Risk Assessment Child Safeguarding Statement

Early Learning and Care services are providers of Relevant Services under the Children First Act 2015.

Providers of Relevant Services under the Children First Act are required to have a Child Safeguarding Statement. A key element of the Child Safeguarding Statement is the risk assessment.

When completing a risk assessment, an Early Learning and Care service is required to examine all aspects of its service from a safeguarding perspective while children are availing of your service. The risk assessment should establish if there are any practices or features of your service that may potentially put a child at risk of harm.

Remember the risks identified should be in relation to the specific activities of the service with children. It is not in relation to general health and safety risks.

The Children First Act 2015 defines harm as:

Assault, ill-treatment or neglect of the child in a manner that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child’s health, development or welfare or

Sexual abuse of the child, whether caused by a single act, omission or circumstance or a series or combination of acts, omissions or circumstances or otherwise

The risk assessment process is intended to enable your organisation to:

• Identify potential risks
• Develop policies and procedures to minimise risk by responding in a timely manner to potential risks
• Review whether adequate precautions have been taken to eliminate or reduce these risks

All risks that are identified and stated in the risk assessment MUST be accompanied by a list of policies and procedures that are in place to manage that risk. It is imperative that the risks outlined in your risk assessment are unique and individual to your service.

After the Child Safeguarding risk assessment has been completed, the areas of risk identified should be included in the body of Child Safeguarding Statement. The Child Safeguarding Statement should also outline the policies and procedures which are in place to manage the risks that have been identified.

The National Child Safeguarding Programme; Early Learning and Care have developed, in conjunction with Tusla, a Child Safeguarding Statement Template and Information Sheet which provides a detailed template and further information for completing a risk assessment within your Child Safeguarding Statement.

Further information can also be found at the following links:
childsafeguardingelc.ie/resources-publications/
www.tusla.ie/children-first/organisations/what-is-a-risk-assessment/

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