Safe Guarding Statement
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FDYS, Francis Street, Wexford
OUR YOUTH PROJECTS
FDYS Child Safeguarding Statement
FDYS CLG
Ferns Diocesan Youth Service
Child Safeguarding Statement
1. Service Being Provided
Ferns Diocesan Youth Service (FDYS CLG) provides a range of services including youthwork,
addiction services, community & family support services, and childcare services.
Youth Work
FDYS delivers direct youth work and youth programmes through five youth projects operating across county Wexford.
They include:
• Enniscorthy Community Youth Project (FDYS Island Road Enniscorthy)
• Gorey Community Youth Project (FDYS McCurtain Street, Creagh College and FDYS
Youth Centre Courtown)
• Cloister Youth Project (FDYS, Francis Street, Wexford)
• Coolcotts Community Youth project (Coolcotts, Wexford)
• Wexford Area Youth Services, WAYS (FDYS Youth Centre Bridgetown, Cois Barry
House Rosslare and FDYS Francis Street Wexford )
FDYS works with young people who are at risk of entering the criminal justice system
through a Garda Youth Diversion Program. (FDYS Island Road, Enniscorthy)
FDYS runs two Detached Youth Work Programmes covering Wexford and New Ross areas.
FDYS works with Volunteer led Youth Clubs, supporting them in running weekly clubs and a
suite of activities across the year. (22 FDYS affiliated clubs across county Wexford)
Community and Family Supports
FDYS provides community and family support through social inclusion programmes. Using a community development approach these programmes work with minority communities to build capacity within the community. These programmes currently work primarily with Traveller and Roma communities. (FDYS Island Road Enniscorthy, FDYS Drumgoold Enniscorthy, FDYS Bunclody and ‘The Shambles ‘Youth Centre, New Ross) 1
FDYS provides community-based addiction support services. Our Community Based Drugs Initiative (CBDI) is countywide and works with individuals, families and communities who are directly or indirectly affected by substance misuse.
Childcare
FDYS Community Child Care offers a range of services for children and parents. We have three childcare facilities, Junglebox Child Care Centre, Waterloo road Wexford, Wonderland Child Care Centre, Island Road, Enniscorthy, Sproi Na Lana Child Care Centre in New Ross. We also offer afterschool services in Junglebox, FDYS Coolcotts and at FDYS Bunclody.
2. Our Principles to Safeguard Children from Harm.
- FDYS is committed to promoting the welfare and wellbeing of children and young people in County Wexford.
- FDYS’s duty of care towards safeguarding the young people we work with is a paramount consideration in our daily work. FDYS’s commitment to ensuring young people are kept safe from harm is a central part of our organisational values and is reflected in organizational documents and programme plans
- FDYS acknowledges that early intervention is key to getting better outcomes for young people at risk. Where required to make a mandated report, we will do so following Tulsa’s reporting guidelines. Guidelines for staff making a report are outlined in FDYS Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
- Child protection is a multiagency and multidisciplinary activity. FDYS is committed to working with relevant agencies and professionals in the interests of children and young people.
- FDYS has a comprehensive Safeguarding Policy and Procedure which includes:
provision for CPAP (Child Protection Awareness Programme NYCI) training for all staff.
An outline of the responsibilities of Mandated Persons
An outline of the role and responsibilities of Designated Liaison Persons (DLPS) within FDYS
- The name and contact details of a team of FDYS Designated Liaison Persons (DLP)
- Detailed guidelines for staff on how to receive and report a concern and how to attain support from your DLP.
3. Procedures
Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children's First Act 2015, Children's First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017 and Tulsa's Child Safeguarding A Guide for Policy Procedure and Practice. Ferns Diocesan Youth Service Child Safeguarding Statement updated 07 February 2025. 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 services
FDYS Safeguarding Policy and Procedure which includes:
- procedures to ensure all staff complete CPAP training
- Procedure for maintaining a list of Mandated Staff.
Procedure & guidelines for staff receiving a report/concern.
Procedure & guidelines for staff making a report to Tusla
Guidance on attaining support from an FDYS Designated Liaison Person
- FDYS Recruitment and Selection Policy -provisions for the safe recruitment and selection and volunteers to work with children and VP
FDYS Garda Vetting procedures.
FDYS Support and Supervision Procedures.
