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Award in Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

Safeguarding Others
MQF

The Pastoral Formation Institute is licensed by MFHEA
(Licence #: 2013-FHI-023) as a Further and Higher Educational Institute. The Award in Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 4, as Further Education Programme.

This short course will assist employees and volunteers who work with children and vulnerable adults or handle their data, to recognise the key principles of safeguarding and learn to create a safe environment for children, young people, and vulnerable adults.

The intended learning outcomes:

By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. familiarise themselves with safeguarding policies
  2. understand the legal obligations with child abuse
  3. identify signs and symptoms of abuse
  4. know the disclosures of abuse
  5. identify the principles of safeguarding
  6. practice professional boundaries
  7. know their legal obligations related to the Protection of Minors (Registration) Act (2011) and the Minors Protection Act (2019)
  8. learn about the different types of abuse and poor practice
  9. learn a standard response to a disclosure of abuse
  10. be able to recognise signs of abuse
  11. identify the actions to take if you have a concern and who can help

If you are a registered pastoral worker with the Archdiocese of Malta, you can benefit from a 33%  discount on this course. Start your application process as a pastoral worker on parrocci.knisja.mt/pfi

  • Employees who work with children and vulnerable adults
  • Employees who handle children and vulnerable adults` data
  • Volunteers who work with children and vulnerable adults
  • Volunteers who handle children and vulnerable adults` data.

CodeMode of DeliveryValue
SGC4001Blended Learning1 ECTS

The course is delivered over 5 contact hours. These 5 hours are delivered over two sessions:

  1. 3 hours – In person session (Face-to-Face Learning)
  2. 2 hours – recorded material which can be accessed on the PFI`s Moodle Portal (Blended Learning)

Students will also be given additional reading material which they can read in their own time.

You may find all the dates in the Calendar section below.

Each course is delivered over two sessions; (a) 3-hour, in-person session and (b) 2 hours of recorded material which can be accessed on the PFI`s Moodle Portal.

February 2024
Lecturing Period
Mode of DeliveryDate & TimeVenue
In-person17th February 2024Archbishop`s Curia, Floriana
Recorded Material17th – 26th February 2024Recorded Videos on the VLE platform
Assessment Period:
AssessmentAvailable FromDue by
Short Multiple-Choice Online Exam26th February 2024Monday 4th March 2024
Reflective Journal26th February 2024Monday 26th March 2024

This course has three exit certificate options: 

  1. Certificate of Attendance

A Certificate of Attendance will be rewarded to students who have:

  • attended in-person session
  • watched all the recorded material
  • and did not submit any course assessments.
  1. Certificate of Participation 

A Certificate of Participation* will be rewarded to students who meet the attendance criteria and successfully conclude the course multiple choice test. (please check the calendar tab above for exam dates)

  1. Certificate of Achievement 

A Certificate of Achievement* is awarded to students who successfully concluded the course, that is;

  • meet the attendance criteria
  • sit and pass the short multiple-choice online exam (mentioned in point 2),
  • and also submit a written assessment

Click here to view the PFI`s Grading System

*To obtain a Certificate of Achievement or a Certificate of Participation, a student must; attend all the contact hours and successfully conclude the assessment/s.

EQF/MQF Level: Level 4

Accreditation Category: Further Education Programme

Total ECTS: 2 ECTS

Teaching Institutions: Safeguarding Commission together with Pastoral Formation Institute

Award Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

MQF

The Pastoral Formation Institute is licensed by MFHEA
(Licence #: 2013-FHI-023) as a Further and Higher Educational Institute. The Award in Safeguarding Children & Vulnerable Adults is accredited at EQF/MQF Level 4, as Further Education Programme.

Qualifications: Every application will be considered on its individual merits. The Pastoral Formation Institute accepts a wide range of qualifications, and we always try to judge applications on the basis of academic potential. We do consider a very wide range of academic, vocational, and professional qualifications, as well as work and other appropriate experiences and skills.

Language: Primary level understanding of Maltese and English.

