REPORTING PROCEDURES

1. Guidelines relating to child protection and welfare are available

• Children First: 2.6 and 2.7

2. Examples are given to indicate reasonable grounds for an individual to be concerned about child welfare

• Our Duty of Care: 1.20
• Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook: 2.2

3. Guidelines relating to revealing information of abuse.

• Children First: 2.7.3
• Our Duty of Care: 1.17
• Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook: 2.5

4. An outline of the steps to follow in reporting concerns regarding child protection and welfare.

• Children First: Chapter 3
• Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook: 2.9

5 .Contact will be made with the Social Worker on duty at Children and Family Services

HSE in the event that it’s unclear if a formal report should be submitted

• Children First: Chapter 3.4.2
• Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook: 2.7

6. Contact details for Children and Family Services HSE (Social Worker on duty) noted.

• Children First: Appendix 2
• Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook: 5.1

7. Parents/ Guardians will be informed if a report is being forwarded to the HSE. This will not happen in the event that it places the child at greater risk.

• Children First: 3.2.9
• Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook: 2.12

8. A report will be forwarded to Children and Family Services HSE without delay.

• Children First: 3.2.5

9. A record will be kept of all revelations and concerns.

• Children First: 2.7.6
• Our Duty of Care: 1.16

10. It is a requirement to report dangers/risks that are not named to The HSE

• Children First: 3.2.4

11. There are consequences in failing or refusing to report and failing to implement child protection and the abuse of children relating to children that are endangered recklessly according to Section 176 of the Criminal Justice Act and other relevant legislation.

12. Any actions undertaken by the organisation when the DLP decides not to submit a report to the HSE. Children First 3.8

• Children First: 3.8.1

13. The Protections of Persons Reporting Child Abuse act 1998 makes provision for the protection of person who have communicated “ child abuse reasonably and in good faith” to designated officers of the HSE or to any member of an Garda Síochána. A person who makes a report in good faith and in the child’s best interest may also be protected by common law and by the defence of qualified privilege

14. There is a standard reporting form for forwarding a report to The Chief Social Worker or to the Social Worker on duty at Children and Family Services HSE.

• Children First: 3.4.4 and Appendix 3
• Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook: 2.9

15. In case of emergency when one is of the opinion that a child is in immediate danger and they are unable to contact the HSE, one should contact An Garda Siochána.

• Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook: 2.8

16. It will be demonstrated how concerns that are not necessary to report to the HSE are recorded; eg. Accident report.

• Our Duty of Care: 1.21

17. The procedures to deal with retrospective disclosure of abuse by adults.

• Children First: 3.6
• Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook: 3.1.16

18. It will be demonstrated how third party concerns are reported to Children and Family Services HSE

• Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook: 2.11

19. If a child goes missing:

If a student is not where they should be at a designated time; parents/guardians must be notified.

• Search around the college.
• Around the students accommodation.
• Advise other students/cinnirí.
• If the student is not found, notify the emergency services.