maintained by the branch DPO.

  • Branch teachers and mentors are clear on their role and responsibility in terms of appropriate supervision of children while in their care and the general supervision practices of CBUíF.

  • A Supervision Log Book and Incident Report Book will be maintained.

  • Parents/guardians are informed of the Branch Policy in terms of the use of mobile phones/digital recording devices: In addition, parents/guardians understand that any use of social media by their child including sharing of digital files, relating to any CCÉ activity is not the responsibility of the CBUíF. CBUíF’s Safety Statement clearly defines the purpose of any electronic device in classes.

  • CBUíF has given careful consideration to the logistical lay-out of the building(s) it uses and the various rooms / areas within that are accessed by children and adults during a Comhaltas activity from a health and safety and safeguarding perspective.

  • In the case of an accident, it will be reported to the supervisor and an Incident Report Form will be filled and kept on file.

  • CBUíF activities are understood to be group activities. If CBUíF finds itself with a 1:1 adult:child tuition/activity situation, the door of the room remains open and the adult gives prior notification to CBUíF supervisors that a 1:1 situation has arisen.

  • CCÉ mentors, teachers and relevant personnel are recommended to complete the online Tusla‘s Access to Children First E-Learning Programme.

  • If a member of CCÉ receives an allegation, has a suspicion that a child is being abused or receives a disclosure he/she must, in the first instance, consult with the branch DLP.

  • The DLP will liaise with the statutory agencies, Tusla and An Garda Síochána.

  • CBUíF ensure that Child Protection and Safeguarding are an item of each meeting agenda, to ensure continued awareness and to allow for continued updating and review. This inclusion of the topic on the minutes allows for local review on local provision.


3. Risk Assessment

We have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while availing of our services. Below is a list of the areas of risk identified and the list of procedures for managing these risks.

 

Risks Identified:

Procedure

Abuse from teachers/volunteers working with children/young adults and especially vulnerable children/young adults.

CBUíF teachers/volunteers are CCÉ Garda vetted, understand and follow CBUíF Child Protection Procedures, know the DLP and deputy DLP and understand their role in the prevention of harm to children/young people. All personnel understand their role in the prompt reporting of any child protection issue to the relevant person.

Carpark

The public car park is unsupervised. Parents/guardians will bring their children to the designated assembly area of the school before class. Branch teachers/supervisors will escort students to and from the classroom to the designated assembly area.

NO student will be permitted to leave the school for collection in the car park and parents are asked not to make such arrangements with the children.

Pathways

Parents/guardians will supervise their children along pathways to the designated assembly area of the school before class. Branch teachers/supervisors will escort students to and from the classroom to the designated assembly area.

Hall

Parents/guardians will supervise their children along the pathway to the hall before class. Branch supervisors will monitor the pathway to the hall.

Playing Area

Use of the playing area beside the school is not permitted and parents will be made aware of this through the Branch Safety Statement.

Late Teachers

Teachers will let CBUíF committee aware as soon as possible. Supervisors will meet pupils in the designated assembly area escort them to their class once the teacher has arrived

Absent Teachers/ Substitute Teachers

Teachers will let CBUíF committee aware as soon as possible. Substitute teachers will be met by a branch supervisor and given an outline of branch procedures. Supervisor will bring children to and from the relevant class and maintain attendance records for that class.

1:1 Adult:Child Tuition/Activity

CBUíF activities are understood to be group activities. If CBUíF finds itself with a 1:1 adult:child tuition/activity situation, the door of the room remains open and the adult gives prior notification to CBUíF supervisors that a 1:1 situation has arisen.

Volunteers

CBUíF volunteers will be aware of and follow branch procedures. CBUíF will conduct an induction session in September to inform volunteers of policies and procedures.

Attendance Register

All teachers must maintain a class register which will be maintained and collected by the DPO. If teacher is absent, a supervisor will maintain this record.

Use of Electronic Devices

Pupils will be informed of CBUíF’s policy that electronic devices may only be used for recording purposes as stated and shared through the branch Safety Statement.

Late Parent

Parents will be certain of class times and will endeavour to collect children promptly. If a parent is late, a phone call will be placed and no less than two supervisors will wait with the child until a parent or nominated adult arrives.

 

4. Procedures

Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice, CCÉ’s Child Protection Policy and Guidelines & Procedures in respect Branch of involvement with children/young persons and Vulnerable Adults. In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following procedures support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our service:

  • Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children/vulnerable adults; All such persons are CCÉ-vetted.

  • Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training as offered by CCÉ and Tusla and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm;

  • Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla as outlined by CCÉ's Child Protection Policy and during Training seminars facilitated by CCÉ National Child Protection Liaison, Tomas O Maoldomhnaigh.

All procedures listed are available upon request.
 

5. Implementation

We recognise that implementation is an on-going process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our service.

This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed on, or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

 

(Adopted October 2020, To be reviewed in October 2021)

For queries, please contact dlp@cceleixlip.com