About Us

Taking Care is the name of the child protection policy and programme of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. Our aim is to create and promote a safe environment for children, young people and leaders. 

We believe that next to proclaiming God’s Word and the love of Christ, nothing could be more important than keeping our children and young people safe. In order to faciliate this, various resources and training programmes are offered  – click on the links below to find out more.

What's New

• To date the Presbyterian Church in Ireland (PCI) has not supported 1:1 mentoring of children/young people in an attempt to safeguard both them and leaders. This is borne out generally in the Taking Care guidance. However, aware of the difficulties in ministering to groups of young people during the current circumstances of Covid-19, PCI has developed interim guidance for churches wishing to develop 1:1 mentoring in as safe a manner as possible. Interim guidance for churches on 1:1 mentoring (DOC)
• Guidance on social media and video conferencing with children and young people (PDF)
• The 2019 Taking Care Audit was launched on 22 March. Emails were sent out to all ministers, clerks of session and designated persons, with guidelines on how to complete it. The closing date for audit submissions is 3 May 2019.
• From 17 July 2018, to apply for an AccessNI check, it is now necessary to have a nidrect account (NIDA). Guidance has been added here; Apply for an AccessNI check through nidirect.
• New application forms - from 1 May 2018 you must send our latest form to apply for an AccessNI check, along with photocopies of identity documentation. A guide to the changes is found here.
• Adult Safeguarding - a pocket guide was launched on 15 March 2018 to raise awareness of safeguarding people who are over 18 years old.
• Updated Garda Vetting forms - 2018
• Revised guidelines on the taking and posting of photographs
• Revised parental consent forms

Taking Care Resources

To view the new Application Forms for Access NI Checks and Garda Vetting Checks click here.

To view the child protection guidelines of the Presbyterian Church download Taking Care Two.

To view the our newsletter issued three times a year see Taking Care Updates.

To view Access NI’s Code of Practice click here.

To view the Presbyterian Church In Ireland’s policy on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders click here.

This link will take you to all other Child Protection Forms.

Sample Risk Assessment Forms now available: Holiday Bible Club, Youth Weekend, Church Sleepover.

Sample list of questions to use at the interview stage of the Appointment Process.