Mandated Person –

• where a mandated person knows, believes or has reasonable grounds to suspect, on the basis of information that he or she has received, acquired or becomes aware of in the course of his or her employment or profession as such a mandated person,that a child–has been harmed, is being harmed, or is at risk of being harmed,
• Where a child believes that he or she– has been harmed, is being harmed, or is at risk of being harmed, and discloses this belief to a mandated person in the course of a mandated person’s employment or profession as such a person, the mandated person shall, as soon as practicable, report that disclosure to the Agency.

Child Safeguarding Statement –

• defined in the Children First Act 2015, this is a statement, including a written assessment of risk of harm to children and the measures that will be taken to manage any identified risks.

Children First –

This is an overarching term that refers to responsibilities under:

• Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (DCYA, 2017)
•  Children First Act, 2015

Child Safeguarding Statement Specified Procedures –

• these are the 6 procedures outlined in the Children First Act 2015 that all provider’s relevant services are required to have to keep children safe from harm. The procedure contained herein ‘for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons’.

Provider –

as defined in the Children First Act 2015, ‘means, in relation to a relevant service, a person-

• who provides a relevant service, and
• who, in respect of the provision of such relevant service—

(i) employs (whether under contract of employment or otherwise) one or more than one other person to undertake any work or activity that constitutes a relevant service,

(ii) enters into a contract for services with one or more than one other person for the provision by the person of a relevant service, or

(iii) permits one or more than one other person (whether or not for commercial or other consideration and whether or not as part of a course of education or training, including an internship scheme) to undertake any work or activity, on behalf of the person, that constitutes a relevant service;’

Relevant Service –

• as defined in the Children First Act 2015, ‘means any work or activity specified in Schedule 1 [of that Act]’.

Governance – 

• Governance refers to the arrangements and practices which enable an entity to set its direction and manage its operations in order to discharge its accountability obligations and assist in the achievement of expected outcomes.
• It encompasses many facets, including leadership, policies, relationships and control and accountability measures.

Guidelines –

• A guideline is defined as a principle of criterion that guides or directs action.
• Guidelines tend to be based on best evidence informed practice. These typically arise when supporting complex professional judgement decisions e.g. The Child Protection and Welfare Handbook.

Organisational Policy –

• An organisational policy is a written statement that clearly indicates the position and values of the organisation on a given subject.
• This is distinct from National Policy that has implications not only for the Child & Family Agency but also a range of other stakeholders e.g. Children First.

Procedure A procedure is a series of actions conducted in a certain order or manner. These typically apply in situations where legislative requirements are present e.g. Responding to Allegations of Abuse.

Protocol A protocol is defined as a written plan that specifies procedures to be followed in defined situations; a protocol represents a standard of care that describes an intervention or a set of interventions. Protocols are more explicit and specific in detail than guidelines. They specify who does what, when and how. These typically arise in situations where two or more agencies are required to work together in respect of a common goal or outcome e.g. Missing in Care Protocol.

Scope This includes both the target users and target population of the policy, procedure, protocol or Guideline.