FAQs

Q1.Who do I talk to if I am concerned about a child’s welfare?

If you have a concern about a young person it is very important that you take one of the following actions:

• Report to your designated person within your organisation
• If you do not have a designated person, report directly to your local duty social worker in your local health centre.
• Click here to download a list of HSE Child Protection and Welfare Services.
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• In an emergency or if a social worker is not available, contact An Garda Siochana.

• All youth organisations have a responsibility and a duty of care for the protection and well being of the young people with whom they work. There are a number of measures that youth organisations must put in place to safeguard children from harm. These include the following:
  
• A child protection policy, a named designated person, a recruitment and selection process for employees and volunteers, a written code of behavior, training in child protection and safeguarding for all staff, volunteers and management.

• There are a variety of training programmes available to the youth work sector
• Please see the training section of this website.
• The HSE also deliver child protection training programmes.

• Please see   Code of Good Practice, Child Protection for the Youth work Sector.

• Please see the garda vetting section of this website.

• Alternatively you can contact the

Central Garda Vetting Unit,

Racecourse Road,

Thurles,
Co.Tipperary

Tel:+353 (0)504 27300
Fax:+353 (0)504 27373