Digital: Knows how to access the internet and use a word processor.


For courses offered in face-to-face learning and Blended Learning, it is required that applicants reside in the Maltese Islands and use their Maltese address in their application form.

For further information regarding visa requirements, head to Identity Malta’s VISA requirement for third-country nationals.

Seminar: Safeguarding – Adults Working with Minors

  Ta' Mlit Pastoral Centre
Safeguarding Minors

This full-day seminar will assist all those who work with children and handle their data, to recognise the key principles of safeguarding and learn to create a safe environment for children. Throughout the seminar, participants will:

  • Obtain more awareness on the subject of safeguarding.
  • Gain knowledge on how to create healthier environments, especially with minors.
  • Be able to promote healthier relationships in pastoral work.
  • Discuss and draw concrete solutions to preventing abuse.

If you are a registered pastoral worker with the Archdiocese of Malta, you can benefit from a 25%  discount on this seminar. The course fee includes lunch. Start your application process as a pastoral worker on parrocci.knisja.mt/pfi

Adults working with minors, especially:

  • Individuals who assist in children’s mass/liturgy
  • Individuals involved in leadership of altar boy groups
  • Individuals involved in the leadership of parish commission for children
  • Individuals involved in the leadership of children’s choir
  • Individuals involved in catechism
Date & TimeSession Title
Saturday 18th November 2023 8:30 am – 2:30 pmSession 1: Introduction to Safeguarding
Session 2: Health Relationships and Safe Boundaries
Session 3: Way Forward

This seminar has three exit certificate options: 

Certificate of Attendance

A Certificate of Attendance will be awarded to students who have:

  • attended all contact hours

Certificate of Participation

A Certificate of Participation will be awarded to students who have:

  • attended all contact hours
  • and successfully completed short multiple-choice exam

Certificate of Achievement 

A Certificate of Achievement is awarded to students who have:

  • attended all contact hours
  • successfully completed short multiple choice exam
  • and submit a written assessment

Qualifications

The Pastoral Formation Institute accepts a wide range of academic, vocational, and professional qualifications as well as work and other appropriate experiences and skills.

Language Skills

Primary level understanding of Maltese and English is required.

Digital Skills

Ability to use the internet and use a word processor is required.

Every application will be considered on its individual merits and evaluated on the basis of academic potential.

The Art of Accompanying Couples Preparing for Marriage

The of Accompanying Couples for Marriage

 

This course equips individuals with essential knowledge and skills crucial for guiding engaged couples embarking on their journey towards a Christian marriage. Designed for those new to this ministry, the program introduces participants to the art of fostering essential group dynamics, supporting individual couples, and staying abreast of the latest information and methodologies in this field. By the end of this course the students will be able to facilitate a group of young couples preparing for Christian marriage and provide them with basic emotional and spiritual support.


Parish/es or church entities who wish to offer this course in their premises kindly contact [email protected]. This arrangement can take place if a minimum of 5 couples from said parish/es or church entities apply for this course.

  • couples who are being introduced to the ministry of accompanying couples towards the sacrament of marriage; 
  • couples who are already accompanying other couples towards marriage and want to continue forming themselves in this aspect

Target Audience Age: 19-65+

This course consists of two components: the theoretical and practical aspects of accompanying couples for marriage.

Theoretical Component

In this component, participants will delve the the following topics:

DateDay of WeekTimeSession
10th January 2024Wednesday6:00pm – 9:00pmSession 1: Group Dynamics 
17th January 2024Wednesday6:00pm – 9:00pmSession 2: Skills for Accompanying Individuals 
24th January 2024Wednesday6:00pm – 9:00pmSession 3: Growing Deeper in the Spiritual Dimension 
31st January 2024Wednesday6:00pm – 9:00pmSession 4: Exploring Available Resources Part 1: Family Planning and Sexuality  
7th February 2024Wednesday6:00pm – 9:00pmSession 5: Exploring Available Resources Part 2: Issues with moral theology related to the family 
17th February 2024Saturday9:30am – 12:30pmSession 6: Assessment Presentation by the Participating Couples 

Practical Component

In this component, participants will shadow an experienced Cana couple leader throughout a Cana course to experience first-hand the responsibilities and intricacies of being a Cana couple leader. The scheduling details for this component will be collaboratively determined through discussions with each student, taking into account the specific needs of the Parish they’re coming from.

