KCYS

KCYS Child Safeguarding Statement

1. KCYS Purpose, Services and Principles to safeguard children and young people from harm

KerryCommunity Youth Service (KCYS) is a Community-based Youth Work Organisation. We respond to the needs of Young People, their Families and Communities in a safe, caring and supportive manner.

KCYS Mission and Values

KCYS is a community-based youth work organisation committed to serving all young people in a safe, fun and positive environment, through the provision of youth spaces, services, mentoring, training and ongoing opportunities for their holistic development. Our Values are Young Person centred, Inclusive, Respectful, Non-judgemental, Fun, Empowering and Rights-based.

KCYS provides a comprehensive range of youth work activities and programmes that support the social, emotional and physical well-being of young people. We are committed to ensuring that young people have opportunities to engage in developmental programmes, structures and activities so that they can lead happier, healthier lives. We do this by providing the following:

Principles to Safeguard Children from Harm:

Kerry Community Youth Service is committed to the principles laid out in Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children 2017:

The safety and welfare of children is everyone’s responsibility.
The best interests of the child should be paramount.
The overall aim in all dealings with children and their families is to intervene proportionately to support families to keep children safe from harm.
Interventions by the State should build on existing strengths and protective factors in the family.
Early intervention is key to getting better outcomes. Where it is necessary for the State to intervene to keep children safe, the minimum intervention necessary should be used.
Children should only be separated from parents/carers when alternative means of protecting them have been exhausted. KCYS Community based youth work International youth work Youth Participation Youth & Family support Youth Information Youth Justice & Drugs services Youth Centres Volunteer led youth work
Children have a right to be heard, listened to and taken seriously. Taking account of their age and understanding, they should be consulted and involved in all matters and decisions that may affect their lives.
Parents/carers have a right to respect, and should be consulted and involved in matters that concern their family.
A proper balance must be struck between protecting children and respecting the rights and needs of parents/carers and families.
Child protection is a multiagency, multidisciplinary activity. Agencies and professionals must work together in the interests of the children.
All children will be equally protected from harm regardless of race, ability, ethnicity, or sexual orientation.

2. Risk assessment of potential harm to children whilst availing of our services:

KCYS has completed a comprehensive assessment of the potential for harm to children and people who are engaged in the organisation and maintain a risk register in relation to this.

Harm in this context is related to assault, ill-treatment or neglect of the child or young person that seriously affects or is likely to seriously affect the child or young person’s health, development or welfare, or sexual abuse of the child or young person. This register identifies the seven categories of risk identified in the Children First Act 2015.

3. 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 Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice.

4. Implementation:

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 services. This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed by 22nd February 2024 or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.