Organisations working with children and young people

All organisations working with children and young people should create a culture of safety that promotes the welfare of children and young people availing of their services.

These organisations and their staff/volunteers have a number of responsibilities under Children First.

This section provides information on how an organisation working with children and young people can help keep children and young people safe from harm as well as the statutory obligations attaching to most of these organisations.

All organisations providing services or activities to children and young people should have child safeguarding policies and procedures in place to protect them from harm and promote their welfare.

The Children First Act 2015 places specific obligations on particular organisations that provide relevant services to children and young people, including a requirement to have a Child Safeguarding Statement in place.

See more information on the statutory obligations of relevant services and safeguarding best practice for all organisations.

Organisations classed as providers of relevant services under the Children First Act 2015 have a responsibility to keep children safe from harm while they are using the service. They are required to complete a risk assessment and must have a Child Safeguarding Statement in place.

A Child Safeguarding Statement is a written statement that sets out the service provided and the policies and procedures in place to ensure, as much as possible, that a child or young person using the service is safe from harm.

See more information on Child Safeguarding Statements.

Under the Children First Act 2015, certain people who work with children have additional legal obligations. These are known as Mandated Persons. It is your responsibility to determine if you are a mandated person in your current role.

An e-learning module has been developed to provide information on the role and responsibilities of mandated persons.

See more information about Mandated Persons and about the Mandated Persons Roles and Responsibilities e-learning module.

Everyone has a responsibility to keep children as safe as possible. If you are concerned that a child or young person may have been, is being, or is at risk of being abused or neglected, you should contact Tusla social work department.

See more information on how to make a report to Tusla.

In cases of emergency, where a child or young person appears to be at immediate and serious risk, contact An Garda Síochána.

The Introduction to Children First e-learning programme has been developed to support people of all backgrounds and experience in recognising and reporting concerns about child abuse and neglect. It also explains the role of mandated persons and the responsibilities of organisations working with children and young people.

See more information on the Introduction to Children First e-learning programme.

Each Government Department is responsible for ensuring that children and young people are kept safe while accessing services provided or funded by them.

The below websites contain child safeguarding information and resources tailored to specific sectors.

Primary and Post-Primary Schools

https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/d7be05-child-protection/

Sport Ireland

https://www.sportireland.ie/safeguarding-campaign-0

Youth Work Sector

https://www.youth.ie/programmes/child-protection/

HSE

www.hse.ie/childrenfirst

Early Learning and Care

https://childsafeguardingelc.ie/

Watch a short video about child safeguarding on the Tusla website here.