It is the basic right of every child to pass safely from childhood to adulthood.

In working with children or young people the protection and welfare of the child or young person must always be the first priority. This being the unanimous view and unquestionable public expectation of youth organisations, we must act when we fear that children are being abused within the home, in school or elsewhere.

Youth workers, with their day-to-day contact with children and knowledge of young people in their care, are in a unique position to identify abuse and help abused children. Protecting children from abuse is a difficult and stressful responsibility which requires the sympathetic application of appropriate training, knowledge and skills. Those who work with children need to know not only how to recognise signs of abuse, but also how to respond sensitively to children who have been abused, and what action to take to ensure that the abuse stops.

Protecting children and young people is not just about policing or investigating the possibility of abuse, it is also about preventing abuse through education. The youth sector can play a huge preventive role. Children and young people can be reassured of their right and permission to tell or talk about any problem. Encouraging young people to know about their right to total bodily integrity helps them to help us create a safe environment in which they can grow.

Inevitably, responding to abused children can place considerable additional emotional and physical demands upon youth workers. Child abuse and, in particular, child sexual abuse, can arouse strong emotions in all the professionals involved, and it is important to understand such feelings so that they do not impair the use of professional judgement.

"Child Protection Procedures – working together to protect children and young people" assists organisations in the development of strategies for the protection of children by offering guidance in keeping with the legislative framework of the Children (NI) Order 1995.

The Youth Council for Northern Ireland has now made it a criterion for receipt of core grant that organisations must have in place a Child Protection Policy.

"Child Protection Procedures" was commissioned by the Youth Council and compiled by John Quinliven, Child Care Analyst, in April 1998. It outlines procedures for Direct Service Providers, Headquarter Voluntary Organisations and Uniformed Organisations. Copies can be obtained from the Youth Council for NI.

John Quinliven can be contacted at 028.9024.3022

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