Safeguarding Children

Download the Safeguarding Brochure

Download the Oblates Safeguarding Policy

Safeguarding booklet

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate are committed to creating a safe environment for all. We want children, young people and vulnerable adults to feel included and valued, their participation is to be encouraged by all Oblates in their pastoral ministry and in activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional and social development.

The Oblates recognize the dignity and rights of all children and vulnerable adults and are committed to their support and safeguarding.

The Oblates undertake to ensure a safe environment for children and young people and to ensure their protection from all forms of abuse through best practice;

Best practice in ensuring the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults, protecting their rights and promoting their welfare. Minimizing risks in order to safeguard the interests of children, young people and Vulnerable Adults.

Ensuring that all Oblates, and their paid employees and volunteers, are carefully recruited, selected, trained, supported and supervised. Ensuring that all Oblates, their paid employees and volunteers are aware of, trained in and work to the Code of Behavior for safe working. Supporting all victims of abuse.

Reporting any concerns to the relevant statutory agencies and working closely with them to ensure that all allegations of abuse are responded to promptly. Contact Details Designated Persons;

Republic of Ireland & UK: Suzanne Phelan
tel: 085 1146391
email: phelansuzanne@gmail.com

The Oblates Safeguarding Statement (Ireland)

The Oblates of Mary Immaculate, as well as their employees and volunteers, value and encourage the participation of children and young people in their pastoral ministry and in activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional and social development.  The Oblates of Mary Immaculate recognize the dignity and rights of all children and are committed to their support and safeguarding. The Oblates undertake to ensure through best practice to create a safe environment for children and young people and to ensure their protection from all forms of abuse.

The Oblates are committed to:

1. Best practice in ensuring the safeguarding of children and young people, protecting their rights and promoting their welfare.
2. Minimizing risks in order to safeguard the interests of children and young people.
3. Ensuring that all Oblates, and their paid employees and volunteers, are carefully recruited, selected, trained, supported and supervised.
4. Ensuring that all Oblates, their paid employees and volunteers are aware of, trained in and work to the Code of Behaviour for working with Children
5. Supporting all victims of abuse.
6. Working closely with statutory authorities to ensure that all allegations of abuse are dealt with justly and promptly.

Risk Assessment

 Procedures

Our Child Safeguarding Statement has been developed in line with requirements under the Children First Act 2015, Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2017), and Tusla’s Child Safeguarding: A Guide for Policy, Procedure and Practice. The Safeguarding Statement has also been drawn up in line with the Oblate policies and procedures and the NSBCCCI Standards for Safeguarding. In addition to the procedures listed in our risk assessment, the following procedures support our intention to safeguard children;

• Procedure for the management of allegations of abuse or misconduct against Members/staff/volunteers;
• Procedures for the safe recruitment and selection of Members;
• Procedure for the safe recruitment and selection of Leaders to work with children;
• Procedure for provision of and access to child safeguarding training and information, including the identification of the occurrence of harm;
• Procedure for the reporting of child protection or welfare concerns to Tusla;
• Photography and video Policy
• Codes of behaviour for Leaders and children
• Complaint procedures and anti bullying policies
• The Provincial is responsible for the collation and maintenance of the list of Mandated Persons working in the service.
• The Relevant Person for the Oblates is part of the role of Safeguarding Advisor.

All procedures are available upon request.

IMPLEMENTATION

We recognise that the implementation is an ongoing process. Our service is committed to the implementation of this Child Safeguarding Statement and the procedures that support our intention to keep children safe from harm when we are working with them.

This Child Safeguarding Statement will be reviewed on 30^th March 2019, and every two years thereafter or as soon as practicable after there has been a material change in any matter to which the statement refers.

Signed                                                                                  

Fr O Barry OMI, Provincial

Provincial Office,                                                                       

House of Retreat,

Tyrconnell Road,  

Dublin 8.

For queries, please contact: Suzanne Phelan (085 1146391), Relevant Person under the Children First Act 2015.