Tikanga Haumaru - Safechurch/Safeguarding

Both individually and collectively. We have a responsibility to ensure.

That every person has a value and dignity from his/her creation in the image and likeness of God

Pope Francis has made it clear he expects the Church, on every level, to implement whatever steps are necessary to ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults and to respond to their needs with fairness and mercy.

The aim of the New Zealand Diocese's is to provide a consistent vision to create and foster a secure physical, emotional and spiritual culture in our faith communities, enabling everyone to enjoy the fullness of life in Jesus Christ.

Creating safe environments involves active participation and responsibility taken by all parishes.  It requires collaboration, vigilance and a proactive approach through policies, procedures and practices.

SAFEGUARDING POLICIES

Safeguarding Policies and Guidelines

Safeguarding Policies

 A National Safeguarding Framework – Working Together for a Safe Church has been developed and released by NOPS and the Auckland Diocese, along with the Dioceses of NZ will be implementing these national policies and procedures. The National Framework comprises of the following polices:

The Safeguarding Policy is the overarching policy which explains our national principles of safeguarding, our commitment to keeping our children, youth and vulnerable adults safe, and provides definitions of various forms of harm.

Key areas of safeguarding are responding appropriately to concerns of complaints of harm, ensuring we have safe recruitment practices in place, and that our people are supported to work safely with children, youth and vulnerable adults.  On that basis, the Concerns & Complaints Policy and the Safe Recruitment & Training Policy have been developed.

You can view and download volunteer task descriptions and risk assessments on the resources section on this page.  You can read about Safeguarding workshops and Volunteer training, and watch a short video, on the volunteer workshops section of this page.

SAFEGUARDING PROCESSES

Safeguarding Processes

There is an expectation that those who volunteer within their parish or faith community alongside children, youth and vulnerable adults complete the Safeguarding processes of Safeguarding training, Police vetting and read, understand and sign the Code of Conduct. With Core Safeguarding practices to support safe ministry.

Safeguarding Training

Find further information  here regarding Safeguarding training 

Police Vetting

Our Diocese’s aim is to have all Priests and volunteers working with children, youth and vulnerable adults police vetted.  Volunteers in the following positions will be required to be police vetted, undergo Level 2 volunteer training and reference checked before being able to undertake this role:

  • Altar Server Trainers
  • Catechists – Sacramental Programme Coordinator/Leader
  • Children’s Liturgy of the Word
  • Choir Leaders – where children are included in the general choir and for children’s choir
  • Crèche helpers
  • Ministers of Communion to the Sick
  • Pastoral Visitor
  • Parent Helpers / Chaperons on camps
  • Prison ministry teams and visitors
  • Sunday School Teachers
  • Youth Ministry Leaders

This list is not exclusive and any volunteers working in a position where a duty of care is being exercised needs to be Police Vetted.

We will be assisting Parishes with the implementation of the National Safeguarding Framework and will keep you updated on upcoming information and training sessions.

Police Vetting information sheet : Information Sheet

The Police Vetting & Consent Form can be downloaded here : Police Vetting

Frequently asked Safeguarding questions

Frequently asked Safeguarding questions Samoan Version

For further information or assistance about our safeguarding within the Diocese, please contact:

Safeguarding Coordinator, Lisa-May Gray

Phone: 09 360 3019 or email: [email protected]

Code of Conduct

The Safeguarding Framework also includes a Code of Conduct for Employees & Volunteers.  This document replaces the current “Standards for Volunteers & Employees in Ministry” and will be signed by all employees and volunteers when they start their role.  The Code of Conduct can be viewed and downloaded below:

Core Safeguarding Practices

Core Safeguarding Practices have been created for Communities to follow throughout all usual activities, special events and  programmes.

SAFEGUARDING VOLUNTEER WORKSHOPS

Watch this video: an invitation from Bishop Pat to attend safeguarding seminars.

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Safeguarding is a part of the Formation process, as per the requirements of the National Office for Professional Standards.

