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Child Protection and Safety

 

 

SSCC CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY 

 

Purpose

  • To ensure that every SSCC Ministry and Community in England and Ireland has in place what is required of them by the SSCC Safeguarding Policy and the NBSCCCI/CSAS, accepting that the Civil and Diocesan policy and procedure hold precedence over the SSCC policy and procedures if the SSCC ministry is a Diocesan assignment.
  • This policy is for all SSCC brothers, as well as for our employees and volunteers, in all our communities and ministries. In particular, the SSCC ethos as set out in NBSCCCI belongs to every SSCC no matter which jurisdiction.

NOTE:            A ‘child’ includes all children and young people who have not yet reached their 18th birthday.

 

SSCC SAFEGUARDING POLICY

 

The seven standards described in this policy document represent the expected level of performance that all SSCC brothers (including our employees and volunteers) should reach.

 

Standard 1

 

Written Safeguarding Policy Statement A ten Safeguarding Policy Statement

 

Standard 2

 

Procedures –  how to respond to allegations and

Suspicions

Standard 3

   Preventing harm to children:

  • Recruitment and vetting,
  • Code of Behaviour
  • Running safe activities for children

Standard 4

 

Training and education

 

Standard 5

Communicating the Church’s safeguarding message:

To children,

To parents and adults

To other organizations

 

Standard 6

 

Access to advice and support

 

Standard 7

 

Implementing and monitoring the Standards

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard 1 

Safeguarding Policy Statement

 

SSCC brothers work with young people and have a written policy on keeping children safe. This is generally known as a child safeguarding policy.

SSCC Safeguarding Policy Statement

The Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (SSCC) was founded during the height of the French Revolution to spread the love of God as revealed in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Since its foundation it has especially sought to respond to children most in need. Some of its earliest pastoral initiatives were to open schools and orphanages and such outreach continues today in many countries throughout the world.

 

The Ireland-England Province of the Congregation aswell as their co-workers and volunteers, value and encourage the participation of children and young people in their pastoral ministry and in activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional and social development. They recognise the dignity and rights of all children and are committed to their support and safeguarding.

 

The Province undertakes to do all in its power to create a safe environment for children, young people and vulnerable adults and to ensure their protection from neglect and from physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

 

To this end, the Province in Ireland has approved and adopted as policy the "Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church ", published by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland http://www.safeguarding.ie while the Province in England continues to be committed to following the policy as outlined by the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service (CSAS) and published at the following website: http://www.csasprocedures.uk.net  

 

 

Following from this Policy, the Province is committed to:
- Best Practice in ensuring the safeguarding of children and young people, protecting their rights and promoting their welfare.
- Minimising risks in order to safeguard the interests of children and young people.
- Ensuring that the Province, their paid employees and volunteers, are carefully recruited, selected, trained, supported and supervised.
- Ensuring the that all in the Province, our paid employees and volunteers are aware of, trained in and work to the Code of Behaviour for Children.
- Supporting victims of abuse.
- Working with statutory authorities to ensure that allegations of abuse are dealt with justly and promptly.

[Provincial Chapter 2010]


If you are concerned about a child please report your concern to any of the following:

 

The Designated Officer for the SSCC is:

Dr Johanna Merry: 00 353 87 2573450

 

The Deputy Designated Officer for the SSCC is:

Fr Chris McAneny: 00 44 77 4262 6735

 

The Designated Officer for the Archdiocese of Dublin is:

Mr Andrew Fagan: 00 353 1 836 0314

 

The Designated Officers for the Diocese of Clogher are:

Mr Brendan Kelly:   00 353 42 974 1383

Mgr Vincent Connolly: 00 353 42 966 3200

Fr Michael McGourty: 00 44 28 686 28600

 

The Designated Officer [Safeguarding Adviser]

for the Archdiocese of Westminster is:

Mr Peter Turner: 00 44 207 7989 350 / 0044 780 3634 236

 

The Health Service Executive - Ireland

Local HSE office – Child Protection Services

Mr John O’Riordan:     00 353 1 268 0336 [Northbrook area]

Ms Sinead McFadden: 00 353 1 620 6387 [Clondalkin area]

 

National Society for Protection of Children [NSPCC] - England

Tel: 0044 808 800 5000

 

An Garda Siochána - Ireland

Harcourt Tce, Dublin 2: 00 353 1 666 9500

Monaghan: 00 353 47 77 200

 

Police - England

London Metropolitan: 0044 300 123 1212

 

Signed:      

 

Fr Derek Laverty, sscc                                                                                             Provincial


 

Standard 2 
Procedures   

The Province must provide clear guidance on what to do

when a concern arises

A. Initial Reception of a Complaint of Abuse

What to do: 

 

Listen, be welcoming, and supportive

Sensitively hear the person’s story. Then explain the initial procedures and give the name and phone number for our Designated Officer. 

Do not pass on the phone-call to another SSCC or lay person and certainly do not question the person or seek to investigate any detail of the allegation.

