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ALTERNATIVE ENTERTAINMENTS CHILD PROTECTION POLICY 2011

Child Protection Policy Statement

Alternative Entertainments is commited to the provision of a safe environment and experience to the participants of our educational and artistic programming for children and young people. The safety and welf
are of the child/young person is paramount in our work in this field. We will adhere to the recommendations of Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children, published by the Department of Health & Children. We have implemented procedures covering:

• Code of behaviour for staff;

• Reporting of abuse;

• Confidentiality;

• Staff recruitment;

• Staff evaluation and supervision;

• Allegations of misconduct by staff;

• Complaints, comments and suggestions;

• Accidents;

• Parental/Guardian participation.

This policy will be reviewed on 9th January 2012. Martin Moran, Designated Person, Alternative Entertainments.

Code of Behaviour for Staff

All staff are required, when dealing with children/young people, to:

• Treat all children and young people equally;

• Heed the opinions and concerns of children and young people;

• Provide support, encouragement, constructive criticism and direction in order that the child/young person fully capitalizes on the activity in hand;

• Use appropriate language;

• Observe appropriate behaviour;

• Encourage feedback from project participant and parent/guardian;

• Use appropriate teaching aids and materials.

Good practice policy:

• Register each child/young person's name, address, phone numbers, emergency contact;

• Display and make available  Alternative Entertainments' Child Protection Policy;

• All staff must be informed of, and familiar with emergency procedures;

• Report any concerns to the organisation's Designated Person;

• Evaluate work practices on a regular basis;

• Appropriate training will be provided to staff;

• All incidents and accidents are to reported and recorded;

• Review policies and prodedures regularly;

• Parents/guardians are to informed immediately of any issue concerning their children;

• Proper supervision to be observed, i.e., classes to be conducted in public venues in the presence of other adults;

• Class ratio will be at least three students for each teacher and not more than seven;

• Staff are to avoid giving lifts to children without the express permission of a parent/guardian, unless in an emergency.

Inappropriate behaviour policy:

• Do not use or allow offensive or sexually suggestive language or behaviour;

• Do not engage in or allow inappropriate touching of any kind;

• Do not physically chastise children/young people;

• Do not socialise inappropriately with project participants outside of the organisation's structured activities.

Physical contact policy:

• Seek consent of child/young person in relation to physical contact (except in an emergency or dangerous situation).

• Do not engage in or allow inappropriate touching of any kind.

Health and safety policy:

• Provide a safe environment;

• Do not leave children/young people unsupervised;

• Manage any dangerous materials;

• Be aware of emergency procedures. If you are unsure contact the organisation's Designated Person.

 Reporting of Abuse

Martin Moran is Alternative Entertainments' Designated Person to be contacted if there is an issue or concern about any aspect of a child's safety and welfare. It is his responsibility to support and advise staff about policy and procedures in relation to child protection and to ensure that procedures are followed. It is also his responsibility to liaise with the Health Service Executive or Gardai where appropriate. Linda Kelly is the deputy Designated Person.
Martin can be contacted by phone at 087-9572468, by post at Alternative Entertainments, RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24, or by email at altents@gmail.com.
Linda can be contacted by phone at 086-6018585, by post at Alternative Entertainments, RUA RED, South Dublin Arts Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24, or by email at altents@gmail.com. The following examples would constitute reasonable grounds for concern that child may have been abused, or is being abused, or is at risk of being abused:

• specific indication from the child that (s)he was abused;

• an account by a person who saw the child being abused;

• evidence such as injury or behaviour that is consistent with abuse and unlikely to be caused any other way;

• injury or behaviour that is consistent both with abuse and with an innocent explanation but where there are corrorobative indicators supporting the concern that it may be abuse. Examples of such indicators would be a pattern of injuries, an implausible explanation, other indications of abuse, dysfunctional behaviour; 

• consistent indication, over a period of time, that a child is suffering from emotional or physical neglect.

Staff should record the following in relation to suspected abuse: suspicions; concerns; worrying observations; behavioural changes; actions and outcomes.
When dealing with a disclosure from a child staff should stay calm and listen, allowing the child as much time as (s)he needs; should not use leading questions or prompt details; should be reassuring but should not promise to keep anything secret; should not make the child repeat details unnecessarily; should explain to the child what will happen next (explanation should be age appropriate). If child abuse is suspected or alleged the Designated Person (or his deputy) will make a report to the relevant Duty Social Worker in person, by phone or in writing, or, in the event of an emergency, or the non-availability of HSE staff will make a report to An Garda Siochana.

