Cosaint Leanaí agus Daoine Soghonta • Child and Vulnerable Person Protection
A Designated Liaison Person is nominated and appointed (NOT elected) by each Comhaltas Branch each year.. The DLP has responsibility for managing child protection issues within the branch.
The role and responsibilities of the DLP are to:
- Implement and promote the unit’s Child Protection Policy and Procedures.
- Assist in providing a vetting with the National Vetting Bureau (NVB) for any branch personnel who have FREQUENT ACCESS to children and vulnerable adults – supervisors, mentors, tutors, and organisers of events. Officers and others who only have OCCASIONAL ACCESS (once or twice annually) to children/vulnerable adults do NOT require to be vetted.
- Write and update a CHILD PROTECTION POLICY document and share with all officers, tutors, etc. and provide this document to parents/guardians of children attending music, singing, dancing or language lessons if requested.
- Act as the main contact for child protection within the branch.
- Look after Child Protection and Safeguarding on behalf of the branch members and to liaise with TUSLA or AN GARDA SÍOCHÁNA when and if required.
- Provide information and advice on child protection/safeguarding for the branch membership.
- Create awareness of the importance of child protection.
- Communicate with members on child protection issues.
- Keep abreast of developments and understand the most recent information on related issues – data protection, confidentiality, legal and other, that impact on child protection.
- Encourage best practice and support of the procedures involved.
- Maintain confidential records of reported cases and the action taken and to liaise with the statutory agencies and ensure that they have access to all necessary information.
- Regularly monitor and review the branch Policy and Procedures.
Training & Support for DLPs
The HSE has developed an e-learning programme, An Introduction to Children First. The
programme has been developed and is approved by the HSE, the Department of Health and the Inter Departmental Over-Sight Group of the Irish Government. It is available through the HSE Learning and Development Website. It is an interactive programme of about 1.5 hours duration and issues a certificate on completion of the programme.
The e-learning programme covers
- Personal, legal, and organisational responsibilities in relation to protecting children and reporting a concern about child welfare or abuse.
- Recognising a child protection or welfare concern
- Responding appropriately to a child protection or welfare concern.
- Reporting a child protection or welfare concern
Comhaltas (as part of the COTHROMAÍOCHT programme) may periodically provide updates and deliver further training and information modules.
Useful Links:
HSE Children First Website: www.hse.ie/childrenfirst
Child & Family Agency: www.tusla.ie
Department of Children & Youth Affairs: www.dcya.gov.ie