Safeguarding Children Policy - Church of the Holy Name, Beechwood Avenue

Child Safeguarding Statement

Beechwood Parish values and encourages the participation of children and young people in parish liturgies and activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional, social and intellectual development, and will work in a partnership way with parents at all times.

The Gospel of Christ invites us to cherish and affirm each child as a gift from God with an inherent right to dignity of life and bodily integrity which shall be respected, nurtured and protected by all. Everyone in the Church has an obligation to ensure that the fundamental rights of children are respected.

In keeping with this we in this parish undertake to do all in our power to create safe environments where the welfare of children and young people is paramount.

This duty of care extends to all the many and varied ways that children share in the life of the Church in our parish and diocese.

Partnership with Civil Authorities
Our Parish is committed to working in partnership with the civil authorities to ensure that all aspects of child welfare are managed promptly, professionally and justly. We will adhere to statutory policy, notably ‘Children First’: National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2011), and the HSE Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook (2011). All Child Safeguarding concerns shall be reported to the civil authorities without delay.

Procedures

Beechwood Parish is committed to following best practice as specified by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church (NBSCCC). Our diocesan child protection policy and procedures are set out in our publication ‘Child Safeguarding Statement of the Archdiocese of Dublin, June 2020’. This document can be downloaded from the diocesan website – please click here Dublin-Diocesan-Child-Safeguarding-Policy-2023 to download.

As required of all church personnel in this archdiocese, we will adhere to the latest edition of Dublin Archdiocese: Safeguarding Children Policy & Procedures’.

Child Safeguarding Representatives

If you have any concerns with regard to the safety of a child or vulnerable adult please contact the following

Archdiocese of Dublin Safeguarding and Child Protection Office – 01-8360314
Designated Person for the Archdiocese of Dublin
Mr. Andrew Fagan, Director of Safeguarding and Child Protection Service 01-8360314
Deputy Designated Person for the Archdiocese of Dublin
Ms. Sinead McDonnell, Child Protection Officer 01-8360314