within the Diocese 1 The role of Diocesan Synod with the Diocesan Bishop is to: adopt the House of Bishops Policy on Child Protection, Policy for Safeguarding Adults and Guidelines for Responding to Domestic Abuse in the Church of England, together with any additional Diocesan procedures and good practice guidelines which shall be endorsed by the Diocesan Synod provide a structure to manage safeguarding and protection of children and adults who may be vulnerable in the diocese appoint a suitably qualified Diocesan safeguarding adviser with responsibility for safeguarding children and adults who may be vulnerable, directly accountable to the Diocesan bishop, and provide appropriate financial, organisational and management support include monitoring of safeguarding and protecting children and adults who may be vulnerable in parishes as part of the archdeacons responsibilities provide access to the Criminal Records Bureau for parishes, the cathedral, the bishop s office and the Diocesan office for those beneficed and licensed clergy, paid workers and voluntary workers who need to obtain disclosures provide access to risk assessment so that the bishop and others can evaluate and manage any risk posed by individuals or activities within the church provide training and support on safeguarding and protection matters to parishes, the cathedral, Diocesan organisations and those who hold the bishop s licence provide a handbook of procedures and recommended good practice to enable parishes and others to undertake their duties, and encourage them to implement the procedures and good practice according to local needs. 2 The role of the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser Policy, procedures and good practice: To develop and regularly review the Diocesan policies, procedures and good practice guidelines in relation to safeguarding children and adults who may be vulnerable and responding to domestic abuse, ensuring that the handbook is in a form easily accessible and understandable to those who need to use it To ensure each parish has adopted and implemented the Diocesan policies and procedures To monitor and check parish policies, and provide advice and guidance on these. Diocesan resourcing: To recruit and support specialists and advisers in the field of safeguarding children and adults who may be vulnerable who will support parishes and deliver training. Training: To provide training in safeguarding for senior staff, clergy, licensed and accredited ministers and Parish Safeguarding Officers To evaluate and review the training programme. 3-1 November 2008
Casework: To respond to requests for advice and information from parishes and senior staff where there are concerns about the welfare of a child or a adult who may be vulnerable, or about adults or children who may be a risk to children or adults To take the key role in all cases where allegations are made against clergy, those holding the Bishop s Licence, and lay employees (paid and volunteer) in parishes To provide advice to the bishop or other employer on the possibility of employment or redeployment of those with convictions or continuing unresolved concerns regarding harm to a child or adult who may be vulnerable To support referrals to Social Care Services and Police in the diocese and parishes To attend strategy meetings, conferences etc. and collaborate with statutory agencies on specific cases. Networking: To build professional relationships with statutory agencies To be part of the national and regional network of Diocesan advisers To work with Diocesan personnel with responsibility for work with children and youth and adults who may be vulnerable, selection and training of clergy and lay workers, social responsibility issues and Criminal Records Bureau responsibilities. 3 The Role of the Diocesan Safeguarding Reference Group Terms of Reference These terms of reference follow the guidelines recommended to dioceses for managing child protection in Protecting all God s children: the Child Protection Policy for the Church of England, 2004. They were adopted by the Diocesan Ministry and Training Committee at its meeting on 22 nd April 2008. 1. The Safeguarding Reference Group will be a sub-committee of the Ministry and Training Committee, through which it will be accountable to the Bishop s Council. 2. It will meet a minimum of twice a year, or more often as appropriate. 3. Its purpose will be: to promote good practice in management of safeguarding children and adults who may be vulnerable in the diocese to advise on annual priorities and areas of work in safeguarding children and adults who may be vulnerable to review and advise on Diocesan safeguarding policy and procedures, and implications for implementation, taking account of changes in the law or national policy to provide a Risk Assessment Panel, which will work with the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) in assessing risk in cases of positive Criminal Records Disclosures, and in parish situations which cause concern to consider matters referred by the DSA, including any data which may lead to a change in Diocesan policy. November 2008 3-2
4. The Risk Assessment Panel will consist of three members of the Group, at least one of whom will be independent from the diocese; the Panel will communicate via e-mail or face to face at the instigation of the DSA, as specific cases arise. Membership Diocesan Bishop, or a member of his senior staff, appointed by him Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) - executive secretary Representative of the Ministry and Training Committee Representative from a Local Safeguarding Children Board in the diocese Representative from the Metropolitan Police Lay and clergy representation from the diocese experienced in safeguarding, e.g. a Parish Safeguarding Officer, an incumbent, a Diocesan or Area Adviser whose work includes safeguarding Lay chair independent of Diocesan structure, to be co-opted if not found from any of the above. 3-3 November 2008
