Safeguarding Standards
Quality Assurance Framework
The Church of Ireland has adopted a Quality Assurance Framework and strives towards the highest standard in safeguarding with children and vulnerable adults. The two identified standards are Protecting and Responding.
The two Standards are accompanied by a set of Statements and by specific key indicators. Each indicator can be measured against agreed compliance requirements.
We believe that by adopting and progressing these safeguarding standards, this can have a far-reaching and hopefully positive influence over all aspects of Church of Ireland safeguarding.
Assessing Compliance
An example of how to measure a key indicator is outlined below. The ‘Key Indicator’ example below refers to how we process any concerns or allegations of abuse and how such matters should be reported internally.
Example
|
KEY INDICATOR |
COMPLIANCE INDICATOR |
| All concerns and allegations of abuse have been reported to the parish/diocesan panel and/or to the to the Bishop and the Safeguarding Officer, as appropriate, and properly actioned and any ongoing risk to children or vulnerable adults has been fully assessed and is effectively managed to ensure, in so far as possible, that no further harm is caused. | Check that reports and concerns have been properly dealt with and recorded in accordance with Church policy and legislative requirements |
Every three years an evidence-based ‘audit’ of safeguarding should be undertaken with the relevant diocesan support team. This audit follows the format outlined in the Safeguarding Audit Form which can be downloaded below.
Annual Online Safeguarding Returns
Annual Online Safeguarding Returns
Select vestries or their equivalent must complete annual online safeguarding returns which report on their safeguarding compliance to the diocesan council. This is just one of the responsibilities of the vestry under safeguarding policies. More information can be found at ROI Child Safeguarding – Part 2 – Safeguarding – Church of Ireland (anglican.org) and NI Child Safeguarding – Part 2 – Safeguarding – Church of Ireland (anglican.org).
These forms are generally reported around the time of Easter Vestries. A PDF copy of the questions is available below for reference only.
Please ensure that the returns are completed via the online form below.
NI Returns PDF 2023 ROI Returns PDF 2023
Safeguarding Policy Updates
Safeguarding is an area that is constantly developing, always seeks to learn from good practice and has to respond to changing regulatory demands. The Church of Ireland has a number of key safeguarding policies which are available on this website.
These policies are reviewed in an ongoing way and all changes made to the policy are updated on the website. You can track these changes HERE
