Prevention (reference Standard one) LONG TERM AIMS (themes) STANDARDS NBSCCI KEY OBJECTIVIES TASK / ACTIVITES ACTION BY TIME SCALES REVIEW DATE Aim 1 Prevention The Diocese is committed to promoting the welfare and rights of children and young people through creating safe practices across all aspects of its work. It is the responsibility of all within the Catholic Church involved with children and young people and adult safeguarding to promote their by creating a safe environment. This will be achieved through: Standard 1 maintaining safe environments Standard 5 Training Standard 6 Communication (a) All church personnel within Down and Connor will be trained and supported in all aspects of safeguarding relevant to their role. 1.1 (b) Through the NBSCCCI, the Diocese will develop a pool of Registered Trainers to deliver the mandatory one day Child Safeguarding Training. 1.1.1 Develop a corporate induction leaflet for all staff and personnel within Down and Connor taking up new posts. 1.1.2 Develop a training needs analysis and action plan. This will be shared with all staff, clergy and volunteers. (reference standard 5 (5.2)) 1.1.3 Staff and volunteers will attend National Board training as appropriate. Working sub group Safeguarding Office Personnel – working sub group. Safeguarding Office Staff February 2018 Summer 2017 Ongoing 2020 Annually Annually
LONG TERM AIMS (themes) STANDARDS NBSCCI KEY OBJECTIVIES TASK / ACTIVITES ACTION BY TIME SCALES REVIEW DATE Aim 1 Prevention The Diocese is committed to promoting the welfare and rights of children and young people through creating safe practices throughout all aspects of its work. It is the responsibility of all involved with children and young people to create and maintain a safe environment. This will be achieved through Standard 1 maintaining safe environments Standard 5 Training Standard 6 Communication 2020
Older child 8-12 years Young people. 1.2.4 Review the existing range of information leaflets, relating to Adult Safeguarding. 1.2.5 Explore the use of social media to promote the wider societal safeguarding agenda To promote and support the use of the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland by parents, young people and professionals February 2018 January 2018 Ongoing LONG TERM AIMS (themes) STANDARDS NBSCCI KEY OBJECTIVIES TASK / ACTIVITES ACTION BY TIME SCALES REVIEW DATE Partnership Standard 1 maintaining safe environments Standard 2 Procedures 1.3 (a) The Diocese will commit to its shared responsibility for safeguarding children and young people by ensuring 1.3.1 (a) The Diocesan Safeguarding Committee will ensure that all Diocesan Safeguarding Policy, Diocesan Safeguarding Committee. Ongoing 2020
Standard 3 Care of the complainant Standard 5 Training Standard 6 Communication awareness of and compliance with: a) Children NI Order 1995 b) Cooperating to Safeguard Children (2017) c) revised Regional Child Protection Policy and Procedures to be launched in November 2017 Procedures and Practice will be fully compliant with the legislative and policy framework within the Northern jurisdiction. LONG TERM AIMS (themes) STANDARDS NBSCCI KEY OBJECTIVIES TASK / ACTIVITES ACTION BY TIME SCALES REVIEW DATE 1.4 Creating a safe environment Standard 1 maintaining safe environments The Diocese will ensure a safe, caring and nurturing environment for all children, young people and adults who engage in Church life. The Diocese will revise and update its existing procedures in relation to creating and maintaining safe environments. Revise existing Children Protection Policy Procedures and Addendums Safeguarding office staff September 2017
To revise the existing protocol for visiting clergy To develop existing policies and procedures in relation to safe recruitment Diocesan Chancellor and Safeguarding office staff Vetting and barring April 2017 April 2017 LONG TERM AIMS (themes) STANDARDS NBSCCI KEY OBJECTIVIES TASK / ACTIVITES ACTION BY TIME SCALES REVIEW DATE To create a revised practice manual for Parish personnel that will encompass all aspects of safe practice, including: Visiting clergy Safe recruitment Data protection guidance Codes of conduct Safeguarding Office Personnel Summer 2017 to February 2018 2020
(children and adults) E safety Use of Parish Premises by External Groups Whistleblowing Complaints Health and Safety Trips away LONG TERM AIMS (themes) STANDARDS NBSCCI KEY OBJECTIVIES TASK / ACTIVITES ACTION BY TIME SCALES REVIEW DATE Aim 2 MONITORING The Diocesan Safeguarding Committee will have oversight of safeguarding practice. It will ensure that there are robust governance arrangements in place for the internal and Standards 1-7 The Diocesan safeguarding committee will produce a three year Safeguarding Strategic Plan for the Diocese (2017-2020) 2.1.1 Step one The Safeguarding Office will establish 7 task and finish groups to existing procedures and practice in line with the new National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Safeguarding Office will take lead role in conjunction with other professional personnel internal and external to Diocese To complete this scoping exercise and develop an action plan June 2016-Feb 2017 March 2020
