Safeguarding

“It is the policy of the Church of Ireland to set standards for the welfare of all children sharing in its ministry with a view to protecting them from physical, sexual and emotional harm and neglect”.

Large numbers of children visit the Church and Centre of Kilternan Parish for worship, Messy Church, Sunday Club, and other recreational and educational purposes each week. The Church’s ministry to them is a priority for the Parish.

Safeguarding Trust means that our children are protected from all kinds of abuse, and that the parish is consciously promoting their general safety and welfare.

Children’s ministry is only possible because of the commitment of adults who are prepared to work with children and who have been selected, appointed and trained in Safeguarding Trust to feel confident that they are adhering to good practices and that they are protected from unfounded allegations.

Should you have a concern, suspicion or allegation regarding child welfare in ministry to children in this parish please report directly toa member of the parish panel, listed below, who may report directly to a designated officer of the HSE (normally the duty social worker) or a member of An Garda Síochánaif the matter is within the panel’s remit.

Rob Clements – 087 1496605

Jonny Holt –085 728 2606

Kerrith Fisher –086 883 0897

Child Safeguarding Statement

The Church of Ireland provides religious, educational and recreational activities and services to children under 18 years of age through a range of local services.

The Church of Ireland acknowledges its duty of care to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and is committed to ensuring safeguarding practice that reflects statutory responsibilities, government guidance and complies with best practice.

The Church of Ireland is committed to safeguarding children by working under the guidance of its national safeguarding policy Safeguarding Trust and its associated procedures. 

The Church of Ireland recognises that the welfare and interests of children are paramount in all circumstances. The bishops, clergy, volunteers and staff are committed to ensuring that all children have a positive and enjoyable experience in a safe and child centred environment and are protected from abuse whilst participating in activities.

All parishes, dioceses and other bodies operating under Safeguarding Trust have conducted a specific written risk assessment of any potential for harm to a child through their involvement in Church activities. The written risk assessment indicates the areas of potential harm, the likelihood of harm occurring, and lists the required policy, guidance, process and practice required to alleviate the risks. If there are site specific risks that local parishes and diocese need to include in their Child Safeguarding Statement they have done so in conjunction with their relevant person at diocesan level.


Risks Identified

Polices/Procedures in Place

Risk of harm (as defined in the Children

First Act 2015) of a child by a member

of the clergy/staff/volunteer/peer;

The Church of Ireland has an extensive child

safeguarding policy including a code of behaviour and vetting procedures which addresses these risks and are available at


https://safeguarding.ireland.anglican.org/child

safeguarding-roi/

Risk of harm (as defined in the CFA

2015) to a child on outings by a member

of the

clergy/staff/volunteer/stranger/peer

The Church of Ireland child safeguarding policy addresses these risks and is available at


https://safeguarding.ireland.anglican.org/roi-child-

safeguarding-part-5/#12

Risk of harm of bullying of a child by a

member of the

clergy/staff/volunteer/peer;

The Church of Ireland child safeguarding policy addresses these risks and is available at


https://safeguarding.ireland.anglican.org/roi-child- safeguarding-part-4/

Risk of harm (as defined in the CFA

2015) of a child from unauthorised

photography

The Church of Ireland child safeguarding policy addresses these risks and is available at


https://safeguarding.ireland.anglican.org/roi-child- safeguarding-part-5/#10

Risk of harm (as defined in the CFA

2015) of a child from online abuse

through social media or internet access;

The Church of Ireland child safeguarding policy addresses these risks and is available at


https://safeguarding.ireland.anglican.org/roi-child-safeguarding-part-5/#10

Allegations made against

clergy/staff/volunteer/peer

The Church of Ireland child safeguarding policy outlines the procedures for responding to allegations and these are available at


https://safeguarding.ireland.anglican.org/roi-child- safeguarding-part-7/#9


The Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children
First Act 2015, the Children First: National Guidance, and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for
Policy, Procedure and Practice.
In addition to the diocesan and parish risk assessments and the above policies and procedures
named, the following procedures are in place throughout the Church of Ireland as part of its
safeguarding policies and procedures:
▪ Procedures for the safe recruitment of volunteers or employees to work with children in our
services.
▪ Procedures for provision of and access to child safeguarding training, including the
identification and reporting of harm.
▪ Procedures for reporting child protection and welfare concerns to Tusla and An Garda
Síochána.
▪ Procedures for maintaining a list of persons in each diocese who are mandated persons.
▪ Procedure for appointing a relevant person for this child safeguarding statement.
The full Church of Ireland Child Safeguarding Policy is available on the Church of Ireland Safeguarding
website at https://safeguarding.ireland.anglican.org/.
The Church of Ireland recognises that implementation is an on-going process and is committed to
the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support its
intention to keep children safe from harm and the risk of harm. The Child Safeguarding Statement
will be reviewed no later than February 2025, or as soon as practicable after there has been a
material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

The Relevant Person for this Child Safeguarding Statement is:
Rev Rob Clements
087 149 6605