Standard 2: Procedures – How to respond to concerns
What is the Standard?
All Church organisations must provide clear guidance on what to do when a concern arises. Clear procedures and guidance will help to make sure there is a prompt response to allegations and suspicions about a child’s safety or welfare. They also enable the Church to meet all national and international legal and practice requirements or guidance.
Ways of providing evidence
The following documents can be used to provide evidence that the Standard has been met:
- a copy of written procedures
- a flow chart that describes steps in the Church organisation’s child protection reporting process
- name and duties of those people with special responsibility for child protection in the Church organisation
- examples of forms for recording details of concerns.
Download
Standards and Guidance Document (Full)
Criteria
2.1 There are clear child protection procedures in all Church organisations that provide stepby-step guidance on what action to take if there are allegations or suspicions of abuse of a child (historic or current).
2.2 The child protection procedures are consistent with legislation on child welfare civil guidance for child protection and written in a clear, easily understandable way.
2.3 There is a designated officer or officer(s) with a clearly defined role and responsibilities for safeguarding children at diocesan or congregational level.
2.4 There is a process for recording incidents, allegations and suspicions and referrals. These will be stored securely, so that confidential information is protected and complies with relevant legislation.
2.5 There is a process for dealing with complaints made by adults and children about unacceptable behaviour towards children, with clear timescales for resolving the complaint.
2.6 There is guidance on confidentiality and information-sharing which makes clear that the protection of the child is the most important consideration. The Seal of Confession is absolute.
2.7 The procedures include contact details for local child protection services e.g. (Republic of Ireland) the local Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána; (Northern Ireland) the local health and social services trust and the PSNI.