Derry Diocese Child Protection Annual Update

A lot of work has been accomplished in the area of Child Protection in the Diocese over the past number of years due to the commitment of personnel at all levels in the diocese from the Bishop through to dedicated Parish Representatives working on the ground in all parishes.

The Diocese of Derry continues to put in place those structures, personnel, policies and procedures that will try to ensure the protection and welfare of children and young people in a manner consistent with statutory requirements and Church guidelines. In the light of the teaching of the Church, Civil Legislation and Guidance, every part of the Church community must be committed to taking the necessary steps to :

• Demonstrate that the right of the child to protection from harm is paramount

• Cherish and safeguard children and young people

• Foster best practice

• Support Church organisations and personnel in safeguarding children

• Establish safe recruitment and vetting practices - aimed at preventing those who pose a risk to children from holding positions of trust

• Maintain codes of behaviour - having clear guidelines that set out what is and is not acceptable behaviour as an essential part of keeping children safe.

The Diocese now has a Child Protection Committee, Diocesan Co-ordinator, 2 Diocesan Trainers and a network of Parish Representatives.

The trainers deliver information on “best practice” and raise awareness of child protection issues; they also provide support to parishes within the Diocese. In turn the Parish Representatives will pass on this information and raise awareness within their parish communities. This is done through information evenings that have been and continue to be held throughout the Diocese.

Notices are displayed in our churches which include the Diocesan Policy Statement, contact numbers for statutory authorities for anyone with a concern in relation to child protection or who wish to make an allegation as well as the names and contact numbers of the diocesan delegates.

28th April 2009

“Let the children come to me; do not stop them;…..”

Then he put his arms around them, laid his hands on

them and gave them blessing.(Mk 10:14, 16)

These words of Jesus reveal his tender and gentle attitude to children and to all those who are vulnerable. This attitude of Jesus is the foundation for all the work of the Derry Diocesan Child Protection Committee. The Committee values and encourages the active participation of children and yound people in the life of the Church. It also endeavours to ensure that each child and young persons’ fundamental right to be respected, nutured, cared for and protected is upheld in accordance with the teaching of the Gospel and civil legislation. This will be achieved through the development of ‘best practice’ in the area of child protection, ensuring the well-being of children and young people involved in any Church related activity.

Therese Ferry
Chairperson
Derry Diocesan Child Protection Committee

“The Diocese of Derry is committed to ‘best practice’ in the safeguarding of children, particularly when involved in Church activities. To this end, I commend the work of the diocesan committees and all those working at diocesan and parish level to bring the caring attitude of Christ to children. May the peace and joy of Jesus Christ be with you”.

Most Rev. Seamus Hegarty +
Bishop of Derry

Mission Statement
The Diocese of Derry values and encourages the participation of children and young people in parish liturgies and in activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional and social development. We recognise and uphold the dignity and rights of all these individuals within our ‘faith family’ and we are committed to their protection and support in a way that promotes their human dignity and integrity as ‘children of God’.

In keeping with this ethos, we undertake to do all in our power in the Diocese of Derry to create safe environments for children and young people, and to ensure their protection from physical, sexual and emotional abuse.

We acknowledge that all involved in working with children and young people have a special duty of care towards them, and we undertake to put in place policies and procedures through which this care is put into effect so that their rights as active participants in the life of the Church are upheld.

Child Protection Services
The policies and procedures outlined in ‘Our Children, Our Church’ indicate the importance of a collaborative approach to the whole area of child protection. In support of this a number of structures and personnel have been put in place in the diocese.

Derry Diocesan Child Protection Committee
The Derry Diocesan Child Protection Committee was appointed by the Diocesan Bishop. The Committee works independently, developing, directing and managing all aspects of policy development, training and support for parishes with the diocesan Church. Committee members are drawn from the four deanery areas of the diocese and they bring to this role experience from education, law, psychology, counselling, parish ministry and social work.

