Child Protection Guidelines
Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland
By National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland
Feb 24, 2009, 00:00

The main objective of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland is to promote and safeguard the rights of children so that they may grow and develop in a healthy and nurturing environment. The Standards and Guidance document is available here …

The National Board has three main aims:

1. To offer advice on best practice in Safeguarding Children
2. To assist in the development Safeguarding policy, procedures and practice
3. To monitor practice in relation to Safeguarding Children.

The Board’s explicit goals are:

1. To help safeguard all children
2. To help promote healing and reconciliation with victims
3. To help guarantee an effective response to allegations of abuse
4. To help ensure that we undertake our role and terms of reference as diligently and comprehensively as we can.

The National Board launched the “Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland” on February 24^th 2009, which extends the principles outlined in “Our Children, Our Church”. From these principles, seven standards have been developed which represent best practice in the field of safeguarding children, in the Church and all related Church activities. The guidance will be circulated over the coming months to all Dioceses, Congregations and Religious Communities, and will replace “Our Children, Our Church” as the standards to be followed in protecting children.

The National Office will run a series of seminars and information sessions when distributing “Safeguarding Children”, starting with a meeting of Diocesan Delegates in January 2009. Congregational designated officers, their Leaders and other key people will be invited to attend regional events early during Spring, 2009.

The Standards and Guidance document for the Catholic Church in Ireland is available for viewing and download at

http://www.safeguarding.ie/downloads-1

The First Report of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (produced 31st December 2008) is available for viewing and download at

http://www.safeguarding.ie/downloads-1

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