Cloyne Diocesan Safeguarding CommitteeDiocese of Cloyne Safeguarding Message
from Bishop Crean December 2021 Dear Friends in Christ, As Advent has begun, we have embarked on a new year in the Church's Liturgical Year. It is a time of looking forward in hope. During the past two years we have become very familiar with the phrase, "Keeping people safe". This phrase reminds us of our responsibility to help keep ourselves and others safe particularly those who may be vulnerable and need more support. In the Church we have been familiar for some time now about our Safeguarding responsibilities, particularly towards children and young people. While there has been a great reduction in children and young people faith activities or involvement in parishes this past year, we hope that 2022 will change that. In this context I urge parishes and church personnel to recommit themselves to ensuring that all Safeguarding Procedures are put in place. The importance of safe recruitment is essential in planning for youth activities. The Bishops of the Province of Cashel and Emly have come together with their safeguarding personnel to issue a policy document on Safeguarding Adults at Risk, (Vulnerable Persons). This Policy has been prepared to help us recognize and respond to situations of harm to adults who may be vulnerable. This vulnerability may arise due to, for example, age and/or disability which may impact on a person's capacity to protect themselves from harm or exploitation. Information and Training on this will be rolled out in the coming year. The National Board for Safeguarding will be reviewing the National Policy and Guidance in the coming year to ensure it continues to be fit for purpose. We as a Diocese will have an audit in the Spring/ Summer of 2022 conducted by independent assessors on behalf of the National Board. This will enable us as a Diocese to continue to go forward in offering safe environments and structures for children and young people to be active in the Church. I thank all who are involved in the work of Safeguarding in the Diocese, your involvement is vital for the work of safeguarding. For anyone who wishes to raise a concern or report abuse in the Diocese I encourage you to contact the Designated Liaison Person. There is help and support within the Church and wider Society. People need not keep it to themselves. Keeping people safe, this is an ongoing work which we undertake because of our belief in the innate dignity of every human person and our faith in the Lord Jesus who inspires us to continue to minister to young people that they too may know and follow him as disciples. Wishing you every blessing and peace. Most Rev. William Crean, D.D., Bishop of Cloyne. ------------------------------------------------- 27th November 2020 Dear Friends, In these COVID -19 times, we are experiencing challenges of every kind and living with so many restrictions our social interaction has been limited. Our experience of Church has been tested and our pastoral activities have been curtailed. It is a time like none we have experienced in our lifetime. Little did we think that a day would come when people would not be able to gather for Masses, not because of persecution but because of a deadly virus. In staying apart, we are caring for one another. I take this opportunity to pen this short message about Safeguarding in the Church, to acknowledge the work done in parishes and to assure people that this most important area in pastoral life is continuing. While ministry with the young and vulnerable in a one-to-one contact is limited, nevertheless, we need to be constantly vigilant to ensure that Safeguarding practices and procedures are complied with. With so many Parishes offering on line services we are more aware than ever of the importance of the internet and the world wide web. However, there is also a risk when using these, especially for young people. I thank all who are using these technologies to keep in contact with the people of the parishes and as a means of spreading the Gospel. I encourage you to ensure that you abide by procedures and policy relating to Safeguarding when using these. I urge parents and guardians to also be attentive to guiding and protecting their children in the area of these technologies. While they probably know a lot about how to use them, they may not be aware of the dangers and how easily one can be drawn into the dark area of the web. We have found with the restrictions that we have more time on our hands and this can lead to more personal reflection and for issues in the past to arise again. For those who have been abused, these times can be difficult and can lead to more thoughts on experiences of the past. Indeed, for anyone who has been abused, I encourage you to seek support and for anyone who has been abused by clergy or religious you are welcome to come forward to tell your story. This may be in relation to people who are alive or deceased. A person can go directly to the statutory agencies to report abuse, TUSLA and Gardaí and also use the system in place now for reporting in the Church through the Designated Liaison Person whose contact details you can find in this message. In the Diocese we have a good Safeguarding structure and, in every parish, there are women and men committed to ensure that the best practices are adhered to. Where the person who abused is deceased, we have found, that the person who was abused coming forward to record their story of what happened to them, helps in their healing. I thank all those involved in Safeguarding in the diocese. Your commitment and generosity is of vital importance to ensure that the young and vulnerable can participate safely in the life of the Church. I wish every one peace at this time and please God we will be safe in these COVID -19 days. With every good wish and blessing, Most Rev William Crean, DD Bishop of Cloyne REPORTING If a person has a Safeguarding concern or wishes to report an allegation of child abuse or to record historical abuse, contact the Diocesan Designated Liaison Person and or Gardaí and TUSLA Designated Liaison Person (DLP): Fr. Patrick Winkle and Mr. Ger Crowley: 086-0368999 Email:dlp@cloynediocese.ie An Garda Síochána For allegations that relate to clerics/religious: 01-6663430 or 01-6663435 For allegations that do not relate to clerics/religious: Local Garda Station Tusla Cobh/Midleton/Macroom areas: 021-4927000 Mallow/Fermoy areas: 022-54100 |
Covid 19 The Safeguarding Office is continuing it's work and are attempting to return to work on a phased basis. We are available to talk to you over the phone, via email or through video-conferencing to continue to offer advice, access to information and support. Please do not hesitate to contact us. For further information on how to stay safe click on link: https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/protect-yourself-and-others.html Updates on Hazard (Risk) Assessment and Whistle-Blowing from the National Board for Safegurding Children 26/01/2022 Standard 1 is about creating and maintaining safe environments; and states that ‘The Church body implements effective practice for Church personnel on assessment of hazards when working with children’. This means that every activity involving children and facilitated by Church personnel must have a written child safeguarding risk assessment also known as a hazard assessment. Whistleblowing can be defined as ‘raising concerns about wrong-doing or misconduct within an organisation or within an independent structure associated with it’. It differs from raising concerns about allegations of abuse. Child Safeguarding Policy, Procedures & Forms Volunteer Information Handout Outlines the Procedures/Forms relevant to roles within the Church Child & Parent Information Handout Form 1.1A(6) - Volunteer Declaration Form (New Form) This Form should be completed in respect of all volunteers in the parish. The requesting of two references and checking with the referees is no longer a general requirement however, if the role involves working with children/vulnerable adults and if the person named on the form is not known to the Priest(s)/a member of the Parish Safeguarding Personnel, the names and contact details of two people who are not relatives of the volunteer should be provided for reference purposes and a check conducted with the referees concerned. Agreement Form 5.1A(1) and Confidentiality Form 1.1A(5) These two forms have now been amalgamated for ease of administration These Forms should be used solely for paid staff. Form 1.1A(2) - Application Form Form 1.1A(3) - Declaration Form Updated 18/07/2018 Parish Resource Pack Click on the following links to download Child Safeguarding Policy & Procedures for Parishes (White Folder) Child Safeguarding Procedures & Forms for Parishes (Blue Folder) Updated 10/10/2018 Click here to download Garda Vetting Invitation Form NVB1 Updated 05/03/2020 Please click here to download: Parish Audit Form 2021 Updated 23/11/2021 |
Cloyne Diocesan Safeguarding Children Committee
A Child Safeguarding statement has been made by the Diocese of Cloyne to comply
with the requirements of the Child First Act 2015.
To read the Safeguarding Statement please click here.
Safeguarding Strategic Plan 2020-2022
Safeguarding Annual Communications Plan 2022
Safeguarding Children Training Plan 22
Last updated 01/03/2022