Confidentiality Statement

Alternative Entertainments is committed to ensuring peoples' rights to confidentiality. However, in relation to child protection and welfare we undertake that:

• Information will only be forwarded on a 'need to know' basis in order to safeguard the child/young person;

• Giving such information to others for the protection of a child/young person is not a breach of confidentiality;

• We cannot guarantee total confidentiality where the best interests of the child are concerned;

• Parents/guardians, children and young people will be informed if personal information is being shared with, and/or a report is being made to, An Garda Siochana or the Health Service Executive, unless doing so could further endanger the welfare of the child/young person;

• Alternative Entertainments will not use images of children/young people for any reason without the consent of the parent/guardian. Any such usage will be discussed in detail on each occasion, and the parent/guardian will have full control and final say on format, caption and duration of display;

• All recorded information (registration details, photography, video footage) will stored securely, and access restricted to the organisation's CEO and its Designated Person.

Staff Recruitment and Management Policy

Alternative Entertainments will ensure that staff are carefully selected, trained and supervised to provide a safe environment for all children and young people, by observing the following policies:

• Responsibilties will be clearly defined for every job;

• The most qualified and suitable person will be selected for each assignment/job;

• Candidates will be required to sign a declaration form;

• We insist upon at least two recent, relevant and independent references which will be orally checked;

• No person deemed to be a risk will be employed. Exclusions would include any child-related convictions, refusal to sign a declaration form, insufficient documentary evidence of identification, and insufficient or unsatisfactory references;

• A three month probationary period will apply;

• All staff will be required to consent to Garda vetting;

• All staff will be made aware of Alternative Entertainments' code of behaviour, its child protection procedures and the identity and role of the Designated Person. They will be expected to read and sign the organisation's Child Protection Policy;

• Staff will be regularly supervised, and both the Designated Person and the CEO will make themselves available to staff with personal or/and work-related problems;

• All staff wil be provided with child protection training.

Policy on Allegations Against Staff

Two separate procedures will be followed: 1. Our Designated Person, Martin Moran, will deal with the child/young person and liaise with the parents/guardians. If allegations are made against the Designated Person, our deputy Designated Person, Linda Kelly, will be contacted.
2.  The organisation's CEO, Liam Morrissey, will deal with the staff member against whom the allegations have been made. Our first priority is to ensure that the children/young people are not exposed to unnecessary risk. The Duty Social Worker will be informed if there are reasonable grounds for concern that the child has been abused. Examples of reasonable grounds for concern are listed in the Reporting of Abuse section above. In the event of any allegation parents/guardians will be informed of all actions planned and taken. The staff member will be informed immediately of the allegation made against them by Liam Morrissey, CEO, and given the opportunity to respond. Any action following an allegation of abuse should be taken in consultation with the Health Service Executive and Gardai. After this consultation our CEO will advise the staff member accused and agreed procedures will be followed.  

Parent/Guardian Involvement Policy

Alternative Entertainments will ensure that parents/guardians enjoy full involvement in our educational and artistic programmes for children/young people by undertaking to:

• Advise parents/guardians of our child protection policy;

• Inform parents/guradians and schools of all actual and potential activities;

• Issue contact/consent forms where relevant;

• Comply with health and safety practices;

• Encourage and facilitate the involvement of parents/guardians where appropriate;

• Where there are concerns about the protection and welfare of children/young people we are obliged to pass these on to the Duty Social Woker and , in an emergency, An Garda Siochana. We will inform the parents/guardians on an on-going basis unless this puts the child/young person at further risk;

• In the event of a complaint against a member of staff we will immediately ensure the safety of the child/young person and inform parents/guardians as appropriate;

• Make our Designated Person available at all times for consultation with parents/guardians in the case of any concern over child welfare.

Complaints, Comments and Suggestions Policy

Complaints, comments and suggestions will be responded to within two weeks. The Designated Person, Martin Moran, will have responsibilty for directing these to the appropriate person. Verbal complaints will be recorded and responded to.

Accident Policy

Alternative Entertainments observe the following accident procedures:

• We will maintain an up-to-date register of contact details of all children/young people involved in our programmes;

• External organisations with whom we have dealings must provide details of public liability insurance;

• First aid kits are regularly re-stocked;

• The location of first aid supplies are known to all staff;

• Children and young people are advised of the risks involved with dangerous material and equipment;

• Maintain vigilance and responsibilty for first aid on off-site trips.