Who Safeguards? – Structures and Personnel

Every citizen has a responsibility to safeguard children, their welfare must always be of paramount importance. The Diocese of Elphin acknowledges that all who engage with children through their work or ministry have a special duty of care towards them.  The Diocese of Elphin, under the Bishop, has established the following formal structures and personnel in order to ensure its safeguarding policies, procedures and plans are fully implemented and monitored.

Safe-Environment Safeguarding Structure in the Diocese of Elphin

Bishop Kevin Doran – Overall responsibility for Safeguarding Children in the Diocese.
Mary Nicholson, Office for Safeguarding Children – To Support the Bishop in the development, implementation and monitoring of best practice in Safeguarding Children throughout the parishes and agencies of the Diocese of Elphin. The Director works as a full time employee of the Diocese.
Parish Priests/Administrators – Overall responsibility at parish level for Safeguarding Children.
Local Safeguarding Representative – Every Parish in the Diocese has appointed at least one lay person as Local Safeguarding Representative in order to promote safeguarding in conjunction with the Parish Priest.
Safeguarding Committee – To support and advise the Bishop and Director of Safeguarding on matters pertaining to the development and implementation of best practice measures in Safeguarding.
Safeguarding Trainers – The diocese has two NBSCCCI Accredited Safeguarding Children Trainers who are responsible for the provision of all aspects of Safeguarding Children training to Clergy, Staff, Volunteers, Parents and Children/Young People throughout the Diocese.

Case Management Structure in the Diocese of Elphin

Bishop Kevin Doran – Overall responsibility for Safeguarding Children in the Diocese.
Designated Persons – The Diocese has appointed two Designated Liaison Persons. Please see section “Reporting a Concern” for contact details.
Statutory Authorities – The Diocese has established collaborative and profession links with key child protection personnel in the TUSLA and liaises closely with An Garda Síochána.
Case Management Advisory Panel – The Diocese uses the National Case Management Reference Group (NCMRG) for advice and support in case management.
Support Person(s) – The Diocese has appointed a Support Person who is available to those who make an allegation/disclosure of abuse.
Adviser – The Diocese has appointed an Adviser who will be available to the respondent.

PLEASE CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENT FOR MORE DETAIL ON THE DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE SAFEGUARDING STRUCTURES AND PERSONNEL IN THE DIOCESE OF ELPHIN

Roles in the Child Safeguarding Structure

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