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KILLEIGH PARISH
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN STATEMENT
Safeguarding Children;
The Parish of Killeigh values and encourages the participation of children and young people in parish liturgies and activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional, social and intellectual development, and will work in a partnership way with parents at all times.
The Gospel of Christ invites us to cherish and affirm each child as a gift from God with an inherent right to dignity of life and bodily integrity which shall be respected, nurtured and protected by all. Everyone in the Church has an obligation to ensure that the fundamental rights of children are respected.
In keeping with this we in this parish undertake to do all in our power to create safe environments where the welfare of children and young people is paramount. This duty of care extends to all the many and varied ways that children share in the life of the Church in our parish and diocese.
Partnership with Civil Authorities:
Our Parish is committed to working in partnership with the civil authorities to ensure that all aspects of child welfare are managed promptly, professionally and justly. We will adhere to statutory policy, notably ‘Children First’: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2011). All child protection concerns shall be reported to the civil authorities without delay.
Procedures:
The Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is committed to following best practice as specified by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC). Our diocesan child protection procedures are set out in our publication - ‘Kildare & Leighlin Diocese: Safeguarding Children Policy & Procedures’ (FEB 2013).
This document can be downloaded from the diocesan website – www.kandle.ie
As required of all church personnel in this diocese, we will adhere to ‘Kildare & Leighlin Diocese: Safeguarding Children Policy & Procedures’ (Feb 2013).
If you have a concern contact:-
Diocesan Designated Person; (D.L.P.) –
Ms Joan Treacy:085-8021633
Email:- joantreacy@kandle.ie
The DLP is the person responsible
in our diocese
for receiving all Child Safeguarding concerns
and reporting same to the civil authorities.
Parish Safeguarding Representatives: –
Breda O’Connor 087-6482625
Concepta Murphy 087-6550239
Margaret Conroy 086-1797652
The PSR’s role is to promote awareness
of the diocesan safeguarding children policy and procedures,
and
to ensure that church activities are provided in a way that ensures the safety
and wellbeing of the children involved.
Duty Social worker can be contacted 9am-5pm
Laois Area
057 86 92567/8
Offaly Area
057 93 70700
HSE National information line:- 1850 24 1850
(callsave)
Outside of these hours in cases of emergency please contact An Garda Síochána
Tullamore: 057 93 21305
Portarlington: 057 8623112
PARISH of KILLEIGH
Safeguarding Children - Policy & Procedures
Standard One—A Written Policy on Keeping Children Safe
This policy applies to all those activities which are organized directly by the Parish of Killeigh relating to the pastoral care of children and young people under the age of eighteen. It aims to enable the parish to put in place the structures that will help us to provide the safest possible environments for all those involved in parish based youth activities—our children, our young people, our volunteer adult leaders and parish staff and priests. The welfare and safety of children and young people engaged in parish groups or activities is always the most important consideration.
All those adults who are involved with children or young people under the age of 18 in Parish programmes or activities must familiarize themselves with, accept, and act in accordance with this Parish Child Protection policy and procedures.
Adults involved in parish groups which deal with children or young people must agree to abide by the guidance contained in this document. Failure to do so will result their exclusion from involvement.
Group leaders will take responsibility for informing young people who reach the age of eighteen that they are now adults involved in a programme, and will inform one of the Parish Designated Persons who will then explain the policy, procedures and responsibilities to the young adult concerned.
Standard Two—Procedures
The Parish Designated Persons, the Priests of the Parish, all Parish Staff and adults who are involved in a long term role in any ministry with children and young people in the Parish of Killeigh will be required to avail of the training offered by the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin or by the Parish of Killeigh in safeguarding children.
All parents/guardians of children and young people involved in parish programmes will receive a permission form to sign.
This form will include the contact details of the Parish Designated persons, [Details at page end]. protection concern arising from any parish programme, whether from children, parents, staff or volunteer leaders should be brought to the attention of one of the Parish Designated Persons.
Any leader observing a situation which exposes a child or young person to danger or puts them at risk of harm must act immediately to ensure the safety of the child, and record the situation.
Where abuse is observed, suspected or disclosed, — any concern or incident must be passed on to one of the Parish Designated Persons as soon as possible.
The one thing leaders must not do, is nothing .
A written record of what is observed, suspected or disclosed must be made.
The Parish Designated Person will ensure that the written record will be Stored Securely and Confidentially by the parish.
