posted 2 Dec 2009 03:42 by Safeguarding Ireland
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updated 2 Dec 2009 06:27
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Three two day training courses were held on the 14 /15,28/29 October and 18/19 November. The programme focused on best practice in recording, storage of data and information exchange. These tasks had been identified as ones that urgently needed to be improved across he Church. The course was fully booked, with representatives from dioceses, religious congregations and missionary societies attending. All three courses were fully subscribed and the National Office will repeat the programme in the new year.
If you would like to express an interest in attending could you E-mail ann.doyle@safeguarding.ie or ring the National Office at 01 5053124
posted 16 Nov 2009 07:09 by Safeguarding Ireland
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updated 16 Nov 2009 08:10
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Three new Board members appointed to the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church.
Dr. Kathleen Ganter
A Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist with extensive experience of treating children and adolescents who have suffered abuse.Currently involved in mental health tribunal work for the Mental Health Commission. Chair of the European Division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.
Dr. Keith Holmes
A Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist.Currently Chairperson of the Medical Board in Lucena Clinic in Dublin and Chair of the Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry within the College of Psychiatry of Ireland.He also represents the faculty on the Medical / Legal / Human Rights / Ethics Committee within the College of Psychiatry of Ireland.
Professor David Smith
A member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Congregation.Associate Professor in Healthcare Ethics in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland with an extensive international career in Academic Research and Consultancy work in Healthcare Systems, Ethics and Bioethics.Chairperson of the Task Force on Child Abuse of C.O.R.I. ( 2004)
23 October 2009 | Address by Ian Elliott, Chief Executive of the National Office for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, at the ‘Keeping Children Safe’ conference sponsored by the Health Service Executive and hosted by University College Cork
At the invitation of the National Office, Dr Monica Applewhite visited Ireland to assist us in the development of policy and practice with particular regard to the responding to alleged offenders within the Church. Dr Applewhite addressed the Irish Bishop’s Conference on Tuesday 10th March speaking on the lessons learnt from the United States of America. She spent a day working with the National Office team helping us to advance our thinking in risk assessment and also offered advice on training. On Thursday 12th March, she addressed a group of religious delegates and leaders.
Dr Applewhite has great experience and through her visit the work she has greatly helped and advanced our thinking in this critical area. A copy of her address to the Bishops has been posted on the site along with a copy of her curriculum vitae. It is hoped that she will be able to retain a connection with our work here and in time return to provide us with further assistance and support.
Terms of Reference and structure of a central professional Practice committee is currently being advanced by staff in the National Office. The role of this Committee will be to offer advice and guidance to Bishops and Congregational Leaders about steps to take in relation to priests, religious and clergy who have been accused of (sexually) harming children and young people. There will be widespread consultation, on the proposals during Spring 2009.
There are two sub-Committees associated with the National Board for Safeguarding Children – The Finance and General Purpose Committee, and the Practice and Policy Sub-Committee. The former committee is chaired by John Morgan, while the latter is chaired by Sister Martina Barrett.
Current Policy being developed by Sr Martina and her colleagues includes:
“Safeguarding Children”, Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland, extends the principles outlined in “Our Children, Our Church” (OCOC). From these principles, seven standards have been developed which represent best practice in the field of safeguarding children, in the Church and all related Church activities. The guidance will be circulated over the coming months to all Dioceses, Congregations and Religious Communities, and will replace OCOC as the standards to be followed in protecting children.
The National Office will run a series of seminars and information sessions when distributing “Safeguarding Children”, starting with a meeting of Diocesan Delegates in January 2009. Congregational designated officers, their Leaders and other key people will be invited to attend regional events early during Spring, 2009.
