Child statements

Northside Counselling Service – Child Safeguarding Statement
We in the Northside Counselling Service want to ensure that children and young people are protected and kept safe from harm while they are in contact with this organisation.

We do this through adhering to;
– Children’s First Guidelines
– Best Practice Guidelines in Recruitment and Supervision of Staff and Volunteers

For queries, please contact Karl Tooher – Relevant Person under the Children First Act 2015.

1. Name of service being provided: 

Northside Counselling Service can work with children and young people in the following programmes;
– Counselling
– Training/Education Programmes

2. Nature of service and principles to safeguard children from harm

The counselling service works with children and young people in the following ways;
– 1: 1 Counselling
Training/Education Programmes
– Group and /or focus based training/education programmes

In accordance 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 Northside Counselling Service recognise and work to the following Principles ;

• 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 and a Code of Practice 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.

3. Risk Assessment

Northside Counselling Service has carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child/young person while availing of our services. Below is a list of the areas of risk identified and the list of procedures for managing these risks.

 

	Risk identified		Procedure in place to manage identified risk
1.	Unsuitable person working with young person or children		Recruitment Policy including Vetting for all appropriate staff. All our counsellors are trained by us and must attain certain standards to be allowed to provide counselling.
2.	Non-reporting of concerns of risk of harm or not being recognised by staff/volunteers		Induction for all relevant staff. Child protection training for all relevant staff. Circulation of Safeguarding Statement to all relevant staff and on display to the public.
3.	1-1 counselling with a young person		Ensure appropriate suitable counsellor is appointed.
4.	Waiting area		Waiting area is open and observed by relevant staff

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. 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 management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a young person/child availing of our service;
• Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children;
• Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm;
• Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla;
• Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons;
• Procedure for appointing a relevant person.

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 an annual basis, or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

Signed: Karl Tooher (On behalf of NCS – provider)

(Karl Tooher CEO Northside Counselling Service)