Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to inform you that a dedicated Children First section has been developed in the Mid West Community Healthcare staff app. Here you will find useful information on Children’s First and links to resources on the HSE website.

To download the staff app type https://mwch.staffapp.info/ into your web browser (Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari, Samsung Internet).

 

Children First promotes the protection and welfare of children and outlines how to help to protect them from harm or abuse.

Child Safeguarding Statement:

Under the Children First Act 2015, all organisations providing ‘relevant services’, to children and families must have a Child Safeguarding Statement in place. This is a written statement, informed by a risk assessment that specifies the service being provided and the principles and procedures

to be observed in order to ensure, as far as practicable, that a child availing of the service is safe from harm.

Are you familiar with the HSE Mid West Community Healthcare Child Safeguarding Statement?

All HSE Mid West Community Healthcare staff should make themselves aware of the content of the

HSE Mid West Community Healthcare Child Safeguarding Statement, the potential risks of harm

identified, and the policies and procedures in place to safeguard children.

 

Mandated Persons:

The Children First Act 2015 places a legal obligation on certain individuals known as Mandated Persons.

Mandated Persons are people who because of their qualification, training and/or employment, are in a key

position to help protect children from harm.

To find out if you are a Mandated Person check Schedule 2 of the Children First Act 2015.

Mandated Persons have two main legal obligations under the Act:

1. To report the harm of children above a defined threshold to Tusla;

2. To assist Tusla, if requested, in assessing a concern which has been the subject of a mandated report.

For additional information see Chapter 3 of:

Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017).

Further information on Children First training and resources can be found on the HSE Children First

Website, you can access the website here. You can also contact your local Children First Training and

Development Officers; Louise Fenton and Michelle Mansfield.

Line Managers must ensure to bring this communication to the attention of staff who do not have access to email and irl users.