Child Protection Policy

The Parish of Balyna values our children and young people and respects and upholds their worth and dignity as children of God. Our policy clearly acknowledges that the welfare of the child is of paramount importance. Therefore, we undertake to do all in our power to safeguard any child under our care from spiritual, physical, sexual or emotional harm.

We encourage the active participation of children in all aspects of parish life and in activities that enhance their faith development as well as their personal and social development. We recognise that we have a special duty of care both to the children and young poeple and to those in leadership roles with them. Therefore, we have procedures and practices through which this care is put into effect. Our policy is drawn up in line with Children First, the National Guidelines for the protection and welfare of children and young People and according to the recommendations of Our Children, Our Church, the guidelines provided by the Irish Bishop’s Conference.

It is our policy in the parish to work in partnership with the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin and with all State Agencies charged with the welfare of children and young people. Our policy is to report all concerns to the Health Services Executive through the person designated as the Balyna Parish Child Protection Officer. The policy document applies to all those activities which are organised directly by Balyna Parish relating to the pastoral care of children and young people. We will also work in co-operation with other community groups and agencies who deal with young people, recognising that they also have policies and procedures in place. This document is designed to fit the requirements of those parish groups currently operating. It will be revised and updated as necessary. Input from interested parties within the parish will always be welcome.

BALYNA PARISH – SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN STATEMENT

The PARISH OF BALYNA 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 justly and promptly. We will adhere to statutory policy, notably ‘Children First’: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children (1999). 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’ (AUG. 2009). 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’ (AUG. 2009).

Signed: Gerard Breen PP

Code of Conduct Basics

• All Children and young people will be treated with courtesy, respect and dignity, and will be expected to treat each other and their leaders in the same way.
• Rough physical games are considered inappropriate and will not be part of parish activities.
• Inappropriate language will not be used by leaders of young people.
• 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.
• Any type of bullying behaviour by anyone involved in parish activities is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
• All those involved in parish activities will be encouraged to report suspicions or incidents of bullying to a programme leader or directly to the Designated Person (The Balyna Parish Child Protection Officer).
• Always respect the physical integrity of the children and young people and never engage in inappropriate physical contact or conversation.
• Never do anything for a child that he or she is capable of doing for him/herself.
• There must always be an adequate ratio of leaders to young people and adequate gender appropriate and activity appropriate supervision at all times. We suggest that 1:10 would be standard practice, but where the situation demands, a ratio of 1:6 would apply.
• Those in leadership roles will not allow personal relationships or parental roles to interfere with the running of programmes.
• Favouritism and unnecessary or unapproved contact with children outside the programme is to be avoided by leaders.
• In the event of an allegation being made regarding parish activities, the protection of the child will be the immediate consideration.
• The parish will provide support to all those affected by the allegation and the situation will be dealt with promptly, and carefully, under advice from the Helath Services Executive.

Best Practice Guidelines Safe Management of Activities

• Appropriate training will be offered to all those engaged in organising youth ministry activities in the parish.
• All youth activities must have a current permission from the parent/guardian of each child or young person involved in the activity. This form will apply to all those who are under 18 years of age and must include parental consent and contact details, medical or other relevant information, and whether children have permission to walk home.
• Separate written permission will be required for special activities (like outings, etc.).
• All written consent forms will be treated as confidential documents and will be stored with appropriate security measures.
• Only the Parish Priest, the Parish Administrator and the Parish Catechist (who is the Designated Person for Balyna Parish) and programme leaders will have access to confidential information.
• Parents/guardians may have access to information regarding their own child.
• Always keep attendance records for each child or young person participating in parish activities. These records will also be deemed confidentail.
• All youth activities must have at least two named adult supervisors in attendance at all times.
• No-one will, at any time, work alone or travel alone with individual children who are participating in parish activities.
• If an emergency situation arises, proper and sensible precautions must be taken – e.g. telephone notification of the need to bring the child to hospital and telephone verification of arrival at the hospital.
• There will be at least two adults (normally, the priest and the sacristan) with the altar servers in the sacristy at any time.
• All groups using parish halls or parish land for youth activities will be asked to provide their insurance details and their Child Protection Officer as a matter of course.
• Accurate records must be kept of any incident that gives rise to any type of concern regarding a child or a young person.
• An incident book will be provided for all parish activities, and another will be kept in the sacristy of each church.

Safe Recruitment and Selection Procedure

* All those who have contact with children or young people in parish activities will be asked to fill in an application form, which will include a declaration of suitability and references. These will be treated as confidential documents and stored with appropriate security measures.

Reporting of Concerns

* The Parish Designated Person must be notified of all incidents that are recorded. These records must then be retained in case there is a need for further reference to them. All records will be confidential and will be stored with appropriate security measures.

* If there is any type of incident, this will not be discussed with anyone other than the Designated Person and/or the Parish Priest. This is to protect confidentiality for the children and the young people, and also those in leadership roles.

* No leader will promise a child that he/she will “keep a secret”.

* Parents will be notified and concerns discussed with them in all situations except those which the Designated Person judges might cause risk to the safety or welfare of the child concerned.

* The Designated Person in Balyna Parish is Joan Saultzs.

* Fr. Breen has completed a H.S.E. certified training course in safeguarding children.

This Child Protection Policy for the Parish of Balyna is effective from 04/07/2009.

Gerard Breen PP. Joan Saultzs

Balyna Parish Designated Person: Joan Saultzs Ph: 086 809 2098.

email: balynaparish@eircom.net

The Child Protection Delegate in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin is: Rt. Rev. Mgr. John McDonald, Curragh Camp, Co. Kildare. Tel: (045) 441369 E-mail: cpi@kandle.ie

Please use any of the contacts below if you wish to talk to a HSE duty social worker about the safety and/or protection of children or young people

Carlow/Kilkenny Area: 059-9136587 (Office hours)

Kildare/West Wicklow Area: 045-882400 (Office hours)

Laois Area: 057-8678236 (Office hours)

Offaly Area: 057-9322488 (Office hours)

Outside of these hours in cases of emergency please contact an Garda Síochána.