Child Protection - Policy Statement 2022

Newpark School Sports Centre provides a wide range of children’s activities.  We offer:

  • Children’s Swimming and Gymnastics Lessons

  • Multi Activity Sports Camps

  • Teen Fitness classes

  • Public Swims

There are also a number of groups who hire the facilities and provide different activities for children.

It is the policy of Newpark School Sports Centre to safeguard the welfare of all children by protecting them from physical, sexual, emotional harm and neglect.  The Management and Staff of Newpark School Sports Centre aim to ensure children feel they are in a safe, friendly yet focused environment where they can undertake challenging and enjoyable activities.  We also want to make sure that children are protected and kept safe from harm while they are with the staff in this organisation.  Most importantly we recognise that children are here to have fun and learn new skills. 

1.      Risk Assessment

We have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while availing of our services.  Below are a list of the areas of risk identified and a list of the procedures for managing these risks;

2.      Procedures

Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, the Children First:National Guidance, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.  In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following procedures support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our service:

  1. A procedure for appropriate recruitment and selection of employees, volunteers, work experience students and promotion of employees.

  2. A procedure for implementing the Garda vetting requirements for all relevant employees and volunteers: (reference National Vetting Bureau – Children and vulnerable persons Act 2012 - 2016).

  3. A procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.

  4. A clear comments and complaints procedure for parents and children to voice their concerns or lodge complaints if they feel unsure or unhappy about any issue. As well as a separate child protection email address. 

  5. A procedure for maintaining a list of persons within our organisation and groups who hire our facilities who are mandated persons.

  6. A procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct of a child availing of our service made against workers / volunteers / work experience students.

  7. Allegations of misconduct or abuse by employees.

All procedures available on request

3.      Implementation

We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process.  Our service 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.  This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed on December 2022, or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.