NCMRG Training

1. 8th May 2013 NCMRG Training

2. Welcome Teresa Devlin NCMRG Training

3. Prayer Sister Colette Stevenson NCMRG Training

4. NCMRG Training Programme

5. NCMRG Training • Understanding the Purpose of the NCMRG as distinct from Advisory panels • Meeting the Board Members • Understanding the process of bringing a case • Hearing from those that have experienced bringing a case • Seeing the Board in Action • Presenting the Evaluation

6. NCMRG Training • Key times: • Coffee Break at 11:30-11:45 • Lunch 12:40- 14.15 • Finish at 15:40

7. What is the Purpose of the NCMRG? Ian Elliott NCMRG Training

8. Purpose • Exists to provide high quality advice to Bishop’s, Religious Superiors/Provincials when they are called upon to respond to safeguarding concerns within their Church authority • An extension of the advice giving remit of the NBSCCCI given to it by the Sponsoring bodies and defined in the objects of the Company

9. Origins • Previously envisaged in Guidance – OCOC 2006 Professional Practice Committee • Desire to achieve greater consistency in decision making and practice across all the Church • Desire to provide additional support to the key decision makers when faced with safeguarding concerns

10. NCMRG – Differences and Similarities to other Church Bodies NCMRG Advisory Panels Information redacted by presenter Panel members are volunteers Not legally accountable Advices on local issues that are specific to the Church authority involved • Access to all relevant documentation • Panel members are employees of NBSCCCI • Seeks to be legally accountable for the quality of the advice provided • Develops cumulative experience from across the Church

11. Issues and Solutions Issue Solution National Office staff do not participate in cases which they have previously advised upon • Conflict between advice given outside NCMRG and inside by National Office staff

12. The Future • Access to NCMRG limited to Church authorities by membership • Expectation that advice will be acted upon • Majority of dioceses and growing number of religious involved • NCMRG recognised as critical element in the overall safeguarding framework for the Church • Subject to review and evaluation as part of NBSCCCI

13. Who Is Involved in the NCMRG? NCMRG Training

14. Teresa Devlin NCMRG Training

15. Fr. Michael Mullaney NCMRG Training

16. Phil Mortell NCMRG Training

17. Helen O’Riordan NCMRG Training

18. Peter Kiernan NCMRG Training

19. Sean Moriarty NCMRG Training

20. Ann Confrey NCMRG Training

21. Ian Elliott NCMRG Training

22. BREAK NCMRG Training

23. The Process of Bringing a Case Teresa Devlin NCMRG Training

24. Role and Purpose To provide high quality advice to Bishops, Religious Superiors/ Provincials when they are called upon to respond to safeguarding cases. Focus is on the management of the investigation and assessment processes and may comment on the “fitness for ministry” of a respondent.

25. The Initial Complaint Practice which ensures the safety and welfare of the child and to protect from any current risk. The type of help provided to a complainant making an allegation and to the complainant’s family. Engagement with the statutory authorities, at the point of notification and beyond. The appropriateness of the respondent continuing in his or her present pastoral assignment, having regard to the paramount need to protect children

26. Initial Complaint continued How the right of the respondent to a fair trial on any criminal charge may be preserved and his or her good name and reputation may be appropriately safeguarded Whether a specialist risk assessment of the respondent should be sought The needs of a parish or other community in which the respondent has served The needs of the wider community, including the appropriateness and timing of any public statement Appropriate timeframes for action

27. Advice on Ministry Review all information relating to the allegation Scrutinise any information received from the statutory investigating agencies Obtain and review information from the designated person, who is responsible for ensuring the church investigation Consider any independent reports, e.g. risk assessments

28. Process Completion of Case Submission Form with full information and accompanying reports Papers forwarded to members 2 days before meeting Pre-discussion amongst members Presentation by Bishop/Provincial/DO

29. Process Continued Discussion and summary advice orally at meeting Written advice within 7 days on case discussion form Confirmation by Bishop/Provincial that the advice has been accepted Resubmission if required

30. Experiences Cleo Yates NCMRG Training

31. Experiences Brother Andrew Hickey NCMRG Training

32. LUNCH NCMRG Training

33. NCMRG in Action NCMRG Training

34. Questions NCMRG Training

35. The National Case Management Review Group Review of 2012. Eoin O’Mahony, Council for Research & Development Irish Episcopal Conference

36. What is the Review? • A report on a review the operations of the NCMRG: • a series of interviews with its members • attendance at a meeting of the group • a survey of those who use the Group and, • some data made available to me on request from the NBSC. • It took place over a 3 month period in late 2012 and early 2013 • Emphasis was placed on the operation of the meetings and the participation of the Group’s members

37. Interviews • Initial interaction with the NCMRG, including how you came to be engaged with the group • Previous knowledge of the field of child protection and risk management • Experiences in the meetings over the course of their individual engagement • The conduct of these meetings as it developed over time • Suggested futures for the NCMRG and the processes involved • The extent of knowledge of the group’s outcomes

38. What the interviews yielded: • Almost every member expressed a wish that the presenters would not be in the room for the discussion surrounding the presented case(s) • the variability in the information provided by the presenters in the advance form • Unintended review of previous ‘stepping down’ zero tolerance policy: • Airing led to subtleties • Developmental identity for the members • the creation of such a space was a good thing for parties handling allegations • Possibility of training and some measure of security

39. One day sessions are tiring but additional expense over two days • Possibility of another venue where cases are heard • Consistency of advice across cases and is of some concern: can this be measured? • Pre-sentence support and support for laicised men? • Formation of the group • Fixed terms • Fostering a sense of purpose after rotation • NCMRG as a component of CS infrastructure of the CC

40. Survey of those who have joined • Sections of the online survey: • Before the Group meeting • At the Group meeting • Written advice • A mixture of categorical and narrative-based answers • Respondents confirmed identity; staff of the NBSC not provided with a list of those who completed the survey • N=25

41. What did the survey tell us? • 83% of members had presented cases. • 65% stated it was very easy to arrange a date. • Members would like more space on the form. • 90% of the respondents stated that the timing of their hearing was convenient. • 80% believe that enough time was allocated for questions. • 95% of the respondents stated that they implemented the advice provided by the RG. • Members are in favour of written advice.

42. Evaluation NCMRG Training

43. Close NCMRG