safeguarding children

Safeguarding Children in our Parish

Contact Details:

Raphoe Safeguarding Office,
Diocesan Pastoral Centre Monastery Avenue Letterkenny
Co. Donegal Director of Safeguarding: Margaret Northage Tel: 074 91 25669
Email: safeguarding@raphoediocese.ie
For Garda Vetting Enquiries, email: gardavetting@raphoediocese.ie

SAFEGUARDING & CHILD PROTECTION

The Diocese of Raphoe recognises and upholds the dignity and rights of all children, is committed to ensuring their safety and well-being, and will work in partnership with parents/guardians to do this. The Diocese recognises each child as a gift from God, and values and encourages the participation of all children in all activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional, intellectual and social development.

All diocesan personnel (including clergy, religious, staff and volunteers) have a responsibility to safeguard children through promoting their welfare, health, development in a safe and caring environment that supports their best interests and prevents abuse.

THE SAFETY OF ALL CHILDREN MATTERS TO US.

How do we safeguard children in our parish?

We have robust Policy and Procedures in place, please click on: www.raphoediocese.ie/safeguarding or https://safeguarding.ie/policy-guidance/view-all-the-guidance
A Child Safeguarding Statement is in place which is compliant with the requirement of Children First legislation and has been verified by Tusla’s Complaince Unit, (please ask for a copy), or please click on https://www.raphoediocese.ie/safeguarding-children/forms-policies/#collapse-4591
All clergy, staff and volunteers working with children must attend Safeguarding Children Training,
All clergy, staff and volunteers must undergo garda vetting, click here for vetting form: https://www.raphoediocese.ie/safeguarding-children/forms-policies
Safe Recruitment procedures are in place,
Parental Consent must be obtained,
There is a Code of Behaviour for Adults working with Children,
Supervision ratios must be adhered to by Leaders,
Sign-in book and attendance records are maintained,
Child friendly posters are on display,
Information is made available to parents/guardian should they have a concern,
Each parish has at least 2 Safeguarding Parish Representatives who work with their Parish Priest to ensure best practice is in safeguarding,
All child protection concerns are taken seriously and reported to the statutory authorities.

HOW TO REPORT A CONCERN:

If you have been abused in the past or have a concern about the welfare and safety of a child, please contact:
Margaret Northage, Designated Liaison Person on 086 2183011 or alternatively you can go directly to the Gardaí or Túsla.

Contact Details:
Gardaí National Protective Services Bureau: 01 6663430 or 01 6663435

In an emergency, please contact:
Letterkenny Garda Station: 074 91 67100
Túsla – Child and Family Agency: 074 91 23672 / 074 91 23770

COUNSELLING AND SUPPORT SERVICES:

Towards Healing –

is an independent organisation providing free professional counselling and support for people who have suffered clerical abuse. Free counselling is also available for spouse/partner. The service is offered in a safe and respectful manner and is appropriate to the person’s needs.

Contact Details:
Tuesday to Friday 9am -5pm

Freephone 1800 303416 (Rep of Ireland)
Freephone 0800 0963315 (Northern Ireland and UK)
Hearing-impaired Text Line Number: 085-8022859
or click on https://towardshealing.ie/

The vision of Towards Peace is to provide a safe supportive space, where people who have been affected by abuse in a Church context can be accompanied as they seek their own experience of spiritual peace, one step at a time.

Towards Peace realises that abuse by Church personnel in particular, may have an especially traumatic impact on spirituality; shattering a person’s sense of wholeness, rupturing their inherent trust of their own goodness and sacredness, and fracturing their relationship with the presence of God within themselves and their lives. We are very much aware that this kind of abuse can create deep lifelong spiritual wounds.

Contact Details:

Towards Peace Coordinator: Ms. Una Allen, Coordinator

Phone: +353 (0) 1 5053028
Mobile: +353 (0) 86 7710533

The service is available on Monday and Tuesday from 9am – 4pm and on Wednesday from 9am -12 noon. 

For out of office hours, please call us on +353 (0) 86 7710533 and leave a message, we will respond to your call as soon as possible.

Email: towardspeace@iecon.ie
Website:  www.towardspeace.ie