Anglo-Irish Safeguarding Policy

Click here to access the 2018 Child Safeguarding Statement of the Presentation Brothers.

For the procedures to implement the child safeguarding policy, the Presentation Brothers follow the guidance of the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland, available here: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance

A Message from the Province Leader of the Anglo-Irish Province of Presentation Brothers: Raymond Dwyer

We all share the serious responsibility of ensuring that our children and young people grow up in an environment where they are treasured, respected and loved, and are free from danger and of any form of abuse. This Province of Presentation Brothers takes its commitment to safeguarding children/young people very seriously. We have published our policies and procedures in accordance with the Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in Ireland. We are fully compliant with all the provisions of civil law in this area.

I am heartened to see the great work that has been done and is on-going in the Presentation Brothers in relation to Safeguarding Children in the Province.  It is an area of great importance and I would be most anxious to ensure that the high standards already in place continue, develop and expand in line with current best practice.

I welcome the publication and the implementation of the new Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland 2016. This has been adopted by the Presentation Brothers. I would like to thank the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI) for its guidance, advice and leadership in this crucial area.

The responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of our children does not diminish with time. Indeed, the task remains a priority requiring constant vigilance and attention on the part of all involved in church life. We all have an important role to play in ensuring that a safe environment is created for our young people, to enable them to grow and flourish as fully integrated human beings.

This Province of Presentation Brothers is fully committed to:

  • Acknowledge the pain, hurt and damage caused by failures in the past to protect children.
  • Liaise and co-operate fully with the appropriate statutory agencies and the National Board for the Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland.
  • Implement policies, procedures and protocols for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults throughout the Province.
  • Continue to do all in our power to help survivors towards healing.

I thank most sincerely the members of the Presentation Brothers Child Safeguarding Committee who give time and energy in ensuring the Safeguarding Standards, Policies and Procedures are updated and communicated throughout the Province. Their commitment, professional skills and expertise are reflected in the material published here.

I appreciate the close co-operation that exists between the Garda Síochána, TUSLA and our Coordinator of Safeguarding in the Province.

My sincere thanks to the Representatives in each community who assist in overseeing and ensuring these guidelines are observed.

May we remain ever vigilant to ensure the well-being and the safety of all in our ministries and communities, especially the young.

The Designated Liaison Person to receive complaints where there are concerns about the safety of children is:

Mr. Phil Mortell for Ireland and United Kingdom (086 3932685)

With sincere good wishes,

Br. Raymond Dwyer                        1st October 2017

SAFEGUARDING PERSONNEL / ROLES
The following are the people involved in this essential work in the Presentation Brothers:
IRELAND:
Safeguarding Coordinator: Mrs Treise Lenihan
Further to her role as the Brothers’ Safeguarding Trainer, Treise works on coordinating all aspects of Safeguarding for the Brothers in Ireland, including providing support to the Safeguarding representatives in each…
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We are committed to implementing the appropriate national guidelines for dealing with complaints relating to child sexual abuse, and will respond to the best of our ability to any person who comes to us with a complaint. Accordingly we have appointed a Child Safeguarding Designated Officer in every unit of the…
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Each province of the Presentation Brothers has a Child Safeguarding Policy. In addition, there is a Congregation level policy document.
Each of the policies can be found here.
If you are required to apply for Garda Vetting with the Presentation Brothers, you can find the relevant form here. Page 2 and 3…
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In May 2014, we published a review (pdf) of our safeguarding policies and procedures which had been conducted by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI).
That report made a number of recommendations. We have supplied the National Board (February 2015) with an update on…
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CONTACTS/SUPPORTS
Towards Healing is a new counselling and support service for survivors of Institutional, Clerical and Religious abuse, funded by the Catholic Church. If you have suffered in this way, Towards Healing will provide services to you no matter where you are currently living: www.towardshealing.ie
One in Four professionally supports men and women who have…
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