Child Protection Policy
​Meelickmore N.S.  aims to provide its pupils with the highest standards of care and protection, in order to promote each child’s well-being and safeguard him/her from harm. The Board of Management of Meelickmore N.S.  has adopted the “Children First” Guidelines of the Department of Health & Children 1999 and the “Child Protection” Procedures of the Department of Education & Science 2001 and the 2011 review.

Aims
This policy aims to
Create a safe, trusting, responsive and caring environment
Provide a personal safety skills education which specifically addresses abuse prevention for all children in the school
Develop awareness and responsibility in the area of child protection amongst the whole school community
Put in place procedures for good practice to protect all children and staff
Ensure that all staff members are aware of and familiar with the ‘Children First’ and the DES guidelines and procedures in relation to reporting concerns and/or disclosures of child abuse
Designated Liaison Person (DLP)
The Principal teacher, Mr. Liam Horkan,  is the Designated Liaison Person and the Deputy Principal, Ms. Colette Whelan, is the Deputy Liaison Person. The DLP is responsible for ensuring that the standard reporting procedure is followed so that suspected cases of child abuse are referred promptly to the Health Service Executive or An Garda Siochána. The DLP has specific responsibility for child protection and will represent the school in all dealings with the HSE, An Garda Síochána and other parties in connection with allegations of abuse.  All matters pertaining to the processing or investigation of child abuse must be processed through the DLP.

Definition of Child Abuse
Child Abuse can be categorised into four different types: neglect, emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual abuse.

Neglect: Neglect can be defined in terms of omission, where the child suffers significant harm or impairment of development by being deprived of food, clothing, warmth, hygiene, intellectual stimulation, supervision and safety, attachment to and affection from adults, medical care. Neglect generally becomes apparent in different ways over a period of time rather than at one specific moment.

Emotional Abuse: Emotional Abuse is normally to be found in the relationship between a care-giver and a child rather than in a specific event or pattern of events. It occurs when a child’s need for affection, approval, consistency and security are not met.

Physical Abuse: Physical Abuse is any form of non-accidental injury or injury which results from wilful or neglectful failure to protect a child.

Sexual Abuse: Sexual Abuse occurs when a child is used by another person for his or her gratification or sexual arousal or for that of others.
Guidelines for Recognition of Child Abuse
All signs and symptoms must be examined in the total context of the child’s situation and family circumstances. There are commonly three stages in the identification of child abuse.
These are: –
Considering the possibility
Looking out for signs of abuse
Recording of information

Handling Disclosures from Children
When information is offered in confidence, staff will act with sensitivity in responding to the disclosure.  The member of staff will need to reassure the child and retain his/her trust, while explaining the need for action and the possible consequences, which will necessarily involve other adults being informed.  It is important to tell the child that everything possible will be done to protect and support him/her, but not to make promises that cannot be kept e.g. promising not to tell anyone else. The welfare of the child is regarded as the first and paramount consideration. In so far as is practicable, due consideration will be given, having regard to age and understanding, to the wishes of the child.
The following advice is offered to school personnel to whom a child makes a disclosure of abuse.
Remain calm.
Listen to the child with sensitivity and openness.
Take all disclosures seriously
Do not ask leading questions or make suggestions to the child
Offer reassurance but do not make promises.
Do not stop a child recalling significant events
Do not over react
Explain that further help may have to be sought
Record the discussion accurately and retain the record of dates, times, names, locations, context and factual details of conversation.

This information should then be passed onto the DLP and a record will be retained in the school.

If the reporting person or member of the school staff and the DLP is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for the suspicion/allegation, the procedures for reporting as laid out in ‘Children First’ – Section 4.4 pg 38 (Appendix 10) will be adhered to
A report should be made to the HSE in person, by phone or in writing.
In the event of an emergency, or the non availability of HSE staff, the report should be made to An Garda Siochána.

The Chairperson of the Board of Management will be informed before the DLP makes contact with the relevant authorities, unless the situation demands that more immediate action  be taken for the safety of the child, in which case the Chairman may be informed after the report has been submitted.

Any Professional who suspects child abuse should inform parents/carers if a report is to be submitted to the HSE or An Garda Síochána, unless doing so is likely to endanger the child.  Under no circumstances should a child be left in a dangerous situation pending HSE intervention.

