Our policies, procedures and forms can be downloaded for your own convenience.
Support for Survivors of Abuse
Towards Healing
Towards Healing is an independent organisation providing professional support for people who have experienced institutional, clerical or religious abuse in Ireland. It is funded by the Catholic Church.
The services they provide include:
> Face to Face Counselling
> Structured Phone Counselling
> Family Counselling
> Counselling Helpline
Towards Peace
Towards Peace is a service offering spiritual support for anybody who has been abused, physically emotionally, sexually, spiritually, in a religious/church environment.
Towards Peace was established in October 2014 by the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference and the Association of Leaders of Missionary & Religious Leaders of Ireland. (AMRI).
It is a pathway, a safe space where people who have been hurt can connect with their own spirituality, their sense of God and their own journey Towards Peace. The service is free and is also available to the families of those who have been affected.
Towards Peace understands spirituality as a way of being in, and relating to the world, connected to God and to ones deepest self. Through one to one meetings with a trained and qualified spiritual companion – an anam cara or soul friend – Towards Peace offers safe spaces for people to attend to their own spiritual life.
The Towards Peace office hours are Monday and Tuesday 9am - 4pm and Wednesday 9am - 12noon.
For further information:
Phone: (01) 505 3028 or (086) 7710533
National Counselling Service (NCS)
The HSE National Counselling Service (NCS) is for adults who were abused in childhood and was established in September 2000 in response to the recognition that a large number of adults had been abused as children while in care in State institutions in Ireland. The NCS offers confidential face to face counselling, free of charge, to adults who experienced physical, emotional, sexual abuse or neglect during childhood. Counselling is available at 60 locations throughout Ireland.
Connect
Connect is a telephone counselling and support service for any adult who has experienced abuse, trauma or neglect in childhood. The service is also available to partners or relatives of people with these experiences. Connect is an out of hours service available Wednesday to Sunday 6–10pm. Free and Confidential. To speak to a counsellor call: 1800 477 477.
Safeguarding Personnel
Ms Ailish Higgins, Bishops House, Old Dublin Road, Carlow. Email: [email protected] Tel: 085-8021633
If you have a child or vulnerable adult safeguarding concern or wish to raise a matter from the past you may contact:
Ms. Ailish Higgins
Designated Liaison Person (DLP)
Email: [email protected] Phone: 085 8021633
Or
Contact the Civil Authorities
Garda National Protective Services Bureau
01 6663430 / 1800 555 222
Tusla Child & Family Agency
Kilkenny & Carlow area – 052 617 7302
Laois & Offaly area – 044 935 3997
Kildare & West Wicklow – 045 839 300
HSE Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults
Carlow, Kilkenny: Tel: 056 778 4325 Email: [email protected]
Wicklow: Tel: 01 216 4511 Email: [email protected]
Kildare, Wicklow: Tel: 045 920410 Email: [email protected]
Laois, Offaly: Tel: 01 6914632 Email: [email protected]
Ms Michele Hughes, c/o Bishop’s House, Carlow Tel: 086-1710643
Fr. Michéal Murphy PP Mountmellick, Co. Laois. Tel: 057-8679302, Mob: 086-8244629, E-mail: [email protected]
Safeguarding Policies
National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland
National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland
All Church organisations and personnel can access specialist advice about child protection issues through the National Office and contact the National Board. National Office for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCC) New House Saint Patrick’s College Maynooth, Co.Kildare Tel: 01 505 3124 Fax: 01 505 3026
Safeguarding Roles
Activities for Young People
Important Information
This form can be downloaded, completed and must then be printed and signed.
Garda Vetting
Important Information
As there are the 2 types of vetting forms available we strongly advise you to go through the checklist when you have completed either form as they cannot be processed without the necessary ID and address verification documents.
The Garda Vetting will not accept incomplete applications and to this end we have attached two “How To” sample applications.
One for the “long form” (NVB2) and one for the “e-vetting invitation” (NVB1).
These samples are intended only as a reference for you to check your own application against or if you are unsure of how the applications are completed.
Schools Vetting
Schools Vetting
All school vetting forms need to be sent directly to:
Br. Camillius Regan, CPSMA, 10 Hawthorn Drive, Tullow, Co. Carlow.
> Sending schools vetting forms to Bishops House will unfortunately result in a delay in your application.
> Applications cannot be processed without the relevant ID and address verification.
> Please use the checklist to make sure your application is completed correctly.
> Vetting may be carried out for 16 – 18 year olds with parental consent.
> Please see the ‘Schools Vetting’ section on the website.
Recruitment of Staff and Volunteers
Important Information
Forms can be downloaded and completed, and must then be printed and signed.
Use of Church Property for Children's Activities
Reporting a concern of Abuse
Posters, Leaflets and Publications
Hard copies of all Resources, Posters and Leaflets are available from the Safeguarding Office in Bishop’s House. Please contact [email protected] or telephone 059-9176725 if you require copies.
Audits & Reports
Training
The National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI) in their guidance state that all persons, clerical and lay, who are engaged in delivering services/ministering to children are required to undertake the NBSCCCI full day training programme on commencement of their role. And do refresher training every three years.
Training is free of charge to participants. Booking is essential as places are limited, please use the booking form below.
Enquiries and booking forms can be sent by email to [email protected] or phoning 085-8021633.
| Training | Date & Time | Venue | |
| 1. | Safeguarding Refresher Session | Thursday 19th September 2024
7pm-9pm |
Portlaoise Parish Centre
|
| 2. | Full Day Safeguarding Training | Saturday 12th October 2024
10am-4pm |
Portlaoise Parish Centre |
| 3. | Safeguarding Refresher Session | Thursday 24th Oct 2024
7-9pm |
Newbridge Parish Centre |
| 4. | Safeguarding Refresher Session | Wednesday 6th November 2024
7pm-9pm |
Baltinglass, Co Wicklow
|