Job Title: Safeguarding Officer / Job Holder:
Job Location: Holy Cross Diocesan Centre, Clonliffe Road, Dublin D03P2E7
Reports to: Diocesan Director for the Child Safeguarding and Protection Service
JOB PURPOSE: Briefly describe the overall purpose or function of the job
Work as part of a team and participate in all aspects of the work of the Child Safeguarding and Protection Service, to ensure that all relevant personnel in the Archdiocese are trained in child and vulnerable adult safeguarding in accordance with national guidelines, to deal with allegations (that children and or vulnerable adults have been abused or suspicions that they may have been abused) involving priests, staff and volunteers in the Archdiocese of Dublin. The successful candidate will be required to work two Saturdays per month to deliver training in addition to being available on some evening’s mid-week.
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Risk Assessment / · Assess the risk areas in parishes where abuse of children and vulnerable adults could occur
· Establish relationships with parish personnel and give guidance on child and vulnerable adult safeguarding and protection
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Training and development / · Work with the safeguarding team to design, develop and deliver training to church personnel responsible for children and vulnerable adults or who come in contact with children and vulnerable adults on a regular basis in their faith community.
· Develop a greater awareness of the presence of children and vulnerable adults in our parish communities, encourage respect for such persons and teach appropriate ways of integrating children and vulnerable adults in the parish community.
· This training will include knowledge around abuse and exploitation of children and vulnerable adults and how to work/minister safely ensuring that any potential risks to both the child and vulnerable adult and the staff member/priest or volunteer are recognised and managed.
· Monitor the implementation of child and vulnerable adult safeguarding and protection policies and procedures by carrying out periodic audits and reviews in parishes and agencies.
· Avail of appropriate training, supervision and support on a regular basis.
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Dealing with Complaints / · Work within the safeguarding team to facilitate those who come forward to make complaints of abuse by priests or other parish personnel either of themselves or of family members or friends
· Ensure that such persons are informed of the requirement to report protection concerns to the civil authorities before they disclose details of the abuse.
· Provide follow up information, advice and support to such persons post disclosure in accordance with their needs and wishes.
· Liaise with third parties (priests, friends, relations, voluntary and counselling services who are in touch with those who have been abused) to offer advice and support in encouraging such persons to approach the services of the Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Office.
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Case Management / · Conduct preliminary enquiries into child and vulnerable adult protection concerns in accordance with National and Church guidelines under the direction of the Director of the service.
· Prepare documentation for meetings with priests against whom allegations of vulnerable adult abuse have been made.
· Assist the Director in formulating advice to the Archbishop on any interim protective measures to be taken in response to allegations of abuse of vulnerable adults.
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Liaising with diocesan personnel and advisors / · Liaise with other diocesan personnel including Moderator, General Manager, Chancellor, Vicar for Clergy, Vicar for Religious, Priest Support Co-ordinator , Finance Secretariat and, Human Resources
· Attend Priest Support Committee meetings (monitoring of priests out of ministry)
· Attend Safeguarding Committee meetings
· Respond to queries from Diocesan solicitors
· Respond to queries from priests of the Archdiocese and from other Diocesan Offices
· Assist the Communications Office in the preparation of press statements
· Liaise with other dioceses in respect of priests who are living in the Archdiocese of Dublin and in relation to priests of the Dublin Archdiocese who are living in other Dioceses when appropriate
· Liaise with religious orders in respect of their members who are living in the Archdiocese of Dublin as required.
· Prepare documents for the Chancellery for submission of cases to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
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Record Keeping / · Make a careful and comprehensive record of every action/ intervention in relation to a child or vulnerable adult protection concern
· File records in accordance with the office filing system
· Update the case management database
· Prepare regular case reports as required
· Prepare and update case summaries for each file
· Log intake of calls received
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Diocesan Advisory Panel / · Attend Advisory Penal meetings as required.
The above contains the main outline of duties. However it is inevitable that tasks may arise which do not fall within the remit of the above list of main duties. Staff members are therefore required to respond with a flexible approach when ad hoc tasks arise which are not specifically covered in their job description. Should an additional responsibility become a regular part of a staff member’s job, the Job Description will be amended to reflect this.
JOBHOLDER ENTRY REQUIREMENTS: Identify the essential knowledge, skills and behaviours required.Knowledge (Education & Related Experience):
· The successful candidate must have obtained a recognised professional social work qualification
· Have a minimum of five years post qualification experience of working with child /vulnerable adult protection issues
· Be conversant with investigation methods and offending patterns and support issues
· Be familiar with the National and Church protection guidelines
· Experience of training adults
· Knowledge and understanding of the Catholic Church and its aims and objectives
· Must hold current membership of CORU
· Up-to-date IT skills (Microsoft office suite)
· Full drivers licence and the use of a car is required
Key Behaviours:
· The successful candidate will have the ability to deliver a highly professional and caring service
· A high degree of flexibility is required
· An ability to work as part of a team contributing to the overall outputs of the Safeguarding and Child and vulnerable adult Protection Service
· The candidate will demonstrate their capability to work with empathy and discretion when dealing on a confidential basis with individuals or groups
· Excellent organisational skills
· Strong ability to persuade and influence
· Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills
KEY RELATIONSHIPS
Internal
Diocesan Director for the Child and Vulnerable Adult Safeguarding and Protection Service
Archbishop of Dublin
Moderator of Curia
General Manager
Chancellor
Vicars for Clergy and Religious
Staff members of Diocesan Child Safeguarding Service
Advisory Panel on Child Protection
Priest Support Committee
Safeguarding Committee
Diocesan Departments / External
HSE
An Garda Siochana
Solicitors
Vulnerable Adult associations
Consultants
Parishioners
Members of the Public
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