Child Safeguarding Statement

Parentline provides a national helpline for parents and carers. We offer support, information, and guidance on all aspects of parenting in confidence and without judgement. We provide the National helpline for Post-Natal Depression (PND) and facilitate the Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) Programme to deal with child to parent violence.
Almost all of Parentline’s work is conducted over the phone. Less than 1% of contact is face to face. We deal with parents only and not with children.

Risk Assessment

	Risk identified	Procedure to manage identified risk
	Parentline does not deal directly with children	Not relevant
	We do not allow parents take children with them when they meet us.	Not relevant
	A caller reports potential risk or harm to a child anonymously during a call to helpline.	As a confidential service, Parentline is constrained in reporting, as we do not have the caller details (name, address, phone numbers)
	A caller reports risk or harm to a child during a call and gives identifying information	The Relevant Person and Board of Directors is informed and a report is made to Prevention Partnership & Family Support Manager in Tusla

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.

As has already been noted Parentline does not deal with children as part of our service delivery. We deal directly with parents only and ask parents not to bring children to our premises.

However, in case there is a breach of this rule the following applies:

All allegations of abuse or misconduct against employees/volunteers must be reported to the CEO (Relevant Person under the Children First Act 2015). This will, in turn, be reported to the Board of Directors of Parentline.

All volunteers and staff are trained and made aware of our policies as part of their induction process. References are always checked.

As Parentline does not work with children, it is felt that child safeguarding training is not required for everyone. However, the CEO (Relevant Person under the Children First Act 2015), and another nominated volunteer, attends appropriate training to keep up to date with current procedures and legislation. This training is typically delivered by Tusla and The Carmichael Centre.

If anyone connected with Parentline becomes aware of a child protection or welfare concern, and has identifying information, they report it initially to the CEO (Relevant Person) who will then report it to The Prevention, Partnership & Family Support Manager at Tusla.

As part of the policy, the Relevant Person and Deputy are listed in The Helpline Room, to which all staff and volunteers have access. Incoming staff or volunteers are informed as part of induction.

Details of the Child Safety Statement will be outlined in the Annual Report. Other issues that may arise in relation to this area will be recorded.

The Relevant Person is the CEO, and the Deputy Relevant Person is appointed by The Parentline Board.

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 March 2021 or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

Signed:

Relevant Person: Aileen Hickie
Deputy Relevant Person: Michele Ridgway

April 2020 (updated November 20)