Children
Westport Leisure Park has an extensive list of activities for the younger folk. Duckling Swimming Classes start with 4 to 5 year olds. With our main Swimming Awards Programme covers from 5 year olds upwards.
Adult & Baby Swimming Classes
These Adult & Baby Swimming Classes are held on a regular basis and are suitable for babies from 6 months upwards.
These classes require the adults to be present in the pool with the baby at all times.
Please contact reception for bookings.
Kid's Camp during holiday times The Covey Activity Camp swings into action with a great range of activities in this week long camp to keep the juniors busy over the school break.
Westport Leisure Park Child Protection Policy
POLICY STATEMENT
Westport Leisure Park is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of all its members with the welfare of children as paramount
Westport Leisure Park aims to foster and develop swimming disciplines and to promote the development of physical and social qualities that come from swimming and associated sports
Westport Leisure Park is committed to the promotion of the teaching and practice of swimming associated disciplines in accordance with current best practice
Every individual in the organisation should at all times show respect and understanding for each member’s rights, overall development, safety and welfare
Every individual should conduct themselves in a way that embraces the ethos and principles of Westport Leisure Park
Every individual should conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles contained in the following documents:
Staff Training
Training: NOP, Child Protection Area: Child Protection Reporting
WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?
Child abuse is complicated and can take different forms, but usually consists of one or more of the following:
Neglect: Where a child’s needs for food, warmth, shelter, nurturance and safety are not provided, to the extent that the child suffers significant harm
Emotional abuse: Where a child’s needs for affection, approval and security are not being met and have not been met for some time by their parent or carer
Physical abuse: where a child is assaulted or injured in some way that is deliberate
Sexual abuse: Where a child is used for the sexual gratification of an adult.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUSPECT THAT A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED?
It can be difficult to know whether or not your suspicions about child abuse are real. Before you act on them, you need to consider whether any alternative explanation might exist and ask yourself these questions:
● Is there any other reason why the child or parent might be behaving in a particular way?
● Is there a pattern to this type of occurrence?
● Did you or anyone else see what was happening?
● Has the child said anything to indicate that he or she is being harmed?
● Could injuries or signs have been caused another way?
If you have considered these questions and you are still concerned, it is likely that you have reasonable grounds to take some action.
WHAT ACTION SHOULD I TAKE?
Every organisation that provides services to children should have somebody who is responsible for dealing with suspected or actual child abuse. You should go to that person, or if there is no designated person, go to the manager and tell them of your suspicions. If they are reluctant to take it further, and you still feel concerned, you should report it to your local health board yourself. If it is an emergency and outside health board hours, you should report your concern directly to An Garda Síochána. Under the law, you cannot be penalised for reporting suspected child abuse to the health board or An Garda Síochána as long as your report is made in good faith and is not malicious.
Paul Feeney and Yvonne Byrne are the designated liaison persons at Westport Leisure Park.
WHAT IF I AM MISTAKEN?
Don’t worry – if in doubt talk to the social worker anyway, and they will decide whether or not your suspicion needs to be followed up. Under the law, nobody will be penalised for making a report of child abuse to the health board or An Garda Síochána as long as the report is not malicious and made in good faith.
CAN I REPORT SUSPECTED OR ACTUAL CHILD ABUSE WITHOUT GIVING MY NAME?
All reports will receive attention. However, experience shows that it is much harder to help children when reports are made anonymously, or through a third party. It is much more useful if you telephone, or better still, go to see the social worker personally. The health board will not normally reveal the names of members of the public who report suspected child abuse unless they have permission to do so. The health board social worker will know the right questions to ask. You should give as much information as you can about the child and their family, along with detailed reasons for your suspicion or concern. If a professional, e.g. a GP, hospital or clinic staff member, or teacher is reporting suspected or actual child abuse, they should tell the family so beforehand, unless doing so would put the child in danger.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUSPECT THAT SOMEONE I AM WORKING WITH IS ABUSING CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE?
Follow the advice offered in the earlier question dealing with action to take if you suspect child abuse.
WHAT WILL THE HEALTH BOARD SOCIAL WORKER DO WITH THE INFORMATION I GIVE THEM?
The health board social worker will consider your information and will assess the situation. If they feel it needs to be followed up they may look for more information from other sources and may contact the child and their parent/s. They will try to establish what is going on, and will act to protect the child in whatever way is necessary.
WILL THE GARDAÍ BE TOLD? Physical abuse, sexual abuse and willful neglect are crimes and must be reported by the health board to An Garda Síochána. Likewise, An Garda Síochána must report any child abuse that comes to their attention to the health board. The Gardaí and the health board will work together as sensitively as possible and take any action necessary to protect the child, or any other children from future harm.
WILL THE CHILD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS?
Very, very few children are removed from their parents because of child abuse. It is much more likely that the health board, together with other services who work with children, will try to help the children and families, and attempt to prevent the abuse happening again. They will provide advice, counselling, family support and practical help wherever they can. Children and parents are separated only as a last resort when other measures to help them have failed.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD ABUSE?
You can get a free summary of the national child protection guidelines from your local health board. A full edition of the guidelines, entitled ‘Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children’ may be purchased from the Government Publications Office at Molesworth St., Dublin 2.
Your health board will have information about local procedures and services, which are aimed at promoting the safety and welfare of children
Adult & Baby Swimming Classes
These Adult & Baby Swimming Classes are held on a regular basis and are suitable for babies from 6 months upwards.
