As services begin to wind down for the summer months, some may be reviewing their CPD/Training Strategy for the coming year.  The National Child Safeguarding Programme would like to remind registered providers of ELC services that Part 2 of the Children First Act 2015 places specific obligations on organisations that provide relevant services to children. These obligations rest with the provider of the relevant service, as the person who employs one or more than one other person to undertake the relevant service (i.e., the owner/chairperson of the BOM)

A) Providers of Relevant Services under the Children First Act, 2015;

• Schedule 1 ‘Relevant Services’ 1. Any work or activity which is carried out by a person, a necessary and regular part of which consists mainly of the person having access to, or contact with, children in — (a) an establishment which provides early years services within the meaning of Part VIIA of the Child Care Act 1991
• Provider of a Relevant Service – as per the Children First Act 2015, is someone who employs, contracts with or permits one, or more than one other person, to undertake any work or activity that constitutes a relevant service i.e., the employer.

B) Mandated Persons under the Children First Act, 2015;

Schedule 2 ‘Mandated Persons’ in ELC Services

• “Childcare staff member employed in a pre-school service within the meaning of Part VIIA of the Child Care Act 1991”
• “A person carrying on a pre-school service within the meaning of Part VIIA of the Child Care Act 1991”

It is imperative that registered providers of ELC services including Chairpersons of Boards of Management of Community Services and owners of chains of private services along with all other Tusla registered providers are aware of and understand their role, responsibilities and obligations as both Providers of Relevant Services and Mandated Persons under the Children First Act, 2015. 

As part of ELC service’s Child Safeguarding Training Strategy, which is a Specified Procedure under the Children First Act, 2015, it is recommended that at a minimum, all stakeholders should complete Tusla’s Children First eLearning Programme  and all mandated persons should complete Tusla’s Mandated Person eLearning Module.  The National Child Safeguarding Programme’s Info Blast on Mandated Persons will also provide further information.

For further information,  The Children First Act, 2015 can be accessed here  and chapter 3 of The Children First National Guidance, 2017, also provides further information for Mandated Persons and can be accessed here.

It is recommended that persons described above, also attend the Always Children First Child Safeguarding Training provided nationally by City and County Childcare Committees to further their understanding of their responsibilities.