Child Safeguarding Statement & Risk Assessment.

 
 
 

  1. Name of Organisation: Ireland’s National School Photography Awards [INSPA / INSPAsmiles]

  2. Name of service being provided: Children’s photography competition and School / Educational Photography

  3. Nature of service and principles to safeguard children from harm

    At INSPA/INSPAsmiles we provide an online photography competition alongside full school and educational photography services to educational establishments, their students and their families. Our organisation believes that the best interests of children and young people participating / attending our services are paramount. Our guiding principles are underpinned by Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and current legislation such as the Children First Act 2015, Child Care Act 1991, Protections for Persons Reporting Child Abuse Act 1998 and the National Vetting Bureau Act 2012. 

    Our guiding principles apply to all paid staff, volunteers, committee/board members and students on work placement within our organisation. All committee/board members, staff, volunteers and students must sign up to and abide by these guiding principles and our child safeguarding procedures. All our staff, volunteers, committee/board members, volunteers and students will complete TUSLA’s ‘Introduction to Children’s First’ E-learning programme. 

  4. Risk Assessment

    We have carried out an assessment of any potential harm to a child while availing of our services including the area of online safety when accessing the internet. Below is a list of the areas of risk identified and the list of procedures for managing these risks.

    Risk Identified

    Slips, trips and falls

    Procedure to manage identified risk

    All INSPAsmiles studios to be set up with Health & Safety in mind. All cables covered or clearly marked and all tripod legs to be covered in or clearly marked. All stools and chairs to be checked before the photo-shoot.

    Risk Identified

    Photographing Minors

    Procedure to manage identified risk

    Parent/Guardian consent is sought for each pupil prior to each photo shoot in educational establishments.

    Risk Identified

    Child Well-being

    Procedure to manage identified risk

    If a child seems upset or uneasy having their photograph taken, the photographer or school liaison will work to calm and reassure the child before taking their photograph. If the child still feels reluctant to have their photograph taken they will not be forced to do so.

    Risk Identified

    Child Safety & Protection

    Procedure to manage identified risk

    Images are stored by unique reference code only. Pupils names are not stored electronically at any point alongside images taken by us for #INSPAsmiles Days. All hard copy proof/order forms returned to INSPA / INSPAsmiles, once processed are securely shredded and destroyed.

    For the INSPA Awards, all school account details are sent out to official school email addresses only. This takes place after a school has registered their account ensuring that school officials are the only persons receiving their account details from INSPA / INSPAsmiles.

    If an entry into the INSPA Awards contains a person(s) under the age of 18, a consent form from their Parents/Guardians is required for the entry to be considered.

    Rick Identified

    Data Breach

    Procedure to manage identified risk

    INSPA / INSPAsmiles continually update our processes to maintain 100% GDPR compliance. Production of images from point of downloading, through selection, processing, printing, packing & posting is completed in house thus ensuring continuity, data safety and a product of the highest quality throughout the entire process. GDPR training will also be made available to all staff / volunteers

  5. Procedures

    Our Child Safety Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, the Children First: National Guidance, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice. In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following procedures support our intention to safeguard children while they are availing of our service:

    • Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against workers/volunteers of a child availing of our service(s)

    • Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers and volunteers to work with children

    • Procedure for the provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm

    • Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla

    • Procedure for maintaining a list of the persons (if any) in the relevant service who are mandated persons

    • Procedures for appointing a relevant person

  6. Declaration of Guiding Principles

    We believe that: 

    • Our priority to ensure the welfare and safety of every child and young person who participates in / attends our service(s) is paramount. 

    • Our guiding principles and procedures to safeguard children and young people reflect national policy and legislation and we will review our guiding principles and child safeguarding procedures every two years or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

    • All children and young people have an equal right to attend a service that respects them as individuals and encourages them to reach their potential, regardless of their background. 

    • We are committed to upholding the rights of every child and young person who participates in / attends our service(s), including the rights to be kept safe and protected from harm, listened to and heard. 

    • Our guiding principles apply to everyone in our organisation. 

    • Workers/volunteers must conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of our organisation. 

  7. Implementation

    We recognise that implementation is an ongoing process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm while participating in / availing of our service(s). This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed every 2 years, or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.