Child Safeguarding Statement - Revised 2021

Midlands Regional Youth Service clg.  Trading as Youth Work Ireland Midlands 

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Youth Work Ireland Midlands is a community-based youth work organisation operating an Integrated  Youth Service Model providing services to young people in youth centres, community houses and  facilities at the heart of the community in Counties Westmeath, Offaly and Roscommon.

 

1. The services we  provide are as follows: 

a. Youth Club Development & Volunteer Support: 18 volunteer led youth clubs work with children  and young people across the region. 

b. Community Youth Projects, UBU Your Place Your Space: 3 youth projects engage with the local  community to identify and respond to the needs of young people in their area. 

c. Youth Justice Work: 4 projects support young people to divert from crime and anti-social behaviour.

d. Youth Information Services: 1 Youth Information Service. 

e. Education: Acorn Midlands Education & Training Service (AMETS) supports young people who are  out of school and adult learners with access to educational programmes and is a QQI Accredited  Provider. 

f. One to One Support: For young people with additional needs, the organisation delivers tailored  support on an individual basis where appropriate 

g. Comhairle Na nÓg: Youth Work Ireland Midlands facilitates Comhairle Na nOg (Child & Youth  Council) in Counties Westmeath & Roscommon and supports young people to participate in  Comhairle na nOg in Co. Offaly. 

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2. Other Services: In addition to the services delivered directly to young people, Youth Work Ireland  Midlands delivers the following services: 

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h. Community Employment Scheme: This scheme supports long term unemployed adults, including young adults to access  supported employment, training and progression routes  

i. Traveller Men’s Project: Supporting young Traveller men to participate in youth work activities and  pre-employment programmes with a view to progression to education / employment. 

j. Here4U: Non-judgemental listening and support service to young people experiencing anxiety  through separation / divorce / bereavement. 

k. International Programmes: Supporting young people to engage in development under the Erasmus+  programme including Transnational Youth Work activities, European Solidarity Corps and Youth  Exchanges 

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3. Principles to Safeguard Children from Harm:  

Youth Work Ireland Midlands is committed to the principles laid out in Children First: National Guidance for  the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017. These are: 

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- The safety and welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility. 

- The best interests of the child should be paramount. 

- The overall aim in all dealings with children and their families is to intervene proportionately to support  families to keep children safe from harm. 

- Interventions by the State should build on existing strengths and protective factors in the family. - Early intervention is key to getting better outcomes. Where it is necessary for the State to intervene to  keep children safe, the minimum intervention necessary should be used. 

- Children should only be separated from parents/carers when alternative means of protecting them have  been exhausted. 

- Children have a right to be heard, listened to and taken seriously. Taking account of their age and  understanding, they should be consulted and involved in all matters and decisions that may affect their  lives. 

- Parents/carers have a right to respect, and should be consulted and involved in matters that concern  their family. 

- A proper balance must be struck between protecting children and respecting the rights and needs of  parents/carers and families. 

- Child protection is a multiagency, multidisciplinary activity. Agencies and professionals must work  together in the interests of the children. 

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4. Risk assessment of potential harm to children whilst availing of our services: 

Youth Work Ireland Midlands has included the risk of harm to a child as a new category in the organisations  Risk Management Policy & Procedures. A comprehensive risk assessment has been conducted to identify  potential areas of harm and to implement measures to reduce the risk as per the Risk Management  Process. 

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5.    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 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 services.

 

• Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers by a young person while availing of our service.

• Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with young people.

• 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 mandated persons.

• Procedure for appointing a relevant person.

 

All procedures listed are available on request.

 

6. Implementation:

 

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 services.

 

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

 

Signed:  Geraldine Lacey, CEO. 

 

For queries please contact:

 

Geraldine Lacey, glacey@youthworkmidlands.org / 086 1237142 / 090 6477075

Relevant Person under the Children First Act 2015

 

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