5APrinciples for compliance with Child Safe Standards

5A Principles for compliance with Child Safe Standards

S. 5A(1) amended by Nos 23/2021 s. 6(1)(a), 58/2025 s. 30.

(1) The oversight and enforcement by the Social Services Regulator, sector regulators and integrated sector regulators of compliance by relevant entities with the Child Safe Standards should be based on the fundamental principles that—

(a) relevant entities are responsible, in respect of the children who use their services or facilities or who are engaged to assist in providing their services or facilities, for continuously improving the ways in which, in their operations—

(iii) allegations of child abuse are properly responded to; and

S. 5A(1)(b) substituted by No. 23/2021 s. 6(1)(b).

(b) sector regulators and integrated sector regulators of relevant entities have specific knowledge of the relevant entities that they regulate and have the primary role in promoting, monitoring and enforcing compliance by those relevant entities with the Child Safe Standards; and

S. 5A(1)(c) substituted by No. 23/2021 s. 6(1)(c), amended by No. 58/2025 s. 30.

(c) having regard to paragraph (b), the Social Services Regulator, sector regulators and integrated sector regulators should collaborate with each other for the purpose of promoting compliance by relevant entities with the Child Safe Standards.

S. 5A(2) amended by No. 58/2025 s. 30.

(2) The Social Services Regulator should educate and guide—

S. 5A(2)(a) amended by No. 23/2021 s. 6(2).

(a) sector regulators and integrated sector regulators to promote compliance by relevant entities with the Child Safe Standards; and

(b) relevant entities, in respect of the children who use their services or facilities or who are engaged to assist in providing their services or facilities, to continuously improve the ways in which, in their operations—

(iii) allegations of child abuse are properly responded to.