Focus Ireland Child Safeguarding Statement

Focus Ireland (including Focus Housing Association) is a housing and homelessness charity which provides a range of services across Ireland which encompasses Housing, Tenancy Sustainment, Advice and Information, Day Services and Youth Services. Focus Ireland staff members have a variety of levels of contact with children and young people through over one hundred services. This ranges from minimal contact in our day services to one-to-one working in our Child support services and childcare.

Focus Ireland customers range in age from early childhood to old age and covers all levels of ability in terms of understanding and managing risks to them. Children and young people accessing our services have a higher level of vulnerability due to their current or historical experience of homelessness.

Focus Ireland employs over four hundred staff across Leinster, Munster, and Connacht.

Focus Ireland 9 – 12 High Street,

Dublin 8.

01 – 8815900

This Child Safeguarding Statement is informed by the Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017) and the relevant legislation for monitoring and reporting concerns of abuse and or neglect to appropriate authorities (HIQA, 2018)

 

Focus Ireland is committed to ensuring every young person is safeguarded from abuse and neglect and their protection and welfare is of paramount importance (HIQA, 2018)

Focus Ireland ensures that all young people are kept safe by adopting and implementing best practice protocols with respect to recruitment and retention, effective induction and child safeguarding training, the development of a Child Safeguarding Statement and through the recognising of signs of abuse and the immediate reporting of concerns to relevant stakeholders.

This Child Safeguarding Statement is informed by the Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017) and the relevant legislation for monitoring and reporting concerns of abuse and or neglect to appropriate authorities (HIQA, 2018)

Focus Ireland will always demonstrate best practices approaches to working in partnership with young people placed in our care. Every staff member understands they have a duty of care to ensure their awareness of and appropriate response to situations where the safety and/or welfare of any young person is at risk are in line with current safeguarding practices.

Focus Ireland agrees that:

  • The protection and welfare of children/young people is of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations.
  • We will fully comply with our obligations under the Children First Act 2015 and other relevant legislation relating to the protection and welfare of children/young people.
  • We will fully co-operate with the relevant statutory authorities in relation to child safeguarding matters.
  • We actively promote safe practices to minimise the possibility of harm happening to children and protect workers from the necessity to take unnecessary risks that may leave themselves open to accusations of abuse or neglect.
  • We will fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child safeguarding matters.

 

Focus Ireland believes that the safety and welfare of children/young people is everyone’s responsibility. We aim to ensure that through all our interactions the best interest of the child is paramount.

Procedures

Focus Ireland is committed to the safeguarding of children/young people through the following processes:

  • Comprehensive recruitment, vetting, induction and performance management procedures for all staff and volunteers.
  • Comprehensive training and refresher programmes which all staff are required to attend.
  • Clearly defined and communicated standards of service provision.
  • Safeguarding policies are in place and all staff are briefed on any change in them.

 

These include but are not limited to:

  1. Child Safeguarding policy and training is in place, including code of conduct for staff and volunteers.
  2. TCI training for managing behaviour which challenges.
  3. Incident reporting and reviewing process.
  4. Lone working policies and procedures.
  5. Domestic Violence policy
  6. Critical incident stress management policy
  7. Adult at risk of abuse policy

 

Risk

The Children First Act, 2015 places specific obligations on organisations that provide services to young people, including the requirement to.

  • Keep young people safe from harm while they are using the service.
  • Conduct a risk assessment to identify whether a young person could be harmed while accessing Focus Ireland services.
  • Appoint a relevant person to be the lead point of contact in respect of the organisation’s Safeguarding Statement. (DCYA, 2017)

 

Risk assessment

We have conducted an assessment of any potential for harm while young people are availing of our services. Taking the definition of Harm in relation to a child 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’

Below is a list of the areas of risk identified and the list of procedures for managing s All services manage risks by following agreed organisational policies and procedures; the list below is an amalgamation of procedures in place across the organisation.

Risk Identified Procedure in place to manage risk identified
1 Young People may be subject to harm from other young people while accessing our services. ·       Robust Anti bullying policy and procedures.

·       Effective systems for dealing with complaints.

·       Culture of openness, inclusiveness, and transparency which in turn empowers young people to speak up for themselves and others.

·       Appropriate numbers of staff in each service.

·       Clearly defined boundaries for all young people using our services.

·       Clear communication with parents/ guardians/social workers as to expectations of service and support offered where there may be deficits in knowledge / skills.

·       Young people are made aware of their right to safety and to make complaints where they feel their safety is at risk.
2 Child/Young person in service may be witness to an incident involving individuals exhibiting behaviour which is challenging or who are substance affected. ·       Appropriate staffing in place.

·       Staff trained in managing behaviour which is challenging.
3 Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) to a child posed by a member of staff/volunteer/peer ·       Thorough HR procedure’s which ensure safe recruitment and Garda vetting.

·       Policies which guide good practice coupled with Supervision which allows for reflection and learning which encourages ongoing professional development.

·       A culture of openness and accountability is promoted with an ethos based on shared accountability.

·       Lone working policy in place for relevant services.

·       Site specific safety mechanisms in place.

·       Organisational code of conduct.

·       Tusla and garda intervention sought when necessary.
4 Risk of harm (as defined in the CFA 2015) to a child on outings posed by a member of staff/volunteer/stranger/peer ·       All arranged outings and activities with young people are guided and informed by Risk and Lone Working Assessments to ensure the safety and welfare of both young people, staff and volunteers.

