Child Safeguarding Statement
SWICN Clubhouse is a youth project that runs programs for young people aged between 10 and 24 years, living within the South West Inner City area of Dublin. Our programmes are educational and developmental with a focus on technology and creativity. We provide group work and 1 to 1 work both on site and off site.
SWICN Youth Service has completed an assessment of the potential for harm to the young people that are engaged in this organisation and a Risk Register in relation to this. Harm in this context is related to assault, ill-treatment or neglect of the child or young person that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child or young person’s health, development, welfare or sexual abuse of the child or young person. This register identifies all risks of harm and lists the procedures, policies, programmes and practices that help reduce or eliminate these risks.
The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Jonathan Gore
The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) Katie Lyons
| Risk Identified* | Level of risk | Control in place | |
| 1 | Risk of harm to a child by staff/ volunteers. | Medium | Staff/volunteers are vetted and have relevant up to date child safeguarding training. There are always 2 staff present with young people |
| 2 | Risk of harm to a child from a service user (adult or child), visitor or member of the public |
Medium | Young people are supervised at all times. Members of the public are not permitted to be in care/supervision of young people. Internet use is supervised. Inappropriate sites are blocked. |
| 3 | Risk of harm to a child due to a child protection or welfare concern not being recognised or reported by a staff member. |
Medium | Staff/volunteer check-ins are held after every program. Staff/volunteers are given a copy of the Child Safeguarding Statement. Staff/volunteers are trained to recognise and report child protection or welfare concerns. All concerns are brought to the attention of the Designated Liaison Person. |
| 4 | Risk of harm to a child due to a child protection or welfare concern not being recognised or reported by a child |
High | Young people are regularly reminded to raise issues & concerns with staff. Staff check in with young people regularly |
| 5 | Risk of harm to a child from another Young Person |
Medium | All spaces are facilitated by youth workers and young people are accompanied , when and where there is an area where a young person has to use a facility for the use of Toilet or changing room youth workers will be vigilant outside that facility and will listen and monitor the situation. |
| *All above risks include risk where youth work is done online or by phone | |||
Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017 and Tusla Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.
In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following SWICN procedures support our intention to safeguard children and young people while they are availing of our services: All procedures listed are available on request.
- Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct, against staff or volunteers, of a child or young person availing of our services.
- Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of staff and volunteers to work with children.
- 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
SWICN Youth Service, through its staff and volunteers, 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 service.
Updated 23/04/22 and to be reviewed 23/04/23 or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers
DLP Jonathan Gore
Work Phone : 0868315822
Email: jonathan.gore@swicn.ie
‘’Hi I’m Johno’’, part of my role as Designated Liaison Person for Child Protection is to monitor & report any child welfare & protection concern as legislated under the Children’s first act 2015. The Act places a number of statutory obligations on specific groups of professionals and on particular organisations providing services to children.
Through the provisions of the Act, it is intended to:
- Raise awareness of child abuse and neglect
- Provide for mandatory reporting by key professionals
- Improve child safeguarding arrangements in organisations providing services to children
- Provide for cooperation and information-sharing between agencies when Tusla – Child and Family Agency, is undertaking child protection
DLP Katie Lyons
Work Phone : 0896141031
Email: katie.lyons@swicn.ie
‘’Hi I’m Katie’’, part of my role as Designated Liaison Person for Child Protection is to monitor & report any child welfare & protection concern as legislated under the Children’s first act 2015. The Act places a number of statutory obligations on specific groups of professionals and on particular organisations providing services to children.
Through the provisions of the Act, it is intended to:
- Raise awareness of child abuse and neglect
- Provide for mandatory reporting by key professionals
- Improve child safeguarding arrangements in organisations providing services to children
- Provide for cooperation and information-sharing between agencies when Tusla – Child and Family Agency, is undertaking child protectio