Safeguarding in our Parish

The Parish of the Church of the Assumption, Ballyphehane is part of the Catholic Diocese of Cork and Ross.

We all share the responsibility for ensuring that our children grow up in an environment where they are respected and loved and free from the danger of any form of abuse.  Where children are involved in Church-related activities, the Diocese takes its responsibilities seriously.  Our parish is guided by and audited the Safeguarding Children Service of the Diocese of Cork and Ross please see following link http://corkandross.org/safeguarding-children

The Diocese of Cork and Ross invites anyone with a child protection concern to contact the Diocesan Liaison Person, Ms Cleo Yates on 021 4301717

Concerns

If you have a Safeguarding concern and wish to report it directly to the statutory authorities, the contact details are as follows:

H.S.E.  (TUSLA)

South Lee Community Services, St Finbarr’s Hospital, Cork.  Tel:  021 4923001

North Lee Community Services, Blackpool, Cork. Tel: 021 4927000

West Cork Community Services, Skibbereen, Co Cork.  Tel: 028 40447/40456

An Garda Síochana

Gardaí National Protective Services Bureau. Tel: 01 6663430/6663435

Local Gardaí 021 4947120

National Church Policy

All the constituent parts of the Catholic Church in Ireland have one whole-church policy on safeguarding.  It is the policy that guides our diocese and our parish in its safeguarding practices.  You can download it https://www.safeguarding.ie/images/Pdfs/Standards/Safeguarding%20Children%20Policy.pdf

Safeguarding Representatives

The Church of the Assumption Parish has a team of local Safeguarding Representatives who have an important role in ensuring our parish’s compliance with the safeguarding policy.  The members are volunteer parishioners who have undertaken training by the Diocesan Safeguarding Service.  They are available to advise group and activity leaders and monitor parish activities that involve children.  They are:-

Catherine O’Sullivan

Michael Comerford

Audit for Compliance

Our Parish’s safeguarding practises are regularly reviewed and are audited by the Safeguarding Service of the Diocese each year.

Vetting

It is the policy of the diocese – and of our parish – to have people who will have a direct involvement with children or vulnerable adults in our parish vetted by the National Vetting Bureau.  This applies to a wide range of people. See the policy here: http://corkandross.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Interim-Garda-Vetting-Policy-22.11.17.pdf