·       Child safeguarding policy followed at all times.

·       Tusla / Garda intervention where necessary.
5 Risk of harm to the psychological welfare of the child through peer behaviour such as substance abuse, violent behaviour ·       Adequate staffing in place

·       Staff trained in TCI to manage challenging behaviour

·       Risk assessment used and updated regularly
6 Security of confidential information ·       All information is gathered, stored and archived based on Focus Ireland s data protection policies.

·       Access to young people’s information is managed in line with data protection policies.
7 Loss of friends, loss of contact with family and community ·       Focus Ireland recognise the importance of the young persons’ social and family network and aim to promote and encourage positive relationships.

·       Young people can experience loss and bereavement following a separation from their family, Focus Ireland aim to support every young person by providing a compassionate and caring response to their needs.

 
8 Needs not identified or missed ·       Thorough system in place for Admission, preplacement and identification of needs and plans ensuring the rights and voice of the child and their family are central to decision making
9 Bullying by staff member ·       Focus Ireland code of conduct, investigation and disciplinary procedures and protected disclosures policy are in place to deal with any issues which arise.

·       Comprehensive training of staff to ensure they are aware of roles and boundaries.

·       Supervision and reflective practice aim to look at the staff members’ practice within the service.

·       Individual supervision and an open-door policy in relation to access to other managers should there be concerns within the service.

·       All concerns are managed in a timely manner with an emphasis on the safety of young people.

·       Culture of openness, accountability and professional challenging.
10 Harm from visitors/contractors ·       All visitors are signed in and out of services.

·       Staff are always present while visitors are on site.

·       Visitors are always accompanied and are never allowed access to young people’s bedrooms without a staff presence.

·       Provision of individual bedrooms where available to allow children/young people to remove themselves from situations which may feel unsafe.

·       Customer complaints, children’s rights explained and evident in children’s charter in each service.

·       Incident reporting and escalation procedures and review mechanisms in place.
11 Harm from the use of social media or electronic devices. ·       Services where young people have access to the internet have site specific procedures in place to ensure safety while accessing the internet.

·       Relevant training on the risks associated with social media usage provided to both staff and young people.

·       All staff are instructed that the use of information or pictures of the young people on their personal sites is strictly forbidden.

·       Consent will be sought from young people/ guardians with respect to any photography taken.

·       Staff are not allowed to share their social media site, personal phone number or emails with young people.

·       Young people’s use of the internet and social media is monitored for safe practice where possible.

·       Ongoing information and education regarding exploitation and the use of social media is provided to young people and staff.

·       Young people are made aware of the possible impacts of posting personal information on social media sites and risks associated with cyber bullying.

·       Tusla / Garda intervention as appropriate.
12 Young person may display or be exposed to self-harming behaviours ·       A number of staff are trained in Safe Talk and Asist

·       External supports may be put in place in line with each young person’s individual needs.
13 Young People from ethnic minorities or LGBTIQ may be exposed to harassment from other young people ·       Child safeguarding policy followed.

·       Customer Charter adhered to.

·       External supports initiated if necessary.

·       Education piece conducted with young people in relation to behaviours
14 Young person may be exposed to or present with sexual vulnerability or behaviour. ·       Ongoing monitoring of young people s behaviour and interactions,

·       Relevant staff trained in identifying the signs of CSE and the procedure for reporting same
15 Young person may be exposed or present with fire setting behaviour. ·       All fire safety equipment in in place, trained fire marshals on site.

·       TCI techniques are used to manage the environment.

·       An garda Siochana / fire services contacted if required.
16 Young person may be witness to / at risk due to domestic violence in the home or through relationships ·       Child safeguarding and Domestic Violence policy clearly outline response.

·       TUSLA and gardai contacted as appropriate.

·       Young person appropriate supports initiated.
17 Children / Young people may be subject to harm as a result of environmental factors ·       All Focus Housing property is subject to maintenance checks which identify any issues arising.
18 Missing Child from Care ·       The joint protocol of the HSE and Garda in relation to Missing Children from Care is followed.

 
19 Young person may be a victim of or vulnerable to trafficking for sexual, domestic or economic slavery ·       Some staff have undertaken anti trafficking awareness training.

·       All staff are open to the possibility and aware to the risks involved.

·       Staff will engage with the relevant reporting and support mechanisms through An garda Siochana and Tusla as appropriate.

 

 

CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

 

Our safeguarding statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the protection and Welfare of Children (2017), 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 young people while they are availing of our service:

  • Procedures for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/ volunteers of a young person availing of our service.
  • Procedures for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with young people.
  • Procedures for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.
  • Procedure for reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to TUSLA.
  • Procedure for maintaining list of the persons in the relevant service who are the mandated persons.
  • Procedure for appointing a relevant person. All procedures listed are available upon request.

IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW

 

We recognise that implementation is an on-going process. Our organisation is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep young people safe from harm while availing of our services.

This Child Safeguarding Statement has been updated in April 2025 and will be reviewed in April 2027 or as soon as is practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

Signed:

Rebecca Moore DOS ( Provider)  Date : 9/4/25

For queries please contact:

Karen Doyle, Safeguarding and Governance Manager Relevant person under the Children First Act 2015;

086  6029561

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