Child Protection

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CHILD PROTECTION

Lisburn City Council (the Council) has developed a Child Protection Policy with expert advice from Down Lisburn Trust and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) (Northern Ireland). It applies to all employees and covers all functions of the Council where employees may come into contact with children.

The Policy includes

  • Reporting guidelines
  • Recruitment and vetting of personnel
  • Employee Code of Conduct ie. what is expected of employees when dealing with children
  • Types of abuse and their commonly accepted definitions

The appointment of a designated Child Protection Officer and the formation of an interdepartmental Child Protection Working Group highlight the Council's committment to Child Protection. Copies of the Policy are available from all Council facilities or click here to download a copy (626.01KB).

 

Concerns re a child at a Lisburn City Council Activity or in a Council Facility?

If you have any concerns report them to a council employee who will inform the designated Child Protection Officer. Alternatively you can contact the designated Child Protection Officer on 028 92509250 or email to childprotection@lisburn.gov.uk

 

Child Supervision Levels at Children's Activities

The number of children registered for and able to participate in Council run activities depends on spaces, numbers of staff and volunteers available.

Minimum Supervision Levels

  • Age 3 - 4 years - Maximum of 8 children per adult and a minimum of 2 adults, preferably 1 of each gender
  • Age 5 - 7 years (centre based) - Maximum of 10 children per adult and a minimum of 2 adults, preferably 1 of each gender
  • Age 5 - 7 years (away trips) Maximum of 10 children per adult and a minimum of 2 adults, preferably 1 of each gender
  • Age over 8 years (centre based) - 1 adult per 15 children and a minimum of 2 adults, preferably 1 of each gender
  • Age over 8 years (away trips) -1 adult per 10 children and a minimum of 2 adults, preferably 1 of each gender

Where there are insufficient staff/volunteers to meet ratio requirements, activities/trips may be cancelled or numbers restricted.

 

Photography

Good practice guidelines are in operation in all Lisburn City Council facilities.

  • Individuals wishing to photograph children must complete an authorisation form giving their details, the reason for the photography and confirming that the children's parents' consent has been received
  • Staff will challenge unauthorised photography or videoing of children
  • Photography is prohibited in any changing room or toilet area.

 

Leisurewatch

Lisburn City Council is committed to the Leisurewatch scheme in its leisure spaces. This initiative brings together trained staff in leisure venues and named police officers responsible for community safety, in order to reduce the risk of harm. Leisurewatch is a trade marked scheme delivered and maintained by TDI. Its aim is to make sexual offending more difficult in defined public spaces.

Leisurewatch works by:

  • making staff of a site more able to spot potentially dangerous behaviour and empowering them to make safe challenges to customers
  • pointing out to managers any infrastructural aspects of a site which may make it easier for people to commit offending behaviour
  • promoting an observant and vigilant image for the site which is off-putting to sex offenders and reassuring to the public
  • making strong and informed links with local police, who respect the fact that staff have been trained to observe behaviour
  • establishing a formal referral procedure to inform police of suspect behaviour before an offence has been committed
  • providing more information to MAPPA units to ensure that offenders being managed in the community do not break the terms of their management arrangements

 

Block Bookings of Council Leisure Facilities

Lisburn City Council is aware of the positive work carried out by very many coaches, tutors and helpers, in providing safe and fun activities for children at all its leisure facilities.

In order to work towards ensuring an even safer environment for children* attending such clubs, groups etc, from 1 October 2009 we will be asking that all clubs / groups who use Council facilities for more than one session**, provide us with verification of the following;

  • That their group has a child protection policy which includes the following – aims / objectives of policy, code of conduct for coaches / tutors, signs / symptoms of abuse, adult / child ratios and information relating to their designated child protection officer.
  • That any person / volunteer whose role in the club / group is a regulated activity under The Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 i.e. involved in teaching, training, caring for, supervising, advising or transporting children has been vetted by AccessNI. Further information regarding vetting is available from www.accessni.gov.uk.

A Child Protection policy confirmation form must be signed at the time of block booking. Failure to comply with the above after 1 October 2009 will prevent your booking being accepted or use of Council facilities.

To down load a copy of the Child Protection Confirmation Form please click here.

*A child is anyone under the age of 18 years

**A session is any time period in any one day

 

AccessNI

Under the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups (NI) Order 2007 any one who works in a regulated activity i.e. involves contact with children or vulnerable adults such as teaching, training, instruction, care, supervision, advice, guidance, treatment, therapy or transport to a child or vulnerable adult and does so frequently (once per month or more) or intensively (3 or more days in any 30 day period or overnight) MUST be checked by AccessNI. If you employ a barred person you will commit an offence.

For details on checks please contact AccessNI at: accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk.