Child Protection Policy Statement

We in the Parish of Ashford and Glenealy value and encourage the participation of children and young people in parish liturgies and in activities that enhance their spiritual, physical, emotional and social development. We recognise the dignity and rights of all children and are committed to their protection and support.

In keeping with this we will work to do all in our power to create safe environments for children and young people in order to secure their protection and enable their full participation in the life of the Church.


Principles Guiding Best Practise for Ashford/Glenealy Parish

The core Child Protection Principles which should underpin best practice for all ministries and pastoral activities of the Church are rooted in Gospel values, the direction of the teaching Church statutory guidelines and the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child. These principles are as follows:
  • Children are people now and their childhood is valuable in its' own right

  • Each child must be affirmed as a gift of God and has a right to dignity of life and bodily integrity which must be respected, nurtured and protected. These rights are inalienable by the very fact of their human dignity.

  • Children have a right to be heard and taken seriously taking account of their age and level of understanding. They should be consulted and involved in relation to all matters and decisions that affect their lives.

  • Children have a right to care and support and to be raised in environments free from abuse or neglect with good role models whom they can fully trust will care for and nurture their spiritual and physical maturity.

  • The Church has a corporate responsibility to operate effective systems to assure the protection of children. This includes having a proper recruitment, formation and training strategy in place and working cooperatively with other agencies in the best interest of the child.

  • All personnel must be aware of their duty both to prevent child abuse and to report concerns or suspicions.

  • Every action and procedures must consider the overall needs of the child. Actions taken to protect the child should not in themselves be abusive or cause the child unnecessary distress

  • A proper balance must be struck between protecting the child and regard for rights of carers and adults, but where there is a conflict, the welfare and best interests of the child are the first and primary consideration.



    • Basic Procedures for Ashford/Glenealy Parish

    The Parish undertakes to have the following in place:
  • Signed parental consent for each young person participating in church related activities

  • Appropriate supervision ratios of adults to young people while maintaining the practice of ensuring that no young person is left alone with an adult

  • A code of conduct for all adult and young people

  • Adequate record keeping processes including: Incident! Accident Report forms

  • Volunteer Application form

  • Medical information and treatment permission as appropriate for all young people

  • Contact information for parents/guardians

  • Information session for all young people and their parents as is appropriate



    • Best Practice/Code of Behaviour for Ashford/Glenealy Parish

    It doesn't make sense to ...
  • Spend excess amounts of time alone with children away from others

  • Take children alone in a car on journey's, however short

  • Take children to your home


    • Never ...
  • Engage in rough physical games including horseplay -apart from structured sports activities

  • Engage in sexually provocative games

  • Allow or engage in inappropriate touching of any form

  • Allow children to use inappropriate language unchallenged

  • Make sexually suggestive comments about or to a child, even in fun

  • Let allegations made by a child go unchallenged or unrecorded (Always follow procedures, document on your Incident Record Form)

  • Do things of a personal nature for children that they can do for themselves


    • Tasks of a Personal Nature should only be carried out ...
  • For very young children or children with disabilities. With the full understanding and consent of parents

  • In an emergency - parents should be fully informed

  • All tasks of a personal nature are to be undertaken with the utmost discretion


    • Touching should ...
  • Be in response to the need of the child and not the adult

  • Be with the child's permission -resistance from the child should be respected

  • Avoid breasts, buttocks and groin

  • Be open and not secretive

  • Be governed by the age and developmental stage of the child


    • In recreational activities ...
  • Always work openly with children

  • If manual support is required it should be provided openly

  • If groups have to be supervised in the changing rooms, always ensure staff and volunteers of appropriate gender work in pairs

  • Where there are mixed groups away from home, they should always be accompanied by a male and female member of staff or volunteer




    • Useful Contacts in Relation to Child Protection

    ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBLIN
  • Child Protection Service 01 83603

  • Designated Person (Mr. Phil Garland) 01 8842590


    • AN GARDA SIOCHANA
  • Garda Ashford 0404 40212

  • Garda Wicklow 0404 67107

  • Garda Confidential Line 1800 666111


    • HEALTH SERVICE EXECUTIVE (HSE)
  • Local Community Care Area Information Line 1850 24 1850


    • NATIONAL OFFICE FOR CHILD PROTECTION
  • Director, Mr. Ian Elliott Tel. 01 505 3018 / 087 740 4321


    • HELPLINES
  • Faoiseamh Freephone 1800 33 1234

  • One in Four 01 662 4070

  • The Samaritans 1850 60 90 90

  • ISPCC 01 6767960

  • Childline 1800 66 66 66


    • We ask you all to be vigilant and, if you become aware of anything which could place our children at risk, please don’t remain silent.