Be mindful of the rights of all involved, the person making the allegation and the person accused.

If the person is a minor the SSCC brother should arrange for the child to be accompanied to his/her parent or guardian and thereafter facilitate a subsequent meeting with the Designated Officer.

An SSCC brother cannot guarantee absolute confidentiality to anybody who wishes to speak about a situation of abuse (this, of course, does not apply to situations involving the sacrament of penance where the seal of confession is inviolable).

It is essential that the person making the complaint be put in contact with the Designated Officer as soon as possible. 

Once again, if you are concerned about a child or a vulnerable adult please report your concern to one of the relevant persons whose details are given above.


B. How a complaint is dealt with

The person receiving the complaint refers it directly to the Designated Officer or failing that to the Deputy Designated Officer.

The Designated Officer will:

  • Interview the Person making the allegation and offer  a Support Person
  • Gather the facts and circumstances of the allegation
  • Interview the accused and offer a Support Person
  • Inform the Provincial
  • Make decisions regarding reporting to HSE/NH and Gardai/PSNI/Police
  • Alert the Provincial of the necessity to call a meeting of the Advisory Panel
  • Prepare a dossier for the Advisory Panel to consider
  • Present dossier (devoid of identifying elements) for the Advisory Panel meeting.

The Designated Officer may attend the meeting only for clarification purposes. S/He will not be involved in the deliberations or decision-making of the panel.

The Advisory Panel sends its outcome of recommendations to the SSCC Leadership. The Recommendations will focus on four areas: 

  • the person making the allegation
  • the respondent
  • public safety regarding ministry
  • and the overall SSCC Safeguarding Policy

The Advisory Panel can also make recommendations regarding reporting if no reporting has been done beforehand.

coo the SM

 

 

How a complaint is dealt with
C. Inter-congregational Advisory Panel

The NBSCCCI recommends that congregations come together to form Advisory Panels.  We have joined together with the OSA, OCD, OSM, SM, OFM, OP and SSC.

The Advisory Panel:

  1. Civil Lawyer (Chair)
  2. Canon lawyer
  3. Child/family professional with child safeguarding expertise
  4. Religious Priest
  5. Adult family member/parent

The Advisory Panel will meet two times a year and at any other time on an urgent need basis.

The Advisory Panel hold office for a three-year period with annual review.

Members are paid, with different categories of payment, financed by the congregations equally.

Avila will host the meeting for the three-year period.gnated Officer

Duty Designated

CongregatioThe role of the Inter-congregational Advisory Panel

Standard 3

Prevention
 

Church organizations develop a culture of safety that minimises risk to children. Some people who work in, or who seek to work in Church organizations (whether it is paid or voluntary work) may pose a risk to children and young people.

 

a. Safe Recruitment

It is vital to make sure that whoever is employed by the Church whether in a pastoral or voluntary role is recruited safely and is suitable for the job/role with children that they are being asked to undertake.

For a checklist for recruitment and selection of employees and volunteers please consult either the NBSCCCI: p63-R3 / CSAS: 4.4.2*

For a sample declaration form see either NBSCCCI: p.67-R4 / CSAS 5.2.1 [CRB 4]

For examples of child safeguarding questions to ask during the recruitment process see NBSCCCI: p.68-R5 / CSAS: 4.2.8

 

b. Codes of Behaviour

A code of behaviour is a clear and concise guide of what is and is not acceptable behaviour and practice.  It is important that everyone is clear about what is and is not acceptable behaviour when working with children.

* All CSAS refs are taken from www.csasprocedures.uk.net

                                    

 b. SSCC Code of Behaviour  

CODE Of BEHAVIOUR for our life & ministry:

  • Treat all to whom we minister with respect and courtesy.
  • Respect the boundary of physical and emotional space that others require, using touch in a prudent and responsible way.
  • Provide pastoral ministry in a sufficiently safe environment, ordinarily one that is open and visible.
  • Ensure whenever reasonably possible that another adult is present or close by when providing pastoral ministry to a minor or vulnerable adult.
  • In the event of pastoral outings, behave with due prudence that has the other as its central concern. Avoid staying in the same room or travelling alone with a minor or vulnerable adult.
  • Avoid all inappropriate communication with children and vulnerable adults through the internet, e-mail, text messages or otherwise.
  • Ensure that permission of the parent/guardian is given when taking photographs and making videos or other recordings of children in the course of ministry to them.
  • Avoid the use of the pastoral role to foster relationships of dependence and subservience, over-familiarity with one child or vulnerable adult to the exclusion of others.
  • Avoid any form of over-familiarity or inappropriate language that could reasonably be interpreted as harassment.
  • Never provide alcohol or any drug/substance to a minor without the express permission of the parent/guardian.
  • Never act in a way that is intended to shame, humiliate, belittle or degrade.

 

c. Safe activities

There should be clear guidelines for Church employees and volunteers on what to do to keep children safe before, during and after you have involved them in activities.

