Child Safeguarding Training

The following was part of a letter sent by Archbishop Neary to all Clergy ministering in the Tuam Archdiocese regarding updating of Child Safeguarding Training (Keeping Safe Programme) that will be on offer from Autumn of this year.

“As you know we as a diocese are committed to establishing the highest possible standards of good practice in our dealing with children. We value and encourage the participation of children and young people in every aspect of church life and we seek to create safe and secure environments in which children can flourish.

The past year has seen the development and launch of a comprehensive Safeguarding Children Policy for the Archdiocese. This policy is now policy for all parishes and diocesan agencies. The Western Province Diocesan Vetting Office has been established along with a document on Policy and Procedures for Garda Vetting and all priests ministering in our diocese have received Garda vetting. Garda vetting of all church personnel who have regular contact with children in a church setting is ongoing. 62 Local Safeguarding Representatives have been nominated by their parishes and will remain in this role for the coming three years.

In order to ensure that the highest possible standards of good practice are in place in our diocese I have asked our Safeguarding Committee to provide fully accredited HSE Safeguarding Children training to all the priests of the diocese. ‘Keeping Safe’ is the national child protection training course and a valuable addition to the skills and knowledge base of those who work with children/young people. It is a nine hour programme covering five modules.

Over the coming months all priests who minister in the Archdiocese will have the opportunity to attend ‘Keeping Safe’ training. As this training is part of our overall diocesan Safeguarding Children policy it is essential that all priests ministering in the diocese complete the ‘Keeping Safe’ programme.

This training is also being offered to our Local Safeguarding Representatives, a number of whom have not previously been in a position to attend training. I believe that this model of learning which sees lay and ordained working closely together provides a healthy template for us as we move forward. Because of lay involvement training will take place at weekends: on Friday evenings from 7pm-10pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 4pm.

Three training weekends will be provided before Christmas; September 24/25 in the Mc William Park Hotel, Claremorris, October 15/16 in the Ard Rí Hotel Tuam and November 12/13 in Hotel Westport, Westport. Further training opportunities will be offered in the New Year”.