These classes require the adults to be present in the pool with the baby at all times.
Please contact reception for bookings.
Kid's Camp during holiday times The Covey Activity Camp swings into action with a great range of activities in this week long camp to keep the juniors busy over the school break.
Westport Leisure Park Child Protection Policy
POLICY STATEMENT
Westport Leisure Park is fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of all its members with the welfare of children as paramount
Westport Leisure Park aims to foster and develop swimming disciplines and to promote the development of physical and social qualities that come from swimming and associated sports
Westport Leisure Park is committed to the promotion of the teaching and practice of swimming associated disciplines in accordance with current best practice
Every individual in the organisation should at all times show respect and understanding for each member’s rights, overall development, safety and welfare
Every individual should conduct themselves in a way that embraces the ethos and principles of Westport Leisure Park
Every individual should conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles contained in the following documents:
- Westport Leisure Parks Child Protection Procedures
- Swim Ireland Children Policies and Procedures
Staff Training
Training: NOP, Child Protection Area: Child Protection Reporting
WHAT IS CHILD ABUSE?
Child abuse is complicated and can take different forms, but usually consists of one or more of the following:
Neglect: Where a child’s needs for food, warmth, shelter, nurturance and safety are not provided, to the extent that the child suffers significant harm
Emotional abuse: Where a child’s needs for affection, approval and security are not being met and have not been met for some time by their parent or carer
Physical abuse: where a child is assaulted or injured in some way that is deliberate
Sexual abuse: Where a child is used for the sexual gratification of an adult.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUSPECT THAT A CHILD IS BEING ABUSED?
It can be difficult to know whether or not your suspicions about child abuse are real. Before you act on them, you need to consider whether any alternative explanation might exist and ask yourself these questions:
● Is there any other reason why the child or parent might be behaving in a particular way?
● Is there a pattern to this type of occurrence?
● Did you or anyone else see what was happening?
● Has the child said anything to indicate that he or she is being harmed?
● Could injuries or signs have been caused another way?
If you have considered these questions and you are still concerned, it is likely that you have reasonable grounds to take some action.
WHAT ACTION SHOULD I TAKE?
Every organisation that provides services to children should have somebody who is responsible for dealing with suspected or actual child abuse. You should go to that person, or if there is no designated person, go to the manager and tell them of your suspicions. If they are reluctant to take it further, and you still feel concerned, you should report it to your local health board yourself. If it is an emergency and outside health board hours, you should report your concern directly to An Garda Síochána. Under the law, you cannot be penalised for reporting suspected child abuse to the health board or An Garda Síochána as long as your report is made in good faith and is not malicious.
Paul Feeney and Yvonne Byrne are the designated liaison persons at Westport Leisure Park.
WHAT IF I AM MISTAKEN?
Don’t worry – if in doubt talk to the social worker anyway, and they will decide whether or not your suspicion needs to be followed up. Under the law, nobody will be penalised for making a report of child abuse to the health board or An Garda Síochána as long as the report is not malicious and made in good faith.
CAN I REPORT SUSPECTED OR ACTUAL CHILD ABUSE WITHOUT GIVING MY NAME?
All reports will receive attention. However, experience shows that it is much harder to help children when reports are made anonymously, or through a third party. It is much more useful if you telephone, or better still, go to see the social worker personally. The health board will not normally reveal the names of members of the public who report suspected child abuse unless they have permission to do so. The health board social worker will know the right questions to ask. You should give as much information as you can about the child and their family, along with detailed reasons for your suspicion or concern. If a professional, e.g. a GP, hospital or clinic staff member, or teacher is reporting suspected or actual child abuse, they should tell the family so beforehand, unless doing so would put the child in danger.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I SUSPECT THAT SOMEONE I AM WORKING WITH IS ABUSING CHILDREN IN THEIR CARE?
Follow the advice offered in the earlier question dealing with action to take if you suspect child abuse.
WHAT WILL THE HEALTH BOARD SOCIAL WORKER DO WITH THE INFORMATION I GIVE THEM?
The health board social worker will consider your information and will assess the situation. If they feel it needs to be followed up they may look for more information from other sources and may contact the child and their parent/s. They will try to establish what is going on, and will act to protect the child in whatever way is necessary.
WILL THE GARDAÍ BE TOLD? Physical abuse, sexual abuse and willful neglect are crimes and must be reported by the health board to An Garda Síochána. Likewise, An Garda Síochána must report any child abuse that comes to their attention to the health board. The Gardaí and the health board will work together as sensitively as possible and take any action necessary to protect the child, or any other children from future harm.
WILL THE CHILD BE TAKEN AWAY FROM THEIR PARENTS?
Very, very few children are removed from their parents because of child abuse. It is much more likely that the health board, together with other services who work with children, will try to help the children and families, and attempt to prevent the abuse happening again. They will provide advice, counselling, family support and practical help wherever they can. Children and parents are separated only as a last resort when other measures to help them have failed.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CHILD ABUSE?
You can get a free summary of the national child protection guidelines from your local health board. A full edition of the guidelines, entitled ‘Children First: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children’ may be purchased from the Government Publications Office at Molesworth St., Dublin 2.
Your health board will have information about local procedures and services, which are aimed at promoting the safety and welfare of children