Any access to this information will be through one of the Parish Designated Persons, and all access will be recorded and dated by the Parish Designated Person concerned.
Where a report is to be made to the HSE or to the Gárdai, one of the Parish Designated Persons will do so. The Parish Designated Person concerned will also inform the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin once the report has been made to the statutory authorities.there is any type of incident, leaders must not discuss it with anyone other than the Parish Designated Person concerned.
This is to protect confidentiality for those involved;
for children young people for adult leaders.
No leader will ever promise a child that they will keep a secret.
If a situation arises where there are reasonable grounds for concern about the welfare of a child, parents will be notified and the concern discussed with them in all situations, except those which the Parish Designated Person feels might cause further risk to the safety or welfare of the child or children concerned. PAGE 1.any child or adult is unhappy with any aspect of a programme involving children or young people, they should bring that concern to one of the Parish Designated Persons
If an allegation of abuse is made against a member of staff or a volunteer leader in a parish youth programme,
that person will be removed from contact with children and young people in parish activities until an investigation is carried out. matter will be referred to the statutory authorities for investigation, the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin will be informed. person against whom the allegation is made will also be informed of the nature of the allegation. Parish Priest and the Diocesan Designated Person will deal with and manage any disciplinary matters relating to the continued employment and/or voluntary service of the person concerned. Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin will take responsibility for notifying the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church.
If there is a concern about one of the Parish Designated Persons, it should be brought to one of the other Parish Designated Persons, or to the Diocesan Designated Person. [See details at page end].
Standard Three—Preventing Harm to Children
Section One—Recruitment & Selection
All Priests, all members of Parish Staff and all Parish Designated Persons will be required to undergo Garda Vetting through the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin.
Those who are involved in an ongoing or regular leadership role in Parish Programmes involving children and young people will be required to undergo Garda Vetting as this becomes available through the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlinrecruiting leaders for short term Parish Activities with children and young people under the age of eighteen,
each potential leader will be required to complete an application form and a declaration of suitability, which will include the names of two referees. references will be checked by one of the Parish Designated persons. will be treated as confidential documents and stored with the appropriate security measures.
Section Two—Maintaining a Safe Environment for Children
Appropriate training will be mandatory for those organising activities with children and young people in the parish.
Adequate ratios of leaders to young people must be maintained in parish activities.
Those who are under eighteen must not be used to make up this ratio. general parish activities, two adults must be present for the first eight children, and one for every further eight children. ratios must take into account the age of the children and the nature of the activity, and may need to be adjusted accordingly. balance will be observed with leaders in Parish Programmes as far as possible.
A current permission form must be signed by a parent or guardian, before a child or young person can participate in any parish activity.
This form must include parental or guardian consent, contact details, medical/other relevant information and whether children have permission to walk home alone. written consent forms will be treated as confidential information and will be stored with the appropriate security measures. access to stored information will be through one of the Parish Designated Persons where necessary.may request access to information concerning their own child through one of the Parish Designated Persons.
Attendance records will be kept for all activities where anyone under the age of eighteen is present.
Registers will be checked by one of the Parish Designated Persons basis; checks will be signed, dated and recorded.
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All parish youth activities will have at least two named adult supervisors in attendance.
No leader will spend time alone with individual children who are participating in parish activities. an emergency situation arises proper and sensible precautions will be taken by leaders in accordance with health and safety considerations. open door policy will be implemented in all situations where children or young people are present e.g. in the Sacristy at Mass times where altar servers are attending.
Accurate records must be kept of any accident or incident that gives rise to any type of concern regarding a child or young person.
An incident book will be provided for all activities involving children or young people run by the parish. incident book will be confidential, and will be stored with the appropriate security measures.
No young person will be asked or expected to take on any responsibility that is more suited to an adult. While those under 18 can take a leadership role, their responsibility will not be equal to that of an adult leader.requirements will apply whether parish activities take place on parish property or in an outside venue.
All groups using the parish property for youth activities will be required to
provide their insurance details details of whether they have a current child protection policy and procedures, with the name of their designated person with responsibility for the welfare of children participating in their programme. Parish Designated Person will be responsible for acquiring this information and updating it on an annual basis.
Information will only be shared in order to safeguard the child.of children and young people under 18 will only be used with the consent of the child and the parent/guardian.
The parish will store all information regarding children in a secure location with the appropriate security measures applicable in the Parish.
