CLOYNE DIOCESAN CENTRE Cobh, Co. Cork. P24 RK54 Tel: 021 481 1430 Fax: 021 481 1026 Email: [email protected] www.cloynediocese.ie Safeguarding Message 17th November 2022 Dear Friends, Thankfully, even in the midst of the shadow of Covid, active life in parishes is returning. With this in mind I encourage all parishes to continue to be vigilant in Safeguarding practice and procedures. At the beginning of this year, I invited the National Safeguarding Board to undertake an audit/review of the Safeguarding practice of children within the Diocese, which they did in June. I am pleased with this message to announce the publication of the findings of the Audit which can be found on the Diocesan website, www.cloynediocese.ie. I am thankful to all those who were involved in the audit/review, the safeguarding personnel in the Diocese, survivors of abuse, parishes that were visited, people who work with young people, support persons, priest advisers and respondents. To quote from the audit/review: "The purpose of this second round of Reviews is to assess child-safeguarding practice against the Catholic Church in Ireland's current standards as detailed in Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland, 2016 and make statements based on evidence, which provide:
The reviewers have found that all standards have been met and noted that improvements have been made since the last audit in 2013. This has come about due to the hard work and involvement of so many people across the Diocese and in Parishes who ensure best practice. While the audit/review is positive I am all too aware that the hurt and trauma that survivors of abuse in the Church have suffered does not totally go away and remerges often. I am conscious too of people who have been abused but have never come forward to tell their story. I once again encourage anyone who has been abused by Church personnel to share their story with the Diocese and Statutory agencies. The work of Safeguarding goes on and develops, that is why an "Adult At Risk Policy" has been developed by the Dioceses in Munster and also a Policy for Diocesan and Parish Pilgrimages. Training for these will be undertaken in 2023. May we not be found wanting in our Safeguarding Practice. With prayerful best wishes. Yours sincerely, Most Rev. William Crean, D.D., Bishop ofCloyne. Registered Charity No.: 20001988 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 Gardai and TUSLA Designated Liaison Person (DLP): Ms. Maggie Hesford Contact no. 086-0368999 Email:[email protected] An Garda Siochana For allegations that relate to clerics/religious: 01-6663430 or 01-6663435 For allegations that do not relate to clerics/religious: Contact Local Garda Station TuslaCobh/Midleton/Macroom areas: 021-4927000 Mallow/Fermoy areas: 022-54100 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diocese of Cloyne Safeguarding Message from Bishop Crean Safeguarding Sunday 27th March, 2022 Dear Reverend Father, While Covid 19 changed our lives dramatically over these past two years, now we are challenged to reinvigorate our Safeguarding Mission in the diocese. We are blessed to have so many women and men across the diocese who are committed to maintaining best practice in safeguarding the young people and vulnerable adults in our care. Children, young people and vulnerable adults have a right to see and experience the true face of Jesus and be able to participate in the life of the Church without fear. Sadly, we know that has not been the case for many in Ireland. We, in the diocese of Cloyne, are committed to helping those who have suffered abuse and seek to ensure it is never acceptable or hidden away. As we return to a “new normal” we renew our vigilance in care for the young and vulnerable to ensure that abuse of children or adults does not happen in family, church or society and if it does it is dealt with as a crime. It is clear that much abuse has taken place in families. This reality calls for a greater effort to root out this great evil in what should be our safest and secure setting of home. We, as a diocese, owe a debt of gratitude to priests and people in parishes and schools who promote safe environments for our children, young people and vulnerable adults. You will note the inclusion of Vulnerable Adults in this message. It will be reflected in a slight change of title to Safeguarding Cloyne. It is my hope and vision that in our Diocese:
As we go forward, we do so with hope and trust in the Lord to guide and direct his Church. May we with humble hearts receive his word and have the courage to do what is right. With prayerful best wishes, Yours sincerely, + Wm. Crean __________________________ Most Rev. William Crean, D.D., Bishop of Cloyne. 27th November 2020 
Child Safeguarding statement Diocese of Cloyne in compliance with the requirements of the Child First Act 2015 (2nd Revision). Strategic Safeguarding Plan 2023-2025 Updated 08/01/2024 Safeguarding Children Annual Communication Plan 2024 Safeguarding Children Annual Training Plan - To be completed in January 2024 Upcoming Adults at Risk Training 2024 to be confirmed. Online Ministry: The following policies are to help Youth Ministry Leaders, Parents/Guardians and Young People to engage safely online: Diocesan Digital Social Media and Online Communication Policy Using an Online Communications Platform with Young People - Zoom Policy and Procedures Online Forms: Consent form for interactive social media platforms and online communications for under 18's Consent form for using teleconferencing platform Zoom with under 18's Consent form for all online engagement with over 18's Conduct Agreement for Adults Using Online Ministry |
Latest Updates:
Requirements for Involvement in any form of Ministry in the Diocese of Cloyne 08/11/2023 Covid 19 The Safeguarding Office is open and the Safeguarding Training Co-ordinator is also 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 Latest Developments to safeguarding: Updates on Hazard (Risk) Assessment and Whistle-Blowing from the National Board for Safeguarding 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. Adults at risk Training 2022 to be confirmed in the Autumn. Child Safeguarding Policy, Procedures & Forms Volunteer Information Handout Outlines the Procedures/Forms relevant to roles within the Church All Safeguarding Forms are available to print from the Child Safeguarding Procedures and Forms for Parishes (Blue Folder- see below) Child & Parent Information Handout All Safeguarding Forms are available to print from the Child Safeguarding Procedures and Forms for Parishes (Blue Folder- see below) 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) Garda Vetting Form: Click here to download Garda Vetting Invitation Form NVB1 Updated 05/03/2020 | ||||||
