Support Persons Training 15 th May 2013. Support Persons Training Welcome Niall Moore.

Support Persons Training

15th May 2013


WelcomeNiall Moore


PrayerColette Stevenson


Programme


• The role of the support person• Understanding where support people fit in the

case management structure• Practical experience of being a support person• Support Services• Needs analysis and group work


• Key times:– Coffee Break at 11:30-11:45– Lunch 12.45- 14.00– Finish at 15:30


Role of the Support PersonColette Stevenson

Each Bishop or Religious Leader will appoint a Support Person to be available to those who

make an allegation/disclosure of abuse.

Role of Support Person

• To assist, where appropriate, with communication between the complainant and the designated officer

• To assist in gaining access to information and help

• To represent their concerns during the Case management process

Clarity about role is vital

• Not a counsellor for the complainant and should not act in that role

• The Support Person should not act as Spiritual Guide for the complainant

• Being attentive to the expressed needs of the Complainant the Support person should:– Encourage and support the complainant in

getting suitable help– Be extra mindful of the vulnerability of the

complainant during the process

The Support Person should:

• Consider any wishes expressed by complainant in regard to a pastoral response by the church to his or her family

• Be available throughout the case management process to the complainant

• Ensure the complainant is kept informed of developments in relation to him/her

The Support Person should:

• Represent the wishes and any therapeutic needs expressed to the designated person

• Arrange, if considered helpful, a meeting between the complainant and the Church Authority (Bishop or Congregational Leader)


Where do support people fit in the Case Management Structure?

Niall Moore

Case Management Training


• Support people can be utilised throughout the process

• It is our advice that the Designated Person introduces the availability of the Support Person at their initial contact with the Complainant


• The support person is different from the designated officer in that:– They are not responsible for the management of

the case– They will not have access to case files– It is up to the complainant if they use them or not

• It is important that the Support Person has a good working relationship with the DO (Helen)

Standard on Support??

• In the rewrite of the standards we will create a standard on support


Questions


Experience of Supporting People who have been abused

Helen O’Riordan

Support Person

A Personal Experience

November 2002

• Office opens in Maynooth• Role definition• To whom will support be offered?• How is it to be done?

Training & Communication

• NBSCCC Training Programme• Seminars• Designated Officer

Meetings with Complainants

• Accompany Designated Officer• Offer of Pastoral Support• Availability to complainant &

family

Meetings with Complainants (2)

DO• Stay calm• Listen carefully• Do not ask questions• Avoid display of your own

reaction• Explain that you will have to

report to D.O. who will report to HSE & Gardai

DO NOT• Offer an opinion• Tell stories about other

similar situations• Make any promises• Ask leading questions• Make judgements about

the alleged abuser

Meetings with Complainants - awareness of difference

• A – no interest in meeting• B – change of mind• C – 1st contact made with support person• D – telephone contact• E – long term contact

Meetings To Date• Meetings held with 31 people• 1 or 2 meetings with a few• 5 or 6 meetings with others – often ending

with settlement of civil claim• In other cases meetings continue

Summary

• Designated Officer• Pastoral Outreach•Meeting with Bishop/Province

Leader•Memos


BREAK


Towards HealingMelissa Darmody

Towards Healing Towards Healing A Catholic Church Response to A Catholic Church Response to

Clerical/Religious AbuseClerical/Religious Abuse

Towards Healing: February 2011

• Helpline Support• Referral to Face to Face counselling for survivors and

their families: 80 session Model• Bridging Service: Advocacy• Facilitated Listening Meeting • Practical Workshops: Self care, assertiveness,

parenting, sexuality, anger management• Friendly Call • Group work:

• Therapeutic for Survivors

Support & Child Protection

All Client are Potential Child Protection Case: Up to 12 weeks to name abuser to be reported

Reporting to the Civil AuthoritiesGardai (Police) Now Central

Social Services/Social Worker

Questions & Answers


Spiritual Support ServiceSister Mary Whyte

Aim

• To offer spiritual support to assist those who have suffered sexual abuse– In catholic Institutions.– From Priests or Religious representing the catholic

church.

• And who wish to rediscover their relationship with God

• And to deepen their sense of God’s presence in their lives.

What is Offered?

• Trained spiritual companions in different parts of the country. To support those seeking healing, peace and personal growth by reconnecting with their spiritual core.

How does it work?

• Contact is made with the coordinator by phone or email.

• The coordinator listens and talks through the person’s hopes and desires, and the nature of support on offer.

• Together they agree on an appropriate course of action.

What Kind of Action?

• Continuing contact with the coordinator by phone or face to face.

• The seeker may opt to be put in touch with one of a panel of spiritual companions.

• The coordinator first contacts the potential companion giving some information with the seekers permission. The seeker is then given the companions contact details and they arrange an initial meeting.

• Fees for meetings are met by the Spiritual Support Service.


LUNCH


Group Work


Questions for discussion:•What have you found to be the most difficult issues in terms of dealing with complainants?•What has been the most positive?•What more needs to be done by the church in terms of promoting survivors services?•Have you any resources that you have found useful in terms of support for survivors?•What further training would you need?


Evaluation


Close

Support Persons Training 15 th May 2013. Support Persons Training Welcome Niall Moore.

Documents