Section Three—Codes of Behaviour
All children and young people will be treated with dignity, respect and courtesy, and will be expected to treat each other and their leaders in the same manner. Parents and guardians will be expected to adopt the same attitudes of courtesy respect and dignity with regard to the participation of their children in parish activities.child or young person must ever be left in a situation which exposes them to danger or puts them at risk of harm.
No physical chastisement or rough handling of children is appropriate.in leadership roles in parish activities, adults will not use alcohol, tobacco or any illegal substances.
Inappropriate language, dress or behaviour will not be used by children, young people or leaders.behaviour which is of a bullying nature will not be tolerated.leaders will be familiar with the procedures for dealing with a suspicion, observation or disclosure of abuse.physical integrity and right to privacy of children and young people must be respected.must not engage in inappropriate physical contact or conversation with children or young people.
Communication & Data Technology (including Voice recording, photography and film)
Generally speaking Leaders will NOT share their phone number with children / young people.it is necessary for organization purposes, permission slips / forms from parents to have question:- ‘Can Leaders send messages by text to participants about upcoming meetings?’ --- -- Best practice to copy text to parent / guardian.or paid Leaders who receive a ‘Friend Request’ from a child / young person in their activity SHOULD ALWAYS CLICK ‘IGNORE’.ensure that the content of recorded / photographed material is appropriaterecording on phone, camera or other devices must be supervised.and children consent to the use of material/images that is recorded.material/images likely to be shared/published in press or on the internet should avoid using children’s full names (first name and surname) and detailed addresses.and children are aware of the way the data/images will be used to represent the Church organisation or activity.
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Leaders must not do for a child anything that the child is capable of doing for him or herself.in leadership roles will not allow parental or personal relationships with children or young people to interfere with the running of programmes. Favouritism or unnecessary or unapproved contact with children outside of the parish activity is to be avoided by adult leaders. a situation demands that a child be alone with an adult, parents or guardians should be made aware of this, and the meeting should be held in a place which is open and visible to others rather than in an isolated environment.leaders should be aware that sharing concerns about a child is not a breach of confidentiality—concerns should be brought to the Designated Person, rather than being discussed with other leaders involved in the same programme.
Standard Four—Training and Education
All Priests, all Deacons, and all members of staff will be required to complete the Safeguarding training available through the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin.
All those dealing with children and young people in Parish programmes will be familiar with the Parish Designated Persons or safeguarding representatives, and how to contact them should a concern arise or a disclosure be made during the course of a parish programme.
Appropriate training in safeguarding issues will be a part of the preparation and training for all leaders in any programme which deals with children and young people.
Standard Five—Communicating the Church’s Safeguarding Message.
The Parish Safeguarding Statement and this Parish Safeguarding Policy & Procedures will be displayed in all parish properties.Parish Safeguarding Statement and the Parish Safeguarding Policy Document will be available on the Parish Website or on request from the Parish office, or from one of the Designated Persons.details for the relevant statutory authorities will be displayed in all parish properties.of the Parish Designated Persons/Safeguarding Representatives will be included on every permission form issued for parental consent for activities.
Standard Six—Access to advice and Support
The Parish Designated persons will, through the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin assist any person who reports current or retrospective child abuse, to access the appropriate pastoral care and support needed by them, to come to terms with what has occurred in their lives.Parish Designated Persons will, through the Diocese of Kildare & Leighlin, help any person against whom an allegation is made, to access the appropriate pastoral care and support needed by them, to come to terms with what has occurred in their lives.
Standard Seven—Implementing and monitoring the Standards
This Policy Document will be reviewed on an annual basis, by the Parish Designated Persons,
or more often if the Parish becomes aware of the need to do so.
The Parish Policy Document is available on the Parish Website www.killeigh.com.
The Diocesan Policy Document is also available on and on the Diocesan website www.kandle.ie.
The Policy Document of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church is available from the NBSCCC WEBSITE www.safeguarding.ie
Children First is available to download from the website for the office of the Minister for Children and youth affairs at www.omc.gov.ie
We welcome any feedback on this document from parents, guardians or parishioners.
Renewed and revised May 2012 PAGE 4.
Committee of Killeigh Parish:-
Concepta Murphy, Geashill; Breda O’Connor, Bogtown Cloneygowan; Margaret Conroy, Ballymooney Ballinagar. Fr. John Stapleton, Killeigh