Child Safeguarding Statement

Under the Children First Act 2015, all organisations providing ‘relevant services’, to children and families must have a Child Safeguarding Statement in place. This is a written statement that specifies the service being provided and the principles and procedures to be observed in order to ensure, as far as practicable, that a child availing of the service is safe from harm. The Statement must be informed by a risk assessment.

Child Safeguarding Statements must be reviewed within 24 months or following any material change in any matters to which the Statement relates.

The HSE Children First National Office has developed 'Guidance for Developing and Reviewing Child Safeguarding Statements' in HSE services. A supporting 'Child Safeguarding Risk Assessment Template' and 'Child Safeguarding Statement Template' is also available.

Services using the templates provided should always ensure that they are using the most up to date versions, available to download on this webpage.

The Child Safeguarding Statement Template that is currently available to download was uploaded on 14 March 2024. It is recommended that all Relevant Services update their Child Safeguarding Statement to this current version. Services should, however, retain the review date of their current Child Safeguarding Statement, unless they have also reviewed their risk assessment in full i.e. the ‘review date’ on a Child Safeguarding Statement should be within 24 months of the last child safeguarding risk assessment undertaken.

Guidance and templates

The Templates must be downloaded and saved to your device before completion and they should always be printed and displayed in A3 size.

A secondary logo can be added to the editable PDF version of the Child Safeguarding Statement Template once the document is downloaded. The option to add a signature using a picture file should also become available, otherwise templates can be signed once printed. If using the Microsoft Word version of the Child Safeguarding Statement Template please exercise caution if deleting text because you may delete something that is required by legislation.

Note: If you encounter difficulties using any of the templates provided or have any questions in relation to the completion of a Child Safeguarding Statement for your service, please contact your local Children First Training and Development Officer.

All staff should make themselves aware of the content of the Child Safeguarding Statement for their service, the potential risks of harm identified, and the policies and procedures in place to safeguard children.

Child Friendly Explanation of Child Safeguarding Statements

Additionally, two child-friendly posters providing an explanation of the HSE Child Safeguarding Statements are also available. The first option appealed greater to children of primary school age and the second option appealed greater to older children and young people. The wording of both posters is the same.

It is recommended that one of these posters is displayed beside the Child Safeguarding Statement in your service.

Choose which poster is more relevant to your service’s user demographic or if you provide services to children of all ages, display the poster you prefer.

Please note: These child-friendly resources have been translated to numerous languages accessible through the QR code on the poster. The name and contact details of the ‘Relevant Person’ for your service’s Child Safeguarding Statement needs to be included on the English language version of the poster. You can find the Relevant Person’s contact details on your service Child Safeguarding Statement.

Explanation of HSE Child Safeguarding Statements Poster