iCamp Staff
- All staff are Garda vetted
- All staff are trained in the Policies & Procedures of iCamp
iCamp Child Safeguarding Statement
Child Safeguarding Statement
In accordance with the requirements of the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017, the Addendum to Children First (2019), the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017, and Tusla Guidance on the preparation of Child Safeguarding Statements, the Board of Management of iCamp has agreed the Child Safeguarding Statement set out in this document.
- The Board of Management has adopted and will implement fully and without modification the Department’s Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post Primary Schools 2017 as part of this overall Child Safeguarding Statement
- The Designated Liaison Person (DLP) is Mr. Tobiasz Sobinek
- The Deputy Designated Liaison Person (Deputy DLP) is Ms. Jolanta Tulikowska-Sobinek.
- The Board of Management recognizes that child protection and welfare considerations permeate all aspects of camp life and must be reflected in all of the icamp’s policies, procedures, practices, and activities. In its policies, procedures, practices, and activities, the iCamp will adhere to the following principles of best practice in child protection and welfare:
The iCamp will:
- recognize that the protection and welfare of children are of paramount importance, regardless of all other considerations
- fully comply with its statutory obligations under the Children First Act 2015 and other relevant legislation relating to the protection and welfare of children
- fully co-operate with the relevant statutory authorities in relation to child protection and welfare matters;
- adopt safe practices to minimize the possibility of harm or accidents happening to children and protect workers from the necessity to take unnecessary risks that may leave them open to accusations of abuse or neglect
- develop a practice of openness with parents and encourage parental involvement in the education of their children
- fully respect confidentiality requirements in dealing with child protection matters.
The iCamp will also adhere to the above principles in relation to any adult pupil with a special vulnerability.
5. The following procedures/measures are in place:
- In relation to any member of staff who is the subject of any investigation (howsoever described) in respect of any act, omission, or circumstance in respect of a child attending the camp, the iCamp adheres to the relevant procedures set out in Chapter 7 of the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017 and to the relevant agreed disciplinary procedures for staff which is published on the DE website.
- In relation to the selection or recruitment of staff and their suitability to work with children, the iCamp adheres to the statutory vetting requirements of theNational Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016 and to the wider duty of care guidance set out in relevant Garda vetting and recruitment circulars published by the Department of Education and available on the DE website.
- In relation to the provision of information and, where necessary, instruction and training, to staff in respect of the identification of the occurrence of harm (as defined in the 2015 Act) the iCamp
Ø Has provided each member of staff with a copy of the iCamp’s Child Safeguarding Statement
Ø Ensures all new staff are provided with a copy of the iCamp’s Child Safeguarding Statement
Ø Encourages staff to avail of relevant training
Ø Encourages Board of Management members to avail of relevant training
Ø The Board of Management maintains records of all staff and Board member training
- In relation to reporting child protection concerns to Tusla, all iCamp personnel is required to adhere to the procedures set out in the Child Protection Procedures for Primary and Post-Primary Schools 2017, including in the case of registered teachers, those in relation to mandated reporting under the Children First Act 2015.
- In this school, the Board has appointed the abovenamed DLP as the “relevant person” (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) to be the first point of contact in respect of the iCamp's child safeguarding statement.
- All registered Tutors and Leaders employed by the iCamp are mandated persons under the Children First Act 2015.
- In accordance with the Children First Act 2015 and the Addendum to Children First (2019), the Board has carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while attending the iCamp or participating in camp activities. A written assessment setting out the areas of risk identified and the iCamp’s procedures for managing those risks is included with the Child Safeguarding Statement.
- The various procedures referred to in this Statement can be accessed via the iCamp’s website, or the DE website or will be made available on request by the iCamp.
Note: The above is not intended as an exhaustive list. Individual Boards of Management shall also include in this section other procedures/measures that are of relevance to the iCamp in question.
6. This statement has been published on the iCamp’s website and has been provided to all members of iCamp personnel. It is readily accessible to parents and guardians on request. A copy of this Statement will be made available to Tusla and the Department if requested.
7. This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed annually or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which this statement refers.
This Child Safeguarding Statement was adopted by the Board of Management on April 25th 2022.
Signed: Tobiasz Sobinek
Signed: Jolanta Tulikowska-Sobinek
Chairperson of Board of Management Principal/Secretary to the Board of Management
Date: April 25th 2022 Date: April 25th 2022