Child safeguarding
Practical learning should happen in a setting where children feel safe, respected and listened to.
Garda-vetted instructors
All our instructors are Garda vetted.
First aid on site
A qualified first aider is on site during camp.
Children come first
Children are encouraged to ask questions and speak up. Coaches support them to try unfamiliar activities, while participation remains their choice.
Questions or concerns?
Stephen Flood is our relevant person and Designated Liaison Person. Please contact him about your child's experience or any safeguarding concern.
stephen@lsa.ie
+353 87 282 4967
Deputy and alternative contact: Gavin Bourke
gavin@lsa.ie
+353 85 159 3554
Child Safeguarding Statement
Our Child Safeguarding Statement sets out the risks identified for our camps and the procedures we follow to help keep children safe from harm, under the Children First Act 2015.
Our Child Safeguarding Statement
Adopted by LSA Education on 15 November 2026. This statement and its risk assessment apply to our camps at both Blackrock College and Kilkenny College.
Read our full statement and safeguarding procedures
Child Safeguarding Statement
Life Skills Academy provides day camps for children aged 6–14 at Blackrock College, Dublin, and Kilkenny College. Activities include cooking, survival, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga, teamwork and leadership, LST Clinics, first aid and technology.
Our aim is to keep children safe from harm while they take part in our camps, to listen to their concerns and to treat them with respect.
- Legal provider
- LSA Education
- Relevant person for this statement
- Stephen Flood, school principal, is our relevant person and Designated Liaison Person. Gavin Bourke is the deputy and alternative contact for concerns involving Stephen.
stephen@lsa.ie
+353 87 282 4967
Deputy and alternative contact: Gavin Bourke
gavin@lsa.ie
+353 85 159 3554
Risk of harm assessment
LSA Education has assessed the risks of harm to children at both venues. The following procedures address the identified risks and reflect the arrangements in place.
| Identified risk | Safeguarding procedure |
|---|---|
| Harm by an adult, including during one-to-one contact, physical instruction, toileting or changing. | No child is alone with an instructor. Every group has at least two experts, with an approximate overall camp ratio of one adult to seven children. Staff must maintain appropriate boundaries; any physical guidance must be necessary, explained and respectful. Toileting and changing arrangements must preserve privacy and avoid isolated adult-child contact. Apply the recruitment and allegation procedures below. |
| Harm through inadequate supervision, arrivals, collection, transitions or access by visitors. | Use attendance registers, headcounts during transitions, agreed collection arrangements and controlled visitor access. Staff must maintain group supervision during breaks and toilet visits. If a child is missing, alert the camp lead immediately, protect supervision of other children, search agreed areas and contact parents and Gardaí promptly as circumstances require. Immediate danger requires emergency assistance without delay. |
| Bullying or other harmful behaviour between children. | Staff must intervene promptly, listen to the children, record concerns and agree proportionate protective action. Inform parents as appropriate and monitor the outcome. Serious child protection concerns follow the reporting procedure, rather than being treated solely as a behaviour issue. |
| Harm through photography, digital devices, online activity or disclosure of children's information. | Obtain and record appropriate parent/guardian permission for camp photography and agreed sharing, respect a child's objection, and honour opt-outs. Only authorised staff may capture or share images through approved arrangements. Do not use personal social media or private messaging with campers. Supervise internet use and restrict access to children's information to those who need it. |
| A concern or disclosure is not recognised, reported or appropriately followed up. | Staff must listen calmly, avoid leading questions, make no promise of secrecy, record the child's words and raise concerns promptly with Stephen or the nominated cover. Report reasonable child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla without delay in line with Children First. Mandated persons retain their own reporting duties. Contact Gardaí/emergency services where urgent protection is needed. |
Required supporting procedures
These procedures are in place across our camps. Staff receive the statement and follow the safeguarding arrangements relevant to their roles.
