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The Armagh Diocesan Committee for Safeguarding Children was formed on October 20th 2004. The members are:
Loretto Mc Keown RSM (Chairperson
John Connolly (Diocesan Secretary)
Gerry Campbell Adm. (Coordinator)
Dr. Fionnuala Watters
Christopher O’Byrne PE.AP.
Carina Muldoon SSL
Michael O’Dwyer PP
Rhoda Curran RSM
Tom Haverty
Kate Acton (Diocesan Youth Director)
The committee members bring to their role, experience from education, counselling, parenting, medicine, parish ministry and social work. Between November 20th 2004 and December 4th 2005, three persons – Gerry Campbell Adm (St. Patrick’s Dundalk), Helen Stewart (Dromintee) and Carina Muldoon SSL (Middletown) received ‘Keeping Safe’ training in St. Patrick’s College Maynooth, from the Volunteer Development Agency, Belfast. They are now registered Child Protection Trainers. Kate Acton, a trained Keeping Safe trainer since 2000, joined the Diocesan training team in November 2007.
The committee is responsible for ensuring adequate training and support for parish child protection representatives and advising parishes on policy and best practice.
Any questions in relation to this committee should be directed to Fr John Connolly at the diocesan office.
Diocesan Child Protection Policy Statement
The Archdiocese of Armagh recognises and upholds the dignity and rights of all children and is committed to ensuring their safety and well being. The Archdiocese values and encourages the participation of children and young people in all parish liturgies and in all activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual and social development.
Above all the Archdiocese recognises the need to protect children and young people and aims to do this in a way that promotes their human dignity, integrity and worth as children of God.
The Archdiocese of Armagh recognises that while child protection is everyone’s responsibility, all involved in working with young people have a special duty of care towards them. The Archdiocese has committed itself to engaging in a process towards putting procedures in place through which this care is put into effect.
Basic Procedures
In order to support the Diocesan Policy it is necessary that the following procedures are implemented:
- A clearly defined process for the recruitment and supervision of adults working with children and young people, which will include:
- Volunteer/employment application forms, to include POCVA/Garda Vetting Forms (when available);
- Declaration forms for all adult leaders;
- Induction and training records;
- Attendance records;
- Applicants will provide proof of identification i.e. photo ID.
- A duty roster of adults to ensure adequate supervision of children and young people at all times.
- Appropriate supervision ratios of adults to children and young people, while maintaining the practice that no child or young person is left alone with an adult.
In our duty of care and protection for children and young people best practice will include the following procedures and record keeping:
- Record of activities and participants.
- A clearly communicated Accident and Emergency Plan
- Medical information and treatment permission as appropriate of all children and young people.
- Signed parental/guardian consent for each child and young person.
- Participant forms.
- Incident/Accident report forms.
- Attendance records.
- Contact information for parents/guardians.
- Named group leader/designated person who can be contacted in relation to any query about good practice procedures.
- A code of conduct for all adults, children and young people.
- For away trips and pilgrimages, the above procedures must be followed, and in addition, a pre-check on accommodation and transport arrangements must be made.
There will be a procedure in place to review policy on an annual basis.
The Armagh Diocesan Policy and Procedures have been in place for three years and therefore, as recommended good parctice, are currently being reviewed. Until the new policy and procedures are adopted by the Cardinal those above still apply within the diocese.
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