The Diocese will put in place arrangements to ensure and evaluate its compliance with safeguarding standards at Diocesan level. 2.3 The Diocese will put in place arrangements to ensure and evaluate its compliance with safeguarding standards at Parish level. The Diocesan Safeguarding Committee will report to the Bishop of the Diocese on an annual basis about the work and activity of safeguarding practice. 2.2.2 The Diocesan Safeguarding Committee will produce an annual report. 2.3.1 The Diocesan Safeguarding Office will develop a revised annual self-audit tool in line with standard 7 for implementation at parish level Chairperson of the Diocesan Safeguarding Committee. Diocesan Safeguarding Committee Safeguarding Office Personnel Ongoing March 2018 September 2017 Annually Annually Annually LONG TERM AIMS (themes) STANDARDS NBSCCI KEY OBJECTIVIES TASK / ACTIVITES ACTION BY TIME SCALES REVIEW DATE
2.4 The Diocese will ensure that the recommendations from the independent review of parish compliance with safeguarding standards will be actioned. 2.3.2 The annual audit will commence in 2017 (there will be specific information seminars and the support services of Safeguarding Support Officers to assist with implementation). 2.4.1 The Diocese will publish a summary of the key recommendations from the independent review of parish compliance. Personnel safeguarding office and Safeguarding Support Officers. Diocesan Safeguarding committee Commence April 2017 to completed by May 2017 November 2016 Annually
A template will be drawn up to record this information. LONG TERM AIMS (themes) STANDARDS NBSCCI KEY OBJECTIVIES TASK / ACTIVITES ACTION BY TIME SCALES REVIEW DATE Aim 3 Standard 2. The Diocese will ensure the implementation of its Whistleblowing Policy 2..6 All whistleblowing reports will be shared with the Diocesan Safeguarding committee as part of its ongoing governance arrangements an analysis of which will be commented upon in the Annual Report. 3.1 The Church Body has in place clear policies and 2.6.1 Consultation with the Diocesan Human Resource Advisers with regards to developing a Whistleblowing Policy. 3.1.1 The 2008/2012 Child Protection Policy and Procedures will be Safeguarding Office Personnel and Diocesan HR Advisors Through the establishment of January 2018 Completed by January 2018 April 2020 April 2020
The Diocese of Down and Connor is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our church community by ensuring a culture of safeguarding is integrated into the life of the church. procedures, structures and processes, to respond to and manage all suspicions, concerns, knowledge or allegations brought to its attention in relation to child protection and adult safeguarding matters. reviewed and rewritten. bespoke working group, commissioned by the Diocesan Safeguarding Committee. 3.1.2 To re write the existing information leaflet on ‘What to do if you have a concern’ 3.1.3 To produce, distribute and ensure display of, the diocese ‘Child Safeguarding Policy Statement. 3.2.1 The Safeguarding Committee will Safeguarding Office Personnel Safeguarding office personnel. The Safeguarding committee in November 2017 August 2017 July 2017 2020 July 2020
3.2 That the diocese responds effectively, timely and compassionately to all those who have suffered abuse by the church. integrate the diocesan pastoral strategy to help meet the needs of survivors of abuse. conjunction with the diocesan safeguarding office. LONG TERM AIMS (themes) STANDARDS NBSCCI KEY OBJECTIVIES TASK / ACTIVITES ACTION BY TIME SCALES REVIEW DATE 3.3 The diocese has in place agreed protocols and processes for the 3.2.2 The Safeguarding Office will review and update existing resources (personnel the support person) and information materials outlining the services available to victims of 3.3.1 By revising the existing Down and Connor protocol The Safeguarding Office Personnel By a subgroup of the Task and January 2018 February 2017 February 2020
management of those clergy against whom and an allegation(s) of abuse has been raised. “leave from Sacred Ministry In line with the requirements of the new standards and guidance document 2016 Finish group for standard 4 LONG TERM AIMS (themes) STANDARDS NBSCCI KEY OBJECTIVIES TASK / ACTIVITES ACTION BY TIME SCALES REVIEW DATE 3.3.2 The existing ‘Pool” of Diocesan Advisers as outlined in Standard 4 to be reviewed and. New members will be offered training provided by NBSCCCI. 3.3.3 The Diocesan Advisers service will be the responsibility of and co-ordinated by the Episcopal Vicar for Safeguarding, appointed by the Bishop of the Diocese. By the Episcopal Vicar for Safeguarding. January 2017 January 2020
3.4 The DLP will complete an Annual report regarding the management of cases for the Bishop of the Diocese of Down and Connor 3.4.1 To undertake an internal audit review of case material pertaining to clergy against whom an allegation of abuse has been raised and present the findings to the Bishop. Carried out by the DLP, the Director for Safeguarding and the Episcopal Vicar for Safeguarding the Diocesan Chancellor and the Chair of the Advisory Panel. November 2017 Reviewed annually. 3.5 The diocese will facilitate those offenders who wish to return to faith 3.5.1 The Diocese will a work in partnership with the probation service of N.I and PPANI to agree a standardised protocol to assist with the management of offenders returning to faith. The Director for Safeguarding as chair of the SBNI interfaith group. November 2017 2020