Children First Update

Work has been continuing at national level in relation to the implementation of the provisions of Children First in the disability sector with the ‘National Disability Steering Group for Implementation of Children First’, chaired by Ms. Ann Bourke, National Disability Unit, HSE, meeting regularly. The work of the group has been focused primarily on:

• Children First in Disability Services – A Guide to Policy Formation and Implementation: This guidance framework has been developed to ensure a consistent approach to and implementation of Children First, 2011 across all statutory and non-statutory HSE funded disability services and to ensure compliance with same. All organisations whose staff may have contact with children through their work are required to implement this policy framework. Whilst not specifically referred to in Children First 2011, organisations providing services to adults with disabilities must also implement this guidance framework to ensure their compliance with Children First. A copy of this document has been circulated to all National Federation member organisations.
• Children First Training: We are liaising with Mr Boyd Dodds, HSE National Lead for Children First, in relation to the provision of training to organisations. Work is advanced on a range of training programmes – Foundation Training, Information Briefings, DLP Training, Mandatory Reporter Training, Train-the-Trainers Programme – and as details become available in relation to same they will be circulated to National Federation members.
• Key Performance Indicators 2013: Organisations will be expected to report on progress in implementing Children First and a number of key performance indicators have been agreed on which agencies will have to report progress during 2013.

To support the work of the National Disability Steering Group an internal NFVB Children First Implementation Group has been established and the role of this group will be to support National Federation members in complying with the provisions of Children First.

You can download Children First in Disability Services - a guide to policy formation and implementation here. 

For further information please contact Jillian Sexton at jillian.sexton@fedvol.ie