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SSCC CHILD SAFEGUARDING POLICY
Purpose
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 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: [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 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.
The person receiving the complaint refers it directly to the Designated Officer or failing that to the Deputy Designated Officer. The Designated Officer will:
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 Advisory Panel can also make recommendations regarding reporting if no reporting has been done beforehand. coo the SM
How a complaint is dealt with 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:
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:
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.
Parishes in the care of the SSCC will implement the relevant diocesan child safeguarding policy in conjunction with this policy.
Standard 4 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:
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:
Standard 5 There are clear processes in place to disseminate the Church’s child safeguarding policy and procedures to personnel, parishioners and external agencies.
See checklist for communicating the message: NBSCCCI: p48
Information for Community and place of Ministry
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 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) 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 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:
The Provincial Safeguarding Committeecomprising a Sacred Hearts Community Priest, and a representative from Ireland and England. These Safeguarding Committees will:
DEFINITIONS: 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.
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