From 11 December 2017 individuals and organisations that have regular access to or contact with children will need to have certain policies and procedures in place to comply with the Children First Act 2015.
Are you ready?
WHAT IS THE CHILDREN FIRST ACT 2015?
The Act obliges a wide range of individuals and service providers who have regular access to or contact with children to:
- report child protection concerns to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency; And
- have child safeguarding statements in place.
DOES THE ACT APPLY TO YOU?
In broad terms, the Act applies to anyone who has regular access to or contact with children, including:
- Hospitals, and individual doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers
- Schools and teachers
- Crèches and childcare workers
- An Garda Síochána
- Members of the clergy
- Foster parents
- Sports clubs, social clubs and after school clubs
- School bus facilities, both public and privately operated
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO NOW?
If the Act applies to you, now is the opportune time to review your organisation's child protection policies and procedures or to put new ones in place.
We will be publishing separate briefings on the obligation to report child protection concerns to Tusla and to have a child safeguarding statements in place. If you are interested in receiving a copy of these briefings, please click here.
This article contains a general summary of developments and is not a complete or definitive statement of the law. Specific legal advice should be obtained where appropriate.