This revised version of Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children describes the four main types of abuse and sets out the steps which should be taken to ensure that the child or young person is protected from harm. It has been updated to include new information about the Children First Act 2015 and it includes specific information for the professionals and organisations that now have legal obligations to keep children safe. The Guidance also outlines the roles of the main statutory bodies involved in child welfare and protection: Tusla - Child and Family Agency, and An Garda Síochána. It contains details of how to report a concern about a child and what happens once the report is received by Tusla.
The revised Guidance is just one of the resources available to assist with child protection. For the first time, a free, online child welfare and protection training module is now available for everyone. This e-learning module has been designed by Tusla to complement the legislation and this Guidance. This, and a number of additional child protection and safeguarding information resources, can be found on the Tusla website, www.tusla.ie.
