TERESA DEVLIN
IRELAND
CEO National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland
Teresa Devlin has extensive experience in child protection management and family support, both at the levels of senior management and in the specific areas of risk assessment and care planning. She studied psychology and social science at Queens University, Belfast, before going on to pursue a masters in advanced social studies in Hull University, UK.
Before joining the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCCI), Teresa served for four years as Head of Research Policy and Service Review at the office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY).
As Director of Safeguarding and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Board, she has led the implementation of the National Board’s vision and objectives, its mission and policies for child safeguarding for the Catholic Church in Ireland.
Under her direction the National Board has produced detailed guidance for every aspect of child safeguarding which includes developing written policies and procedures; offering training and support as well as the roll out of a robust quality assurance approach, initially through a process of self-audit and more importantly through a rigorous inspection and review mechanism. All Church Institutions in Ireland have had their practice reviewed by the National Board through a transparent and open process.
As CEO of the National Board in Ireland she has led international conferences on child safeguarding (Anglophone Conference) in Rome; given evidence at the Royal Commission for child protection in Australia; delivered training and formation programs in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
In 2022, Pope Francis appointed her a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
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Church in Ukraine Strengthens Child Protection with Backing from Commission
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Commemorating our founding father Pope Francis
VATICAN CITY — Today, the Commission joins the global Catholic community in mourning the loss of our founding father. Pope Francis will be remembered not only as a steadfast spiritual leader, but as the architect of a historic cultural shift within the Church—placing...
Transforming Safeguarding: Towards a Comprehensive Universal Framework for Church Institutions
In September 2022, the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors began drafting an updated Safeguarding Guideline framework as one of its first tasks under the new mandate provided by the Holy Father in the June 2022 Apostolic Constitution Praedicate...
European Church calls for vigilance against safeguarding fatigue
Communications Staff A three-day conference on Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in Europe concluded in Rome Friday with a resounding call for continued vigilance and collaboration in creating a safer Church environment. The November 13 to 15...
The Commission enhancing the European Safeguarding Network
The Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) is hosting in November 13-15 a European Conference for Church leaders and safeguarding personnel from across Europe. The purpose of this event is to broaden the European Network started in Warsaw in 2021, to share good practices in the mission of protecting children and vulnerable persons.
European Conference on Safeguarding in the Catholic Church to be held in Rome
European members of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors will hold the European Conference on Safeguarding in the Catholic Church from November 13-15 at Palazzo Maffei in Rome. The conference aims to strengthen the Safeguarding work and mechanisms within the Church in Europe.