Video Introduction
National Policy for Child Safeguarding and Wellbeing within Adult Mental Health Services
The National Policy for Child Safeguarding and Wellbeing within Adult Mental Health Services aims to support staff working in Adult Mental Health Services to identify and respond to current and potential child safeguarding concerns for children who may be in the care of, or in close contact with, adult service users.
The policy requires staff in Adult Mental Health Services to consider child safeguarding concerns as part of the ongoing service user journey from initial assessment through to recovery, as standard practice. It aims to equip adult mental health service staff to assess and be responsive to potential risks of harm to children who are either:
- in close relationship to, and/or
- in the care of an adult mental health service user.
This policy is designed to sit alongside and compliment the HSE Child Protection and Welfare Policy. It is not intended to serve as a summary or to substitute it. Each policy provides distinct and necessary guidance, and adherence to both is essential. In any instance where a child protection or welfare concern is identified the HSE Child Protection and Welfare Policy and Reporting Procedure must be followed.
Why this policy matters
While most service users do not pose a risk to children, it is acknowledged that behaviours by adult mental health service users linked to issues such as mental illness, domestic abuse and addiction have exposed some children to harm. This is shown in a number of high-profile incidents where significant harm or fatalities to children have taken place.
The policy provides practical guidance to staff to carefully consider and be responsive to concerns for potential risks to children, even when those risks are not immediately visible.
Steps to implement this policy
The policy clearly outlines the six steps that adult mental health service teams need to take in order to support staff to implement it:
- Amend Core bio-psychosocial assessment templates to reflect a Think Family – Think Children approach.
- Equip clinicians with tools to support identification of potential concerns at follow up assessments
- Add an ALERT Section to the service user file
- Support multi-disciplinary collaboration
- Inform service users about advocacy services
- Promote the benefits of the Think Family – Think Children approach
The policy also provides a detailed step-by-step procedure for adult mental health services to follow in identifying and appropriately managing any potential child safeguarding concerns within a service setting.
Related documents and resources
- Briefing - HSE Children First Training and Development Officers provide a briefing or workshop on the National Policy for Child Safeguarding and Wellbeing within Adult Mental Health Services. Please contact your local Training and Development Officer for more information.
