Child Safeguarding Policy

The Rowan Therapy Centre provides Counselling, Consultation, Training and Workshops for Adolescents, Adults and parents/guardians and loved ones . The purpose of this policy is to safeguard children, young people and their families on the premises and working online.

Rowan Therapy Centres safeguarding policy is a guidance document for practitioners and external facilitators to identify and respond to any allegations or suspicions of child abuse or neglect. The document adheres to The Department of Children and Youth Affairs National Guidance for the protection and welfare of children, published in 2011 and The Children's First Act 2015. This Safeguarding statement is displayed on the Rowan Therapy Centre’s website.

All practitioners working in or in conjunction with Rowan Therapy Centre adheres to the Children's First Act 2015, and Article 1 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The definition of a child is a person below the age of 18 years, who is not, or has not been married. The Safeguarding policy applies to all practitioners and consulting staff working with the Rowan Therapy Centre.

The following principles underpin the Child Safeguarding Statement;

 

  1. The welfare of the child is of paramount importance.

  2. Rowan Therapy Centre is committed to respecting the right to dignity and bodily integrity of every child, and to protect those rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child as outlined in the Articles 2, 3, and 6.

  3. All Rowan Therapy centre practitioners have a mandated responsibility to protect children and have a duty of care to report child abuse as set out in The Children's First Act 2015, and in accordance with The National Guidelines for The Protection of Children 2011.

  4. Rowan Therapy Centre endorses The Children's First Act 2015 and are committed to developing policies and procedures in line with legislation.

  5. Rowan Therapy Centre will not knowingly engage any person, organisation, or fund any project that poses a risk to children.

  6. Rowan Therapy Centre will ensure that all staff receive appropriate training in Child Protection. (HSE Children’s first training as minimum standard).

  7. All practitioners are to be members of accredited bodies and adhere to best practice guidelines set out by those bodies and that all practitioners are Garda Vetted by the Garda Vetting Unit.