Risk Assessment

The table below sets out the identified risks to the safety of children and young people involved in Church activities in the Diocese of Killala and the steps taken to minimise the risks of abuse. The links in the table relate to indicator that are found on the NBSCCCI (National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland) here Child Safeguarding Policy available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance. The Safeguarding Children Parish handbook 2016 outlines the procedures below.

Risk Identified

Procedure in place to manage risk identified
Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) of a child by Church personnel or visitors to Church premises. Procedures for safe recruitment and creating and maintaining a safe environment as part of Indicators 1.1 and 1.4 of the Child Safeguarding
  Policy available at:
https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
Risk of harm(as defined in the Children First Act 2015) of a child through bullying by peers. Anti-bullying procedures as part of Indicator 1.3 of the Child Safeguarding Policy available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
The environment in which work with children is facilitated fails to protect them from harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015). Procedures to create and maintain safe environments including localised hazard assessments as part of Indicators 1.4 and 1.8 of the Child Safeguarding Policy available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) to children involved with external groups who use Church property and are unsafe to do so. External groups who use Church property procedures to meet Indicator 1.5 of the Child Safeguarding Policy available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
Risk of harm(as defined in the Children First Act 2015) to a child during outings or trips away (including overnight) from home from peers, Church personnel or strangers. Procedures to meet Indicators 1.1, 1.4 and 1.8 of the Child Safeguarding Policy available including trips away from home procedures, localised risk assessment and safe recruitment available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
Risk of harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) through the use of digital media (photography, video and social media). Procedures for the safe use of digital media as part of Indicator 1.9 of the Child Safeguarding Policy available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
Church personnel fail to report an allegation, suspicion, concern or knowledge appropriately. Procedures for reporting child abuse allegations, suspicion concerns or knowledge to meet Indicator 2.1 of the Child Safeguarding Policy available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
Church personnel fail to take action during and following any investigation into allegations of abuse against clerics and religious to ensure children are protected from harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015). Procedures for managing allegations after the civil investigation has concluded to meet Indicators 4.1. 4.2. 4.3 and 4.4 of the Child Safeguarding Policy. Available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
Church personnel fail to support those who are victims of abuse. Procedures to support complainants to meet Indicators 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 of the Child Safeguarding Policy. Available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
Church personnel fail to understand their responsibilities to safeguard children. Procedures for child safeguarding training and support to meet Indicators 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4 of the Child Safeguarding Policy. Available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
Children and their parents do not understand the Church’s policy, procedures and structure to safeguard children and protect them from harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015). Procedures to develop communications, training and support relating to child safeguarding to meet Indicators 5.5, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4 of the Child Safeguarding Policy available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
The procedures for safeguarding children from harm (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) fail to be implemented. Procedures to ensure compliance and the implementation of the policy and procedures to meet Indicators 7.1, 7.2 and 7.3 of the Child Safeguarding Policy available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
The Church authority fails to ensure the appointment of a relevant person and maintain a list of mandated persons. Procedures including safe recruitment, Tusla child safeguarding statement and mandated persons to meet Indicators 1.1, 6.1 and 2.1 of the Child Safeguarding Policy available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/index.php/guidance
Risk of harm of a child (as defined in the Children First Act 2015) being disclosed during the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Procedures to meet indicator 2.1 of the Child Safeguarding Policy in relation to the Sacrament of Reconciliation available at: https://www.safeguarding.ie/policy-guidance/view-all-the-guidance

Risk Assessment (Risks identified for each parish/religious community)

Alongside the risks listed in the table above, all parishes/religious communities of the Diocese of Killala individually risk assess their activities with children and put in place procedures to manage these risks.

Risk Identified

Procedure in place to manage risk identified

Local activity with children is risk assessed in each location in which the activity takes place as part of Indicator 1.8 of Safeguarding Children Policy and Standards for the Catholic Church in Ireland 2016

For full details of localised risks and the procedures in place to manage these please refer to the hazard assessments stored at the Parish Office.

Procedures

All procedures outlined in the risk assessment above are available from Diocese of Killala Safeguarding Office. The procedures listed above include the following: