The Catholic Church in Ottawa-Cornwall cares deeply for the well-being of all its members and of those to whom they minister. We have become all too aware of the possibility of harm being done to the very people who stand most in need of our care and compassion. Our response is a renewed commitment to ensuring that our parish communities will be known for their care of the vulnerable, their safety, and their integrity.
The Archdiocese has implemented Safe Environment guidelines to help and protect vulnerable members of our communities. Â These guidelines apply to all Clergy, parish employees, and volunteers and include protocols, procedures, and preventative measures.
Our Parish Safe Environment (SE) Committee is responsible for implementing these guidelines and ensuring we as a parish adhere to new preventative measures.
These following new preventative measures serve as conditions for employment and volunteering in our Parish.
Safe Environment Guidelines
- Employees and volunteers must submit their basic information – name, address, phone and email.
- Employees and volunteers must read the Pastoral Code of Conduct and then sign the signature page declaring they read and understand it. Employees and volunteers aged 16 and 17 must have parental consent – parent/guardian must read the Code and sign the same page as the youth.
- All employees and volunteers 18 yrs of age and older must complete an Enhanced Police Information Check (EPIC) through the independent services of Sterling Backcheck every 5 years. Favourable results are required.
- All employees and volunteers who are required to complete an EPIC must also complete an Annual Declaration of Current Standing certifying that the individual filling it out has not been convicted of an offence under the Criminal Code of Canada or had any negative interactions with the police since the last EPIC or in the past year (whichever one applies).
- New employees and volunteers must also provide 2 references who will be contacted by the SE Committee. Favourable results are required.
Retention of basic information and documents.
Employee and volunteer basic information and SE related documents collected by the Parish SE Coordinator/Committee will be digitally stored, protected and secured in the Parish office in compliance with the recommendation of the Archdiocese. Only the Pastor and the SE Coordinator will have access to the Parish SE files. SE files are required to be kept in perpetuity.
Information collected by Sterling Backcheck for the EPIC will be retained by Sterling Backcheck. Please visit www.sterlingbackcheck.ca for more information on their retention policies and privacy legislation.
If you have any questions about St. Patrick’s Parish Safe Environment, you may email the SE Coordinator at [email protected] or call the Parish office at 613 591-1135.
