Child Safeguarding

One of the main objectives of the Children First Act 2015, now fully implemented, is to ensure that organisations keep children safe from harm while availing of their services. In this instance that refers to services or activities provided under the auspices of Clare County Council. It is recognised that the elimination of all risk to children is not possible but Clare County Council has put in place policies and procedures to manage and reduce risk to children to the greatest extent possible.

This policy and associated procedures has been developed in accordance with the Children First Act 2015 and Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017.

This policy and procedures document is supported by Clare County Council’s updated Child Safeguarding Statement and risk assessment.

In addition, Council services that have regular and/or planned contact with children have completed, where necessary, service specific child safeguarding statements with associated risk assessments. Some services have produced additional safeguarding children procedures for their staff members and volunteers which are reflected in the appendices of the document below.

Each of the Directorates within the Council has also completed a child safeguarding risk assessment. The policy and procedures document is also supported by a number of safeguarding children specific procedures including a code of behaviour for staff members/volunteers and a code of behaviour for children and young people.