Roisin%20Connolly

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Roisin Connolly Community Support Officer
October 2006
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• The Process
• Corporate Policy Officer designated as Councils
  Child Protection Officer
• Steering group formed comprising C.P.O. Human
  Resources Officer, key leisure personnel
• Draft policy developed-consultation with NSPCC
  and Key Officers, management team
• Policy adopted by Council 2003
• Training for all staff-ongoing

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Policy Statement
Strabane District Council will work in
partnership with parents, statutory and other
stakeholder organisations to ensure that the
welfare and protection of children is paramount.
It will do this through effective prevention and
appropriate and timely intervention. In doing so,
Strabane District Council embraces the UN
Convention on the Human Rights of the Child.
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Scope of the Policy

• Ensure a safe environment for children who
  participate in Council activities or use Council
  facilities
• How-
• Employment of people either directly or
  indirectly, who are suitable for work with
  children PECS/POCVA checks
• Make sure that users of Council facilities do the
  same
• Make users aware of Councils policy
• Guide them in the development of their own Child
  Protection policies

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Policy Objectives

• To put in place clearly defined procedures for
  referring, reporting and dealing with incidents
  relating to child protection
• To ensure that child protection responsibilities
  are fully understood and complied with and all
  staff adhere to Councils good practice
  guidelines
• To ensure the effective recruitment and training
  of staff and the staff of others rechild
  protection issues
• The provision of appropriate and timely reporting
  procedures with statutory and other agencies

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Reporting Procedures
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Incident Report Form
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Incident Report Follow-up Form
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Effective Prevention

• Recruitment procedures/checks
• Good Practice
• Adult Child Ratios
• Information/signage
• Organisations that use Council
  facilities/receive grant aid

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Appropriate Timely Intervention

• Vigilance by staff/general public
• Effective structures procedures
• Staff Training
• Communication and clarity rereporting
• Effective timely liaison with external agencies

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Photography
Issue which created the most discussion

• Potential for misuse-internet/grooming
• When is photography appropriate?
• How do you police the guidelines?
• Appropriate permissions

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Making the Policy Real

• Promoting best practice raising awareness.
• When the carrot doesnt work!-
• Embargo on funding/use of council facilities
  until criteria is met
• Meanwhile-
• Provision of training
• Support of policy development in community,
  sports groups-North West Volunteer Centre
• Publicity/signage

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The Safety of Children on these premises is very
important to us. Our Staff will treat your child
with respect-please do the same. Do not use
verbal or physical abuse against children.
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Thank You