Roles and Responsibilities of HSE Line Managers under the
HSE Child Protection and Welfare Policy 2016
when dealing with Child Protection or Welfare Concerns
The HSE Child Welfare and Protection Policy (2016) sets out the framework for the
management of child protection and welfare concerns in the HSE. It seeks to keep
children safe by promoting children’s rights and to encourage an environment across
the organisation and HSE funded agencies and contractors where children are
listened to and where staff who work with children are supported in their
safeguarding responsibilities.
The policy:
Provides information on the structures for the reporting of all child protection
and welfare concerns.
Outlines staff’s roles and responsibilities in terms of child protection and
welfare.
Describes the organisational and managerial structures in place and outlines
how the HSE works with the Child and Family Agency who together with An
Garda Síochána have statutory responsibility for the assessment and
investigation of child protection concerns.
Roles and Responsibilities of Line Managers under the HSE Child Protection
and Welfare Policy (2016):
Line Managers must ensure that they:
have read, understood and are familiar with the HSE Child Protection and
Welfare Policy
are knowledgeable about the HSE Procedure for Reporting Child Protection
and Welfare Concerns
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raise awareness of child protection and welfare issues through supervision,
support, training, assistance and advice
ensure all staff complete the HSE e-Learning programme on HseLand at the
earliest date
provide assistance to staff who have a child protection or welfare concern
ensure a copy of all reports to the Child and Family Agency are copied to their
DLP
ensure the HSE Child Protection and Welfare Policy 2016 is issued or sent by
electronic means to all personnel (permanent, temporary or locum) including
visiting health professionals, contractors, consultants, students on work
placement / clinical training, interns and volunteers within their areas of
responsibility
that personnel within their areas have an understanding of their responsibilities
in relation to the implementation of the policy
Place as a standing item on team meeting agenda’s
What to do if a staff member has a child protection or welfare concern?
Provide protected time without delay to discuss the concern with the staff
member. This will involve discussing what happened and the evidence the
team member has for the concern including any written record, past concerns
or presentations, signs and symptoms of abuse.
Decide if there are reasonable grounds for concern to make a report.
Consult with the Child and Family Agency Duty Social Worker if you are
unsure whether a report should be made without delay.
If following consultation between the line manager and Duty Social Worker a
decision is made to report, the HSE Procedure for Reporting Child Protection
or Welfare Concerns must be followed.
Support the staff members to inform and consult with the parents/guardians
(and child) where appropriate as soon as possible unless doing so would
endanger the child or create acuity of risk which cannot be managed. Ensure
the staff member has recorded their responses.
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If following consultation a decision is made not to report, the staff member
supported by the line manager or the most appropriate senior staff member
will clearly record the discussion and reasons for not reporting in the
client record.
Ensure there is a written record of outcomes and all decisions.
In Out of Hours emergency situations the line manager should make contact
with An Garda Síochána. A copy of that report should be forwarded to the
Designated Liaison Person for your service.
If a child is at immediate risk and the Duty Social Worker in the Child and
Family Agency cannot be contacted please contact An Garda Síochána at any
Garda Station without delay.
Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and
Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012
It is important to know that ALL STAFF may also have a responsibility to report
directly to the An Garda Síochána for some offences against children under the
Criminal Justice (Withholding of Information on Offences against Children and
Vulnerable Adults) Act 2012. Under this act it is now a crime to withhold information
on certain offences which include sexual offences and offences causing harm,
abduction, manslaughter or murder of children and vulnerable adults. HSE staff
must ensure that reports which fall under the category of offences in the Act
are reported directly to An Garda Síochána in addition to any report which may be
made to the Child and Family Agency and the Designated Liaison Person.
This is to fulfil the obligations of the Act. A copy of the report must be retained on the
file. It is important that every HSE staff member co-operates with An Garda Síochána
in the implementation of their statutory duty under this act.
Please refer to the HSE Child Protection and Welfare Policy (2016) for further
information.
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Training and support for HSE Line Managers in Children First:
“Information on “An Introduction to Children First”: The HSE E-Learning Module”
provides information and guidance about the mandatory Children First training
module.
For any queries in relation to Children First please contact the HSE Children First
National Office on [email protected]
Additional training will be available for Line Managers in relation to their role and
responsibilities under Children First. This will be facilitated by the HSE Children First
National Office.
Useful Links
HSE Children First Website: www.hse.ie/childrenfirst
Child and Family Agency: www.tusla.ie
Department of Children and Youth Affairs: www.dcya.gov.ie
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