Diocese of Down and Connor Safeguarding Guidance for Parishes

This new guidance contains the necessary materials for Parishes and Safeguarding Committees to ensure the delivery of best safeguarding practice in Down and Connor

It is based on the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI): Policy and Standards 2024: Nurturing a Culture of Safeguarding. For more information, click here

You can view, download and print the SAFEGUARDING GUIDANCE FOR PARISHES

 

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Summary of New Guidance for Parishes

As relevant and necessary the guidance should be used to guide and inform more detailed safeguarding practice by Church personnel and volunteers responsible for and working with or engaging with children and young people.

Safe Recruitment

All Church personnel and volunteers who work with children, young people and adults in a regulated activity should be safely recruited and vetted. Whilst vetting is a statutory requirement the  safe recruitment of volunteers and Church personnel should follow standardised guidelines.

Codes of Behaviour

A code of behaviour is a clear guide to what is and is not acceptable behaviour and practice when working with children and young people. The new pack contains guidance on the development of Codes of Behaviour and a sample Code of Behaviour which can be used as a template for a Code of Behaviour in a range of different circumstances.

Best practice would indicate that children and young people should be involved in drawing up a code of behaviour for themselves and relevant to the particular activity they would be involved in. This work should be facilitated by an adult with relevant skills who would work with the children and young people to develop the code of behaviour.

Managing Breaches of Codes of Behaviour

If a child or young person or adult breaches the code of behaviour efforts should be made to resolve the issue. This resource provides guidance on how these situations can be managed and includes examples of sanctions that may be considered.

Anti-Bullying Guidance

The diocese recognises the devastating effects and potential damage that bullying can have on children and young people.
This guidance provides a definition of bullying and highlights different types of bullying. It supports groups in developing strategies to counter bullying and guidance on groups developing an Anti-Bullying Code.

Guidance on Maintaining Adequate Supervision Ratios

When providing any activity involving children it is crucial that there are appropriate levels of supervision in order that safe care is provided taking into consideration the needs of the children and young people. This guidance outlines appropriate adult supervision ratios. At a minimum two adults are required for any activity.

Guidance on One-to-One Contact with Children and Young People

Any Church activity should not involve one to one contact with children or young people. This guidance provides advice on managing those situations where this takes place either through a specific request by the young person to speak to you personally or where the planned activity involves situations such as personal tuition.

Needs of Children with Specific Needs

Children and Young People whom we engage with in our parishes may have specific and special needs and present with a disability. These children have the same rights as any child, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. This guidance outlines areas for consideration for leaders and volunteers which includes, the importance of engaging with parents, the ethos of inclusion, the consideration of making reasonable adjustments and the consideration that children and young people with special needs can also be subject and victim of abuse and require to have the support of the full range of safeguarding resources and practices.

Trips away with Children and Young People Outside the Parish

This guidance outlines advice on what should be considered when activities and events have been organised outside the Parish. This guidance also relates to guidance around parental and child/young person consent, overnight stays and transport arrangements.

Risk Assessment of Activities with Children and Young People

This guidance outlines the definition of risk/hazard assessment as it relates to parish activities involving children and young people and provides advice on the construction and completion of a basic hazard and risk assessment. It should be viewed alongside the designated Risk Assessment template.

Use of Technology

This resource provides advice and guidance on the use of technology which includes digital and online systems such as photography, internet, texting and CCTV/Webcams. The Diocese recognises the benefits of these systems. This resource provides guidance to parish groups on how they can be used safely and how they can be used in line with legislation that respect the privacy, dignity and the rights of all users, particularly children.

Conducting Online Ministry with Children and Young People

This resource provides guidance on how to engage safely with children and young people using digital platforms.

Use of Church Property by External Groups

This resource provides guidance to parishes in relation to the use and hire of parish premises by external groups. It covers the ethos of external organisations and whether in the opinion of the parish priest, this would be contrary to the purposes, teachings and beliefs of the Roman Catholic.

For those external groups who would be using parish premises this guidance also includes a booking template which must be used, which ensures appropriate safeguarding arrangements are in place and that the external group has appropriate insurance cover.

Visiting Clergy Protocols

This process outlines procedures to be followed to ensure that clergy from outside Down and Connor who wish to engage in any type of ministry within Down and Connor, be it one-off ministry occasions or engaging in ministry for a period of time, are “in good standing” and are fit for sacred ministry.

These procedures would confirm that the clergy provide a “celebret” and provide appropriate documentation in order to minister in the Diocese.

Associations of the Faithful Ministering in the Diocese of Down and Connor

This guidance outlines the procedures for  parishes who may have Associations of the faithful ministering in them.

Reporting Allegations of Abuse

It is critical that the Diocese has in place an effective process which ensures that all allegations and suspicions of abuse of children and young people are reported both within the church and to the statutory authorities. In Northern Ireland under the law this responsibility to report is mandatory.

This guidance outlines the process for reporting any child protection concern that you may come across and is accompanied with a flow chart which represents the process from suspicion, concern, knowledge or allegation through to reporting. The Diocesan Liaison Person (DLP) is a key resource in the management of the referral process and providing advice and guidance to any person who would have the knowledge, allegation, suspicion or concern.

Guidance on Whistle-Blowing

All staff and volunteers within the diocese must acknowledge their individual responsibility to bring ‘matters of concern’ to the attention of their supervisor/superior/manager.
This resource provides guidance on why the diocese should promote whistle-blowing, what are the barriers to whistle-blowing and practical advice on how to raise a concern.

Complaints Procedure

A complaint is defined as a grievance and/or raising a concern about breaches of codes of behaviour. Allegations or suspicions of child abuse DO NOT fall under this guidance. The diocese strives to promote a culture of openness, transparency and fairness. This resource promotes creating an ethos within parish groups that is open to hearing feedback from children, vulnerable adults, carers, clergy, staff, volunteers and parishioners about the services the parish offers and how they may be improved. It also provides guidance on how situations are managed when a complaint or dissatisfaction is expressed.

Data Protection and Privacy Guidelines.

This resource provides advice and guidance to parish groups in relation to the legal requirements and best practice around data protection and information sharing. It provides groups with guidance around written information provided for and sought from parents, principles of confidentiality, record keeping and the sharing of information. The guidelines provide a legal framework which all parish and diocesan groups must adhere to. Parishes may contact the Safeguarding Office with regards the operation implications on the data and records which are collected by parishes.

Templates and Forms