Child Protection

Westpark Fitness Safeguarding Statement – 2023

Name of service being provided:

Swimming pool usage.

Nature of service and principles to safeguard children from harm.

Westpark provides pool facilities for children, this can be a combination of swim lessons and open pool sessions. We are committed to providing a safe environment based on requirements set out in the reference documents below.

Risk Assessment

We have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while availing of our services. This can be reviewed in our club risk assessments and in our child protection policy.

Procedures

Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tulsa’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice. 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 service:

• Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our service;
• Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children;
• Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm;
• Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla;
• Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons;
• Procedure for appointing a relevant person.
• All procedures listed are available upon request.

Implementation

We recognise that implementation is an on-going process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our service.

This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed in Dec. 2021, or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

Signed:

Sharon Hogan (on behalf of Westpark Fitness)

Lizzie Burke (on behalf of Westpark Fitness)

Sharon Hogan DLP

Lizzie Burke Dept DLP

For queries, please contact Sharon Hogan, Relevant Person under the Children First Act 2015.

You can e-mail them on sharon@westpark.ie or lizzie@westpark.ie

Child Admission Policy – Public

The Management and Staff of Westpark fitness aim to ensure children feel they are in a safe, welcoming yet focused environment where they can undertake challenging and enjoyable activities. We also want to make sure that children are protected and kept safe from harm while they are in the center. Most importantly we recognize that children are here to have fun and learn new skills.

All children of 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times throughout the center including changing rooms, by a responsible parent/guardian or adult aged 18 and over.

• You can become a member of Westpark fitness when you reach the age of 16
• There are numerous activities/classes/events that children are involved in. When a child first uses the facility, written parental consent is required in case need arises for medical assistance.
• Consent is also required when taking photographs of an activity (for training purposes or advertising etc.)

All Center users are kindly requested to abide by the center’s rules and regulations.

1.1. Service Being Provided

Westpark fitness Centre provides a wide range of children’s activities. We currently have:

• Kids swim lessons
• Family rig classes
• Swim membership
• External karate classes

1.2. Risk Assessment

We have carried out an assessment of any potential for harm to a child while availing of our services.

In the table below is a list of the areas of risk identified and a list of the procedures for managing these risks.

1.3. Procedures

Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, The Children First: National Guidance, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice. 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 service:

1. A procedure for appropriate recruitment and selection of employees, volunteers, work experience students and promotion of employees.
2. A procedure for implementing the Garda vetting requirements for all relevant employees and volunteers: (reference National Vetting Bureau – Children and vulnerable persons Act 2012-2016)
3. A procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm.
4. A clear comments and complaints procedure for parents and children to voice their concerns or lodge complaints if they feel unsure or unhappy about any issue as well as a separate child protection email address.
5. A procedure for maintaining a list of persons within our organizations who are mandated persons.
6. A procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct of a child availing of our service made against workers / volunteers / work experience students.
7. A procedure for the management of allegations of misconduct or abuse by employees.

All procedures available on request.

1.4. Procedures

We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while availing of our service. This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed on July 2020, or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

Child protection risk analysis

Risk Assessment

Likelihood