In cases where school personnel have concerns about a child, informal contact with the designated person in the HSE will be made, seeking advice as to whether a referral should be made. The DLP will be explicit that he/she is requesting advice and not making a report. It is not necessary at this stage for the DLP to disclose his/her name or the name of the
school. If the HSE advises that a referral should be made, the DLP should act on this advice.
The Standard Reporting Form at Appendix 1 of the ‘Child Protection Guidelines and Procedures’ should be used.

Allegations Against School Employees
The most important consideration for the Chairperson, Board of Management or the DLP is the safety and protection of the child.  However, employees also have a right to protection against claims which are false or malicious.

As employers, the Board of Management should always seek legal advice, as the circumstances can vary from one case to another.
There are two procedures to be followed:
The reporting procedure in respect of the child
The procedure for dealing with the employee.

The DLP has responsibility for reporting the matter to the HSE.  The Chairperson of the Board of Management has responsibility, acting in consultation with his/her Board, for addressing the employment issues. If the allegation is against the DLP, the Chairperson of the Board of Management will assume the responsibility for reporting the matter to the Health Board.

Reporting
When an allegation of abuse is made against a school employee, the DLP should immediately act in accordance with the procedures outlined in “Child Protection.”

A written statement of the allegation should be sought from the person making the report.  The DLP should always inform the Chairperson of the Board of Management.

School employees, other than the DLP who receive allegations against another school employee, should immediately report the matter to the DLP.  School employees who form suspicions regarding conduct of another school employee, should consult with the DLP.  The procedures outlined in will then be followed.

The chairperson of the Board and DLP should make the employee aware privately
That an allegation has been made against him/her
The nature of the allegation
Whether or not the HSE or Gardaí has been/will be/must be/should be informed.

The employee should be given a copy of the written allegation and any other relevant documentation.  The employee should be requested to respond to the allegation in writing to the Board of Management within a specified period and told that this may be passed to the Gardaí, HSE and legal advisers.

The priority in all cases is that no child be exposed to unnecessary risk.  Therefore, as a matter of urgency, the Chairperson should take any necessary protective measures.  These
measures should be proportionate to the level of risk and should not unreasonably penalise the employee in any way unless to protect the child.

If the nature of the allegations warrant immediate action in the Chairperson’s opinion, the Board of Management should be convened to consider the matter.  The Board will consider feedback, if any has been received from the HSE, Gardai or relevant source. This may result in the Board of Management directing that the employee absent him/herself from the school forthwith while the matter is being investigated (Administrative Leave). When the Board of Management is unsure as to whether this should occur, advice should be sought from the Gardaí and/or the Child Care Manager of the Health Board and the legal advisers to the Board of Management.
Administrative Leave
Should the Board of Management direct that the employee absent him/herself as above, such absence of the employee would be regarded as administrative leave of absence with pay and not suspension and would not imply any degree of guilt.  The DES should be immediately informed.

Abuse Prevention
The objectives of the programme to prevent child abuse (Stay Safe Programme) in use in the school
To develop children’s self-esteem, assertiveness and self protective skills
To teach children that they should always tell an adult about any situation which they find unsafe, upsetting, threatening, dangerous or abusive
To give children the skills necessary to enable them to recognise and resist abuse/victimisation/bullying
To teach the rules –
Say No, Get Away and Tell and
Never Keep Touch a Secret

Resources: The Stay Safe Programme
Parents retain the right to withdraw their child from the class if they do not wish him/her to participate in the programme. In such instances, the child will be supervised by another class teacher.
Because we have a multi-class situation, the junior end of the school up to 2 nd Class will do the ‘Junior Lessons’, 3 rd and 4 th Classes will do the ‘Senior Lessons’ and 5 th and 6 th Classes will do the ‘Senior Lessons for 5 th and 6 th’.

Board of Management
The Chairperson should inform the Board of Management of all the details and remind the members of their serious responsibility to maintain strict confidentiality on all matters relating to the issue and the principles of due process and natural justice.
A Copy of Children First, the Department of Health & Children’s national guidelines for the protection and welfare of children and Child Protection Guidelines for Primary Schools which issued from the Department of Education and Science can be found in the Principal’s Office.

Links to other policy/planning areas
Prevention: SPHE curriculum  – Strand Unit on ‘Safety and Protection’
Stay Safe Programme
School Code of Behaviour
Procedures: Anti-Bullying Policy
Practice: Swimming Practice
School Tours/Outings

Review and Monitoring
This policy will be monitored and reviewed by the BOM on an annual basis or when the need arises. The BOM will ensure that adequate training and support is provided for all staff.