Areas of Responsibility
• Developing and implementing diocesan guidelines to promote child protection and welfare within parish ministry and pastoral activities in keeping with statutory and Church guidelines.
• Ensuring that the planning and delivery of a training strategy for all Church personnel is carried out.
• Assisting parishes in the application of the guidelines
• Liaising with the National Board for Child Protection and with statutory authorities
• Ensuring that referral mechanisms following complaints of abuse are made known within the diocese through training and awareness sessions.
• Ensuring that pastoral care supports for victims of abuse and others affected by abuse are made known within the diocese through training and awareness sessions
• Liaising appropriately with the Advisory Case Management Committee
• Reviewing the work of the Derry Diocese Child Protection Committee, Co-ordinator and trainers
• Overseeig an annual audit of child protection in parishes throughout the Derry diocese
• Regularly reviewing the work carried out by, and on behalf of the Committee and producing an annual report of this activity
• Liaising with the Diocesan Bishop to ensure recommendations of the review report are implemented.

Advisory Case Management Committee
The Advisory Case Management Committee works independently of the Derry Diocesan Child Protection Committee. It is appointed by the Bishop to work on his behalf to advise on all aspects of case management, including reporting and pastoral care. Until such time as a Regional Director for child protection is appointed, this Committee will work to ensure an effective response is made to complaints and the appropriate pastoral care is put in place.

Child Protection Office/Co-ordinators and Trainers
A new child protection office has been set up in the Pastoral Centre in Derry city. As part of the National Training Strategy in which the diocese has been involved, two diocesan Child Protection Trainers, have been appointed. They have completed the ‘Keeping Safe Programme’, devised and monitored by the Volunteer Development Agency in Belfast. They will work on behalf of the Committee facilitating the training of all Church personnel in child protection policies and procedures. They will assist parishes and other Church organisations within the diocese to apply the guidelines through information sessions and ongoing support. The Co-ordinator of Child Protection will assist the Committee in the overall development and implementation of diocesan and national guidelines.

Parish Representatives
Each parish has been asked by the Child Protection Committee to nominate representatives who will help them develop awareness of ‘best practice’ issues in working with children and young people in Church settings. The representatives will attend a two day training session facilitated by the diocesan trainers, and in turn will work in their parishes to help disseminate information on national guidelines, diocesan policies and procedures. The representatives will assist their own parishes in the drawing up of a policy statement and a code of basic procedures, as well as ensuring that contact information for child protection personnel is made known within the parish. An audit will be carried out annually of the child protection policies and procedures in each parish and how they are being developed and implemented. This will be part of an ongoing commitment to reviewing and improving ‘best practice’.

As part of our commitment to ensuring the well-being and protection of children and young people, all personnel involved in ministry with children and young people in the diocese of Derry will be subject to strict vettin procedures.
(Northern Ireland: POCVA and Garda vetting when available)

Reporting Procedures
There are four main types of child abuse as outlined in Children First and Co-operating to Safeguard Children:
• Neglect
• Emotional abuse
• Physical abuse
• Sexual abuse

Reporting to Statutory Authorities
If you or anyone you know has a child protection concern or wishes to report an allegation of child abuse directly to the statutory authorities, please contact the PSNI/Gardai or the local Health and/or Social Services and ask to speak to the Duty Social Worker. Contact numbers will be displayed at the back of all Parish Churches.

Reporting to Church Authorities
If you or anyone you know has a child protection concern or wishes to report an allegation of child abuse directly to the Church authorities in relation to any member of Church personnel, please contact one of the following diocesan designated persons.

Rev. John Farren
Tel : NI (0035374) 9384037
Tel : ROI (074) 9384037

Rev. Seamus Farrell
Tel : NI (0035374) 9374104
Tel : ROI (074) 9374104

Mrs. Mary McCafferty
Tel : NI (028) 7136 2475
Tel : ROI (048) 7136 2475

*Please note that these are the interim guidelines and will be subject to change to meet the recommendations of ‘Our Children, Our Church’.