Child Safeguarding Statement

FitCrew provides primary education to pupils from Junior Infants to Sixth Class.

In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017, and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, FitCrew has agreed to the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in this document.

1. FitCrew has adopted and will implement fully and without modification the Department’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement.
2. The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Cormac Connor.
3. The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Ian Madden.
4. FitCrew recognises that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of life and must be reflected in all of FitCrew’s policies, procedures, practices, and activities. In its policies, procedures, practices, and activities, FitCrew will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare.

FitCrew 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 cooperate 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 with parents and encourage parental involvement in the education of their children; and
• fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters.

FitCrew will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability.

5. The following procedures/measures are in place:
• For situations involving staff members under investigation (in any form) related to any action, inaction, or circumstance involving a child attending a FitCrew filming session, FitCrew abides by the procedures outlined in Chapter 7 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 and the agreed disciplinary procedures for staff published on the Department of Education and Skills (DES) website.
• In relation to the selection or recruitment of staff and their suitability to work with children, FitCrew adheres to the statutory vetting requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 and to the wider duty of care guidance set out in relevant Garda vetting and recruitment circulars published by the DES and available on the DES website.
• In relation to the provision of information and, where necessary, instruction and training to staff in respect of the identification of the occurrence of harm (as defined in the 2015 Act), the school:
  • has provided each member of staff with a copy of the school’s Child Safeguarding Statement;
  • ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of FitCrew’s Child Safeguarding Statement; and
  • encourages staff to avail of relevant training.
• In relation to reporting child protection concerns to Tusla, all school personnel are required to adhere to the procedures set out in the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017, including in the case of registered teachers, those in relation to mandated reporting under the Children First Act 2015.
• FitCrew has appointed the above named DLP as 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.
• All registered employees are mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015.
• In accordance with the Children First Act 2015, FitCrew has carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while attending the filming sessions or participating in activities. A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and FitCrew’s procedures for managing those risks is attached as an appendix to this statement.

 
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