Practice Policies

Child Safeguarding Statement

This is a General Medical Practice providing primary medical care to the local community. This is in the form of primary, personal and continuing care to all age groups at 28 Sion Hill Road, Drumcondra, Dublin 9 and on house calls in Drumcondra, Dublin 9. We have daily contact with children necessitating physical examinations. We in the practice are committed to safeguarding children as a core part of your work. Children will be accorded equal respect as to all other patients but their physical safety is primarily the parent/guardian’s responsibility while on the premises.

Risk assessment

1) Risk identified - Unaccompanied minors attending doctor or nurse

Procedure to manage risk - All people under 15 years tend to be accompanied by parent, guardian, or other adult verbally designated to us by the parent or guardian. People 15-18 are encouraged to have parental consent and knowledge of their visit here.

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2) Risk identified - Unaccompanied children in waiting room

Procedure to manage risk - Where possible children should be accompanied by their parent to the doctor/nurse room but if this is impractical; e.g. due to lack of space or privacy, then another family member should be present if possible in the waiting room. The reception staff cannot be responsible for such children.

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3) Risk identified - Physical risk in the waiting room or clinical room

Procedure to manage risk - A risk assessment has been carried out and hazards identified and minimised as far as possible but again the parent/ guardian are primarily responsible for maintaining the child’s safety on the premises.

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4) Risk identified - Unaccompanied physical examination of minors

Procedure to manage risk - Physical examinations of minors will only take place with parent or guardian present and aware of reason for examination

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5) Risk identified - Other risk as brought to our attention by the public

Procedure to manage risk - We will endeavour to assess and manage any other risks as far as possible

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Procedures:           

Our Child Safeguarding 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 of a child availing of our service – private discussion with complainant and Dr Behan, and referral onwards to Tusla.

  • Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of workers to work with children – all relevant staff have been Garda Vetted.

  • Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including identification of the occurrence of harm – all relevant staff have completed Children First training.

  • Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns – all concerns will be brought to Dr Mary Behan who will discuss with / report to Tusla as is necessary (referral by phone and/or in writing as necessary)

  • Procedure for maintaining a list of the person(s) in the relevant service who is/are the mandated person(s) (the GPs and the practice nurse)

 

  • Dr Mary Behan

  • Dr Simon Kelly

  • Dr Ciara Lambe

  • Rachael Marum

  • Jenny Kilmartin

 

  • Procedure for appointing a relevant person for whom concerns are brought to – Dr Behan is owner Lead GP in the practice. In her absence Georgie Sliney McCormack is the Practice Manager and will act on her behalf with the support of the other GP’s.

 

Implementation:

We recognise that implementation is an on-going process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe form harm while availing of our service. This Child Safeguarding Statement we be reviewed on an on-going basis, or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

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For queries please contact Dr Mary Behan – the relevant person under the Children First Act 2015. Mandated person and registered medical practitioner within the meaning of section 2 of the Medical Practitioners Act 2007.