Child Safeguarding Statement

Risk identified

Procedure in place to manage identified risk

1.

Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) of a child by a member of staff from things they have done (such as hurt a child)

·         All our medical staff are sent AMS Clinic procedures including child protection guidelines ahead of each clinic.

·         All AMS medical staff are fully compliance checked, including having qualifications checked, garda vetted, and reference checked.

·         All Doctors are members of the Irish Medical Council and all Nurses are members of the NMBI.

·         All AMS Clinic Managers complete Children First training every 2 years: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/

·         Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our services is in place and forms part of training.

2.

Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) - failure to report a concern

·         All our medical staff are sent AMS Clinic procedures including child protection guidelines ahead of each clinic.

·         All AMS medical staff are fully compliance checked, including having qualifications checked, garda vetted, and reference checked.

·         All Doctors are members of the Irish Medical Council and all Nurses are members of the NMBI.

·         All AMS Clinic Managers complete Children First training every 2 years: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/

·         Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our services is in place and forms part of training.

·         Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla is in place and forms part of training.

·         Our communications to a parent/guardian of a child attending our services includes our contact details for complaints and feedback about the screening service.

3.

Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) caused by lack of supervision

·         All clinics where children are screened or where health checks are carried out are supervised by an AMS Clinic Manager.

·         All our medical staff are sent AMS Clinic procedures including child protection guidelines ahead of each clinic.

·         All AMS Clinic Managers complete Children First training every 2 years: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/

·         Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our services is in place and forms part of training.

·         Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla is in place and forms part of training.

·         Parents/Guardians of children are invited to attend all screening appointments.

·         If a parent is attending the clinic on their own behalf they are asked by the Clinic Manager to attend their child’s appointment with them.

4.

Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) by a visitor to a clinic where children are present (workers, parents, placements etc.)

·         All clinics where children are screened or where health checks are carried out are supervised by an AMS Clinic Manager.

·         Breaks are coordinated for all staff so that no unauthorised visitors, workers, parents, placements etc. are allowed into the screening area or screening rooms while the clinic is taking place.

·         All AMS medical staff are fully compliance checked, including having qualifications checked, garda vetted, and reference checked.

·         All Doctors are members of the Irish Medical Council and all Nurses are members of the NMBI.

·         All AMS Clinic Managers complete Children First training every 2 years: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/

·         Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our services is in place and forms part of training.

·         Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla is in place and forms part of training.

5.

Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) by another child at a clinic

·         All clinics where children are screened or where health checks are carried out are supervised by an AMS Clinic Manager.

·         No unauthorised visitors or other children are allowed into the screening area or screening rooms while the clinic is taking place, unless as an agreed chaperone approved by a parent/guardian.

·         All Doctors are members of the Irish Medical Council and all Nurses are members of the NMBI.

·         All AMS Clinic Managers complete Children First training every 2 years: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/

6.

Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) of a child on an outing to a clinic by a member of staff/volunteer/stranger/peer.

·         Not applicable to AMS Clinics

7.

Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) through access to ICT / unauthorised photography (e.g., social media or web access, electronic contact, etc).

·         All clinics where children are screened or where health checks are carried out are supervised by an AMS Clinic Manager.

·         All AMS medical staff are fully compliance checked, including having qualifications checked, garda vetted, and reference checked.

·          All AMS Clinic Managers complete Children First training every 2 years: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/

8.

Risk from cardiac screening in schools and sports clubs, where children age 12 and over will have an electrocardiogram (ECG) performed by a nurse or cardiac physiologist in which some of the clothing will be opened and/or loosened. Undergarments may be altered to enable the correct placement of leads to carry out the ECG test correctly.

·         An information note (link) is issued to the parents and/or guardians of children being screened prior to the screening outlining what is involved in the screening and advising that a child can have someone attend the appointment with them, e.g. a parent, friend, or a child can also request a school/club representative to accompany them.

·         Information link sent to parents prior to a screening: https://bookings.ameds.ie/assets/images/Important-Information-for-parent-guardian-cardiac-screening.pdf outlining what to expect during the screening

·         All AMS medical staff are fully compliance checked prior to each clinic, including having qualifications checked, garda vetted, and reference checked.

·         All Doctors are members of the Irish Medical Council and all Nurses are members of the NMBI.

·         Detailed guidelines are issued to medical staff ahead of clinics where children are screened, which include outlining the sensitivity needed when looking after them.

·         In school and club settings, an AMS Clinic Manager is present on the day of the clinic, who is there to support the child and answer any questions they may have before attending their appointment.

·         All AMS Clinic Managers complete Children First training every 2 years: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/

·         All actions that will be performed on the day are explained to the child by the medical staff before they take place.

·         The parent/guardian or child may decline an examination if they feel uncomfortable.

9.

Risk during wellness examinations where a child may have to undress for portions of the examination such as a skin check, abdominal examination, and/or hernia examination.

·         A parent/guardian or chaperone will always be present with the doctor if a hernia check is taking place.

·         All AMS medical staff are fully compliance checked prior to each clinic, including having qualifications checked, garda vetted, and reference checked.

·         All Doctors are members of the Irish Medical Council and all Nurses are members of the NMBI.

·         Detailed guidelines are issued to medical staff ahead of clinics where children are screened, which include outlining the sensitivity needed when looking after them.

·         All AMS Clinic Managers complete Children First training every 2 years: https://www.tusla.ie/children-first/children-first-e-learning-programme/

·         Information on what to expect in your child’s wellness examination is made available to the parent/guardian/child prior to the examination taking place.

·         All actions that will be performed on the day are explained to the child by the medical staff before they take place.

·         The parent/guardian or child may decline any of these examinations if they feel uncomfortable.