Attending safeguarding workshops is mandatory for all those who work with children, youth and vulnerable adults. If you are a involved in ministry as a volunteer/worker in any of your parish or ethnic communities, you need to complete the safeguarding requirements. You could be involved in any of the following ministries/roles:

  • Altar Server Trainers
  • Children’s Liturgy of the Word
  • Choir Leaders – where children are included in the general choir and for children’s choir
  • Crèche helpers
  • Ministers of Holy Communion to the sick and housebound
  • Pastoral Visitor
  • Parent Helpers / Chaperons on camps
  • Parish visitors (Legion of Mary etc)
  • Prison ministry teams and visitors
  • RCIA Catechists
  • Sacramental Preparation Catechists/Leader/Co-ordinator
  • Sacristan
  • Sunday School Teachers
  • Youth Ministry Leaders
  • Those involved in other pastoral work involving children, youth or vulnerable adults e.g. prayer groups

 Safeguarding Workshops

Safeguarding Workshop One now takes place within your local parish.

Safeguarding Workshop Two is available for those in leadership including Parish Safeguarding Contacts.

Please use the Directory button to contact Lisa-May Gray to find out more about these workshops.

SAFEGUARDING RESOURCES

Safeguarding Parish Resources

Volunteer Task Descriptions

Download  volunteer task descriptions here:

Risk Assessments

Download  risk assessments here:

Safeguarding Practices Self-Review Tool

This self-review tool, undertaken annually, is a helpful process by which each entity within the family of the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand can identify the safeguarding strategies being implemented and the areas to be developed. This will also provide a basis for internal evaluation of the effectiveness of safeguarding practices, based on the “Standards for Creating and Maintaining a Safeguarding Culture”.

Self Review Tool…Download Here

Posters

If you have a concern or complaint of harm :  Poster for Parishes…Download here

What to do if you receive a call or visit about abuse or harm :  NOPS Call Chart….Download here

NO TOLERANCE-NO EXCUSE FOR ABUSE, poster that can be used in parishes https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/No-Tolerance-No-excuse-for-Abuse.pdf

Shared space

This space is for parishes to share their Safeguarding resources. Please let Lisa-May know if you have something you would like to share with others. Click on the link to access the resource.

Website below providing information on Safeguarding adults. 

https://www.scie.org.uk/safeguarding/adults/introduction

Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors 2014

Chirograph of His Holiness Pope Francis for the institution of a Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (22 March 2014) _ Francis

http://www.protectionofminors.va/content/tuteladeiminori/en.html

Translations

Over time we will be adding various documents translated into various languages

Safeguarding Policy

Tongan Version

https://www.aucklandcatholic.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Safeguarding-Policy-Tongan-Version-signed-copy.pdf

Frequently asked questions

English

Samoan

(Edit)

NATIONAL OFFICE FOR PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS (NOPS)

National Office for Professional Standards (NOPS)

The Diocese of Auckland, with all the Dioceses in New Zealand works with the National Office for Professional Standards (NOPS) to implement  Safeguarding guidelines.

NOPS is an agency of the Mixed Commission, a partnership between the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference (NZCBC) and Congregation Leaders Conference of Aotearoa New Zealand (CLCANZ).  It sets out the strategic direction of the Catholic Church’s safeguarding policy for children, young people and adults at risk.  It is also responsible for monitoring and auditing the compliance of Dioceses and Religious Orders and have designed Safeguarding Culture Standards to ensure best practice to create and maintain safe environments for our children, youth and vulnerable adults.

The “National Guidelines for the Prevention of and Response to Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand”
National Safeguarding Guidelines prescribes the commitment of the Church to have safeguarding measures in place in our organisations.  These guidelines have been approved by the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference and the Congregational Leaders Conference of Aotearoa New Zealand. NOPS also responds to all complaints about abuse in the Church and manages complaints procedures.

The National Safeguarding Guidelines and Safeguarding Culture Standards can be viewed and downloaded below:

 ( Guidelines)

 ( Standards)

Safeguarding Coordinator

In August 2019 the Catholic Diocese of Auckland appointed a Safeguarding Coordinator to support the Safeguarding program in the diocese.

Lisa-May Gray a Registered Nurse worked for the Royal New Zealand Plunket Trust for 38 years prior to joining the diocese. In the latter years of her work with Plunket Lisa-May became very familiar with the Child protection and Family violence environment, representing Plunket on many groups supporting tamariki and whanau. Lisa-May is now sharing her knowledge further through the implementation of the Safeguarding program in the diocese, and most importantly engaging with and building strong links with parish communities.  Click the Directory button below to contact Lisa-May.

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