FDYS Complaints Procedure.
All available on request.
4. Risk Assessment
Risk Identified:
- A member of the organistation fails to report an issue or concern of harm
Procedures in place to manage identified risk:
- Safeguarding Statement has been circulated to all staff.
- Mandated reporters have been identified and briefed on their mandatory reporting and assisting obligations.
- Safeguarding is a standing item for staff induction, staff meetings and staff supervision
- The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is clearly identified to all staff and volunteers.
- Reporting and safeguarding issues are reiterated to staff and volunteers at all external events.
- Safeguarding is a standing item at Board meetings.
- Plans, projects and programmes are safeguard-proofed to ensure compliance with Children First legislation and practice, and to identify any risk to young people.
- Staff disciplinary and volunteer code of behaviour are updated to include failure to report a concern or harm, as set out in the appropriate reporting procedures.
- All staff and volunteers undertake agreed briefing and trainings ( CPAP ) as per our procedures and guidelines including the Children First E-learning module. (Tusla )
2. An Allegation, complaint or report of abuse is made against a volunteer, staff member or other third party engaged :
- A clear procedure for raising concern and complaint against staff and/or volunteers is in place. (FDYS Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures)
- A clear procedure is in place for the reporting and management of investigation of allegations against any member of staff/volunteer. (FDYS Safeguarding P&P)
- Staff and volunteer codes of conduct are in place and either informed as part of staff induction, or as part of the initial briefing and training of volunteers. All staff are required, and volunteers are required to complete Child Protection Awareness Training (CPAP)
- All staff and volunteers are subject to our recruitment and selection process. (FDYS Recruitment and Selection Procedures)
- All staff and volunteers are subject to Garda Vetting through the National Vetting Bureau prior to commencement of any duties/role with organisation.
- Ferns Diocesan Youth Service (FDYS CLG) has a Memorandum of Understanding in place with key partners.
- It is the policy of Ferns Diocesan Youth Service (FDYS CLG) to support investigations by An Garda Siochana and/or Tusla as requested.
- Ferns Diocesan Youth Service (FDYS CLG)’s Service Level Agreement (SLA), Constitution and compliance function include and reference safeguarding and child protection
- Ferns Diocesan Youth Service (FDYS CLG)’s compliance function carries out an annual safeguarding and child protection audit.
3. Allegation, report or observation of peer abuse of peer:
- A clear procedure is in place for reporting all issues of harm or concern by all staff and volunteers
- There is a clear procedure for raising complaints. (FDYS Complaints procedure)
- A clear policy and procedure on anti-bullying is in place.
- All volunteers and staff are trained in line with Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017.
- All events are adequately planned, staffed and supervised.
- All groups and activities will have a set of agreed ground rules that have been discussed and agreed with young people.
- Staff and volunteer training covers dealing with bullying and discriminatory behaviour.
- All venues are checked, and risk assessed with actions identified in the planning and delivery of any events.
4. Activities, programmes and events may create a level of risk due to the nature of the event :
- All activities, events and programmes are planned to include a full risk assessment.
- All participants provide informed consent to activities.
- All staff are briefed and will have undertaken appropriate induction, briefing and training.
- Bona Fides of third party providers are checked, including qualifications and vetting.
- All off site events are subject to a pre-visit check and are risk assessed.
- Programmes are either in-house or from a bona fide source that has an evidence base in practice and are both age and young person proofed.
- Staff and volunteers are bound by the code of conduct and internal policies and procedures and are expected to act within their duties in Loco Parentis.
- Controls identified through the risk assessment are put in place.
- All planning is young person centred and is cognisant of the group and community that is taking part
5. Possibility of abuse through online activity:
All the above applies to online activities, and to instances of abuse causing harm or concern.
In addition, Ferns Diocesan Youth Service (FDYS CLG):
- Monitors online activity.
- Has produced and delivers online guidelines, supports and training for young people, volunteers and staff.
- Any activity that is unacceptable or reportable that occurs in an online or other media format will be dealt with in the appropriate way and through the relevant procedures.
5. Implementation
Ferns Diocesan Youth Service (FDYS CLG) recognises that the implementation of Safeguarding and Child Protection is an ongoing process. We are committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep young people and children safe from harm while availing of our services.
This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed, or if there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.