This course has one exit certificate option:

Certificate of Achievement

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement, students must attend all contact hours, complete shadowing experience and pass from in-class assessment.

Teaching Institutions: Cana Movement together with Pastoral Formation Institute.

Awarding Institution: Pastoral Formation Institute

Each application will be evaluated based on its individual merits. The Pastoral Formation Institute welcomes a diverse range of qualifications, and our assessment is primarily focused on academic potential. We carefully review a broad spectrum of academic, vocational, and professional qualifications, in addition to considering relevant work experience and skills. Our goal is to holistically assess applicants and recognize the various strengths they bring to the program.

Pastoral Ministry with Family

  Catholic Institute, Floriana

In our modern society, in which the traditional family is facing many challenges, the need to strengthen, provide a model for, and encourage Catholic families to live their vocation faithfully, has never been greater.

This course will equip participants with the knowledge and skills required in order to serve couples and their families through every phase of the life cycle. This is done through a two-fold programme that combines academic training as well as practical ministry application.

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]
  • Adults who wish to learn more
  • Couples who which to learn more about the Church teaching on the vocation of marriage
  • Cana Couple Leaders (Koppji Mexxejja ta` Cana) – This course offers an indepth understanding of current issues couples and families

Modules:

Theology of the Family4 Credits
Family Ministry4 Credits
Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Topics

– Christian Anthropology with a focus on Love and Sexuality
– Church Teachings on Marriage and the Family – Part 1
– Church Teachings on Marriage and the Family – Part 2
– The Gift of Life and the Gift of Love
– Theology of the Body, John Paul II (Non-residential Weekend Seminar)
– Marriage in Scripture and Lectio Divina
– Sacramental Theology of Marriage
– Liturgical Theology of Marriage

Topics

– Pastoral Approach to Marriage and the family
– Psychological and Sociological Perspectives of Marriage and the Family
– Marital relationships and conflict management
– Family work-life balance, financial and time management
– Family Life-Cycle and Dynamics
– Bioethics and the family, formation of conscience and discernment process
– Intimacy in Marriage
– Child development; Communication with children; Children with disability
– Social challenges to the Family, such as alcohol, drug abuse
– Social Media: Challenges and Opportunities for the Family
– Separation; annulment; divorce; cohabitation
– Mental health, ill-health, Domestic violence
– Caring for the elderly and related issues
– The Spirituality and Mission of the Couple (Saturday Morning Seminar)

Currently, enrolment is not open for this course. For further information contact us on [email protected]

Nineteen lectures on Tuesdays between 18:30 and 20:30 from 17th January till 1st July 2023 (40 hours)

One non-residential weekend 4th – 5th March 2023 (15 hours)

Morning Seminar on a Saturday 1st July 2023 (5 hours)

THD5011: Theology of the Family

January17th, 24th, 31st
February7th, 15th, 28th
Non-Residential Weekend Seminar: Saturday 4th & Sunday 5th
March7th, 14th

THD5010: Family Ministry

March21st, 28th
Easter Recess from29th March – 11th April 2022
April18th, 25th
May2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th
June6th, 13th, 20th, 27th
JulySaturday 1st

Assessment: Written assignment for every module

Final Award: Pastoral Ministry with Family *

PFI Level: Level 5

Duration: 1 year part-time (58 hours)

To obtain a Certificate of Achievement a student must: attend a minimum of 70% of each module and Pass successfully the assignment

Every application will be considered on its individual merits. The Pastoral Formation Institute accepts a wide range of qualifications, and we always try to judge applications on the basis of academic potential. We do consider a very wide range of academic, vocational, and professional qualifications, as well as work and other appropriate experiences and skills