 

  • Vetting: See NBSCCCI: p.67-R4 / CSAS: 5.2.1 [CRB 4]
  • Supervision
  • Health and safety
  • Parental consent: See NBSCCCI: p70-R7 / CSAS: 5.2.1 [CASE 4]

Parishes in the care of the SSCC will implement the relevant diocesan child safeguarding policy in conjunction with this policy.

 

 

  Standard 4 
Training and Education   

There are opportunities for all Church personnel to develop and maintain the necessary attitudes, skills and knowledge to keep children safe.

 

For identification of training needs see NBSCCCI: P71-R8 / CSAS: 5.1.4

 

Key Questions:

  • How are child safeguarding training needs currently identified in your Church organisation?
  • If you currently have child safeguarding training does it meet everyone’s training needs?
  • Is there a budget for training?
  • How is the learning from it shared with others?

 

Is the identification of training and education needs in place, in each SSCC place of ministry and SSCC community?

 

Identify the headings that constitute training and education:

  • Definition of abuse: see NBSCCCI: p73-R10 / CSAS: 1.3.1
  • Good practice and code of behaviour when working with children and vulnerable adults
  • Communication
  • Procedures for dealing with disclosures

 

Standard 5 
Communication   

There are clear processes in place to disseminate the Church’s child safeguarding policy and procedures to personnel, parishioners and external agencies.

  • What methods of communication exist within the SSCC so that the safeguarding policy is known, understood and can be used by everyone.
  • How do we publicise this policy?
  • How do we make it known to others?
  • How do we know if people understand it?
  • etc

 See checklist for communicating the message: NBSCCCI: p48

 

 Information for Community and place of Ministry

  • Is the Child Safeguarding Policy Statement visibly displayed e.g. on the wall?
  • Is the Child Safeguarding Code of Behaviour visibly displayed e.g. on the wall?
  • Is the Initial reception procedure of a complaint of abuse visibly displayed e.g. on the wall?

 

Ministries – Follow Diocesan programmes for communication

 

Communities – arrange a meeting of all staff in communities to explain the SSCC Safeguarding Policy and/or a joined up meeting for all Sacred Hearts Community members in Ireland and England.

 

Standard 6 
Access to Advice and Support  

Anyone who has been abused or who has perpetrated abuse should be assisted and supported in seeking help.

 

Abuse is distressing and can be difficult to deal with. Church organisations have a duty to ensure advice and support is available to help Church personnel and volunteers play their part in protecting children.  

NBSCCCI: p50 / CSAS: 5.1

 

Offer the support of a Priest Advisor for the respondent.

Offer a Support Person to assist the person making the allegation.

Towards Healing - Ph: 1800 331234 (from ROI) 
Ph: 0800 973272 (from Northern Ireland and the UK) 
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

National Society for Protection of Children [NSPCC] - England

Tel: 0044 808 800 5000

Email: nspcc.org.uk/helpline  

Make an address and phone list of the services, authorities and organisations in your area that can provide assistance to children.

 

 

Standard 7
Implementation and Monitoring

the Standards  

 

The SSCC will develop a plan of action to monitor the effectiveness of the steps it is taking to keep children safe.

                                      NBSCCCI: p51

 

 

Implementation – how to make it happen. NBSCCCI: p52

The SSCC will develop a plan of action.

Local Safeguarding Committees:

  • Parishes share the Diocesan Safeguarding Committee, e.g., Clondalkin/Clontibret.
  • The Communities of Northbrook Road, Clondalkin, Cootehill, and Clontibret, will share the same Safeguarding Committee.

The Provincial Safeguarding Committeecomprising a Sacred Hearts Community Priest, and a representative from Ireland and England. These Safeguarding Committees will:

  • oversee
  • check that the Policy is in place and that it is operating


DEFINITIONS:

Physical Abuse:

Physical abuse is any form of non-accidental injury or an injury which results from willful or neglectful failure to protect another person.

 

Emotional Abuse:

Emotional abuse is the persistent emotional ill-treatment of a child or vulnerable adult such as to cause severe and persistent adverse effects on the person.

 

Sexual Abuse:

Sexual abuse occurs when a child or vulnerable adult is used by another person for his or her gratification, for sexual arousal or for that of others.   Indirect abuse of children occurs where children have been photographed, filmed or videotaped for pornographic purposes or subjected to gross and obscene language or indecent images.

 

Neglect:

Neglect is the persistent failure to meet a child’s physical, emotional and/or psychological needs when the child suffers significant harm or impairment of development by being deprived of food, clothing, warmth, hygiene, intellectual stimulation, supervision and safety, attachment to and affection from adults, and medical care.

 

The Safeguarding Children, Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland lays these out in greater detail.

Ref: NBSCCC p73 & R10. See also CSAS: 1.3

 

Vulnerable adult:  someone immature, naive, traumatised, easily influenced, not able to defend himself/herself.