Parish of Drumlease-Killargue (Dromahair - Killargue -Newtownmanor)
 

Child Protection - Policy Statement:
Child Protection - Procedures:
Child Protection - Code of Conduct:
 

Child Protection - Policy Statement:-

We in the Parish of Drumlease - Killargue value and encourage the participation of children and young people in all diocesan and parish activities that encourage their spiritual, emotional, physical and social development.

While recognising the dignity and rights of all children we will endeavour to do all in our power to create safe environments for children and young people in order to secure their protection and enable their full participation in the life of the Church.

Parish of Drumlease - Killargue, September 2007.
 

Child Protection - Procedures:

The Parish of Drumlease - Killargue is committed to the following:-

1. Consent for each young person taking part in church activities will be signed
by a parent or guardian.

2. A duty roster of adults working on behalf of the church to ensure adequate
supervision of young people at all times.

3. Appropriate supervision ratios* of an adult working on behalf of the church to young people while maintaining the practice of ensuring that no young person is left alone with a person working on behalf of the church. Children will not travel alone in cars etc. with an adult working on behalf of the church. This will apply to diocesan and parish based activities or away trips e.g.. retreats, pilgrimages.

4. A code of conduct for all adults working on behalf of the church and for young people. Adults working on behalf of the church will sign a form of approval of the code of behaviour and parents will sign the form of approval on behalf of their child.

5. Adequate record keeping processes which include:-

Participant Forms.
Incident / Accident Report Forms.
Staff / Volunteer Application Forms.
Declaration Form for all Adult Leaders.
Medical Information and Treatment Permission.
Programme Attendance Records.
Garda / Access NI check for Adult Leaders where Appropriate.
Training Records.

6. Contact information for parents / guardians.

7. Procedures for recruitment, management and overseeing adults working on
behalf of the church with young people.

8. A clearly communicated Accident / Emergency plan for the duration
of church activities.

9. Pre-check on accommodation and transport for away trips.

10. Photography / imagery of young people by adults working on behalf of the church for promotional or other purposes that would be injurious to young people is forbidden.

11. Information sessions for all young people and their parents regarding activities, policy, code of behaviour and procedures.

12. Training for all adults working on behalf of the church regarding policy,
codes of behaviour and procedures.

13. A clear complaints procedure for use by young people, a parent, guardian or adults working on behalf of the church who are dissatisfied with any aspect of activities / services provided.

14. A clear policy will be in place regarding the use of computers.

15. Reviewing these procedures periodically.

*Ratios are:
For children under 12 years - 1 adult: 6 children
For children 12 years and over - 1 adult: 8 children

Parish of Drumlease - Killargue, May 2008,
 

Child Protection - Code of Conduct:

The Parish of Drumlease - Killargue is committed to:-

1. Young people and adults working on behalf of the church will be treated and will treat each other with courtesy, respect and dignity at all times.

 2. Young people will not be permitted to consume alcohol, smoke or take non-prescriptive drugs while participating in activities, in keeping with civil law both in the Republic of Ireland and in Northern Ireland.
 

3. Appropriate supervision ratios* of adults working on behalf of the church to young people while maintaining the practice of ensuring that no young person is left alone with an adult working on behalf of the church. Children will not travel alone in cars etc. with an adult working on behalf of the church. This will apply to diocesan and parish based activities or away trips e.g. retreats, pilgrimages.
 

4. Care will be taken to ensure that when working with mixed gender groups, adults working on behalf of the church of appropriate gender will work in pairs.

5. That adults working on behalf of the church will not consume alcohol, smoke
or take non-prescriptive drugs while having responsibility for or in the presence
of young people.

6. Bad language or offensive comments will not be permitted by young people or adults working on behalf of the church.

7. Young people or adults working on behalf of the church will not engage in rough play with other young people or infringe on personal boundaries whereby physical integrity is compromised.

8. Adults working on behalf of the church will not undertake any task of a personal nature with / for young people except in cases of medical necessity when the welfare of the young person depends on it.

9. Adults working on behalf of the church will always engage with young people in an open and transparent manner and care will be taken not to show favouritism.

10. There will be clearly designated adults working on behalf of the church within each group with whom young people can speak about their experience and raise concerns if necessary.

11. The diocese will have a designated person assigned to whose immediate attention all concerns and /or complaints can be brought.

12.The designated person will respond promptly to all concerns and liaise with
the appropriate civil and church authorities.

13.A disciplinary code of conduct and appropriate sanctions should be agreed in
consultation with adults working on behalf of the church and with young people.

14. Inappropriate use of videos, DVDs, cameras, land line phones, mobile phones and picture mobile phones will not be allowed by adults working on behalf of the church and young people while participating in church activities. All mobile phones will be kept on silent or turned off during church activities.

15. Adults working on behalf of the church and young people must refrain from
inappropriate use or damage to property and must at all times endeavour to
treat property with respect.

16. Clear procedures will be followed when taking young people away on day trips, residential trips and pilgrimages.

17. Adults working on behalf of the church and young people must adhere to
the computer policy.

18. Reviewing this code of conduct periodically.

* See Child Protection Procedures.

Parish of Drumlease - Killargue, May 2008