Stephen Flood is the first point of contact for this statement and safeguarding concerns. Gavin Bourke provides cover. Their involvement must not delay any necessary report to Tusla or Gardaí.
Recruitment and vetting
All instructors are Garda vetted. Before any employee, assistant, contractor or volunteer undertakes relevant work with children, LSA Education must complete the required vetting and suitability checks, including identity, relevant qualifications/experience and appropriate references. No person may begin relevant work while required checks remain incomplete.
Supervision and appropriate contact
No child is alone with an instructor. Each group has two to six instructors. Across the camp, there is approximately one adult for every seven children. Staff must maintain supervision during activities, breaks, toilet visits and transitions. Physical guidance must be appropriate to the activity, explained and respectful; privacy must be protected.
Arrival, collection and visitors
Record arrivals and departures, check authorised collection arrangements and verify unfamiliar collectors. Record changes agreed with parents. Visitors must report to the camp lead and must not have unsupervised access to children. Follow the missing-child response in the risk assessment above.
Bullying and harmful behaviour
Take concerns seriously, intervene promptly and support the children involved. Record incidents, involve the camp lead, communicate with parents as appropriate and monitor follow-up. Escalate child protection concerns through the safeguarding reporting procedure.
Photography, devices and information
Record parent/guardian permissions, respect children's wishes and photography opt-outs, and use only authorised capture, storage and sharing arrangements. No private staff-camper messaging or use of campers' images on personal social media. Supervise online activities and keep medical, contact and safeguarding information securely restricted.
Concerns and disclosures
Listen calmly, reassure, avoid leading questions and explain that information may need to be shared to help keep the child safe. Record facts and the child's words promptly. Notify Stephen or the nominated cover without delaying a necessary Tusla report. Mandated persons must fulfil their own legal reporting duties. Seek urgent Garda/emergency assistance where needed. Inform parents unless doing so could increase risk, compromise assessment or place the reporter at risk. Record decisions and actions securely.
Allegations involving staff
Prioritise the child's immediate safety and promptly refer concerns to Tusla/Gardaí as appropriate. The provider must assess and manage the person's duties or contact with children while the matter is considered, without prejudging the allegation. Handle child protection and employment/contractual processes separately and fairly. Alternative contact for concerns involving Stephen: Gavin Bourke. Nobody needs management permission to report directly to Tusla or Gardaí.
Safeguarding information and training
Before camp, give every worker the statement, code of behaviour, reporting route and named contacts, including cover. Identify and provide role-appropriate Children First information and training, check understanding and retain a record. Brief staff on venue-specific supervision, collection, photography and emergency arrangements. Teachers' or principals' professional experience does not replace the camp briefing.
Mandated persons and named responsibility
LSA Education appoints Stephen Flood as the relevant person for this statement and Designated Liaison Person, with Gavin Bourke as deputy. LSA Education maintains an up-to-date list of mandated persons working in the service and explains their individual responsibilities. Changes to the relevant person or deputy are recorded and communicated to staff, with contact details kept current. These arrangements must not delay or replace a mandated person's own report.
Approval, access and review
LSA Education has approved this statement and the completed risk assessment for both venues. Staff receive the statement and follow the procedures. It is displayed prominently at camp and made available to parents, guardians, Tusla and members of the public on request. LSA Education records approval and review dates and reviews the statement at least every 24 months, and sooner following a material change.
Approval, implementation and review
LSA Education has approved this statement and the accompanying risk assessment for both venues. Staff receive and follow the procedures. The statement is displayed prominently at camp and is available to parents, guardians, Tusla and members of the public on request. It will be reviewed by 15 November 2028, or sooner following a material change.
Signed electronically on behalf of LSA Education
Stephen Flood
Relevant person and Designated Liaison Person
Typed electronic signature
Gavin Bourke
Deputy Designated Liaison Person
Typed electronic signature
Adopted: 15 November 2026
Next review: 15 November 2028, or sooner following a material change.