Child Safety Satatement

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Child Safeguarding Statement

Fiona McDevitt Integrated Health is a Physiotherapy practice providing out-patient physiotherapy, craniosacral therapy and manual lymph drainage services to members of the public, including to children under the age of 18 years.  In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, this practice makes the following Child Safeguarding Statement:

This Practice will -
1 Adopt and implement fully Child Protection Procedures set out in its Child Safeguarding Policy
2 Appoint a Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Fiona McDevitt
3 Insist that child protection and welfare considerations are reflected in all of the practice’s policies, procedures, practices and activities.  In doing so it will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare: 

The practice will:

• Recognise that 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 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;

• Develop a practice of openness and collaboration with parents, encouraging parental involvement in the rehabilitation / therapy for their child; and 

• Fully respect the confidentiality requirements when dealing with child protection matters. The practice will adhere to the above principles in relation to any vulnerable person 4 The following procedures/measures are in place:

• In relation to any member of staff who is the subject of any investigation in respect of any act, omission or circumstance in respect of a child attending the practice, the practice will immediately institute the Disciplinary Policy for staff

• The selection or recruitment of staff and their suitability to work with children will depend on their submitting to Garda Vetting - the statutory vetting requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016.

• The practice will provide information, instruction and training as necessary to staff in respect of the identification of occurrence of harm.  To this end it will-
 Provide each member of staff with a copy of the Child Safeguarding Statement 
 Encourage staff to avail of relevant training 
 Maintains a record of all staff training in this regard. 

• In relation to reporting of child protection concerns to Tusla, all staff are required to adhere to the procedures set out in the Child Safeguarding Policy.

• In this practice the abovenamed DLP is the “relevant person” (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) to be the first point of contact in respect of the child safeguarding statement.

• Any Chartered physiotherapists employed by the practice are mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015.

• In accordance with the Children First Act 2015, a Risk Assessment of any potential for harm to a child while attending the practice. A written assessment setting out the risks identified and the control measures for managing these risks is contained within the Child Safeguarding Policy. 

• The various procedures referred to in this Statement can be found in the Child Safeguarding Policy which will be made available to you if required.  

5 This statement is available on the practice website.  It is readily accessible to parents and guardians on request. A copy of this Statement will be made available to Tusla and the Department if requested.  

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