within the parish church 1 The role of the Parochial Church Council (PCC): With the incumbent, to: accept the prime duty of care placed upon the incumbent and PCC to ensure the well-being of children and young people and adults who may be vulnerable in the church community create an environment which is youth-friendly and child-friendly and nurturing of their positive development; encourages children and young people to be active contributors to the church community; protects children and young people from actual or potential harm; and enables and encourages concerns to be raised and responded to openly, promptly and consistently create an environment which is welcoming, respectful and safe from abuse; encourages adults who may be vulnerable to lead as independent a life as possible, to choose how to lead their life, and to be active contributors to the church community; protects adults who may be vulnerable from actual or potential harm; and enables and encourages concerns to be raised and responded to openly and consistently adopt and implement Safeguarding Children, Safeguarding Adults who may be vulnerable and Responding to Domestic Abuse policies and procedures, accepting as a minimum the Diocese of Southwark s policies and procedures, and being responsive to local parish requirements 1 appoint at least two designated Parish Safeguarding Officers 2, to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures ensure that appropriate health and safety policies and procedures are in place pay particular attention to hidden groups within the community, including children and adults with special needs, in order to ensure their full integration and protection within the church community inform and work in co-operation with the archdeacon and the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser in the event of any allegations or concerns that a child or adult who may be vulnerable has been harmed, or is at risk of harm, or the behaviour of an adult may be causing harm ensure, in co-operation with the archdeacon and the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, that those who may pose a risk to children, young people and vulnerable adults are effectively managed and monitored undertake regular Health and Safety inspections and Risk Assessments of buildings, taking into account the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults provide appropriate insurance cover for all activities undertaken in the name of the parish monitor and support the work of the incumbent and Parish Safeguarding Officer in relation to safeguarding, and review the implementation of the Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Adults who may be vulnerable and Responding to Domestic Abuse policies and procedures annually. See section 2 and templates in section 10 See section 6 See section 8 Local ecumenical projects, and churches in a sharing agreement under the Sharing of Church Buildings Act 1969, should agree which denomination s safeguarding children policy to follow, and this decision should be ratified by the bishop and other appropriate church leaders 2 In exceptional circumstances churches with one worship centre may decide to appoint one designated Parish Safeguarding Officer. Parishes with more than one worshipping community or centre for activities should adopt and implement one parish policy and procedures to apply to all, but ensure that each centre has its own designated Parish Safeguarding Officer. 3-5 November 2008
See section 5 See section 6 See section 7 2 The role of the incumbent With the PCC, to: ensure that safeguarding children in the parish is embedded within the parish s vision for children s work ensure that Safeguarding Children, Safeguarding Adults who may be vulnerable and Responding to Domestic Abuse policies and procedures are owned by the parish, through the PCC ensure the parish has one or more designated Safeguarding Officers, and support them have an oversight of the culture of activities with children and adults who may be vulnerable ensure individuals, groups or organisations using church premises have seen and agree to abide by the Diocesan Safeguarding Children and Adults who may be vulnerable policies, as adopted by the parish ensure that all workers (unpaid and paid) with vulnerable people are recruited safely promote the Diocesan policies as adopted by the parish, and make them widely available ensure people know procedures, and the implications for their work ensure the policy and procedures are practised, and reviewed annually inform the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser and archdeacon as soon as an allegation is made work co-operatively with them to follow Diocesan procedures be involved in inter-agency strategy meetings as required manage the consequences for the congregation after an allegation or a conviction has been made ensure pastoral care for all concerned is offered (victim and alleged abuser and families) either personally or delegated to others ensure provision of a secure cabinet for storage of records. For a fuller description of this role, see section 9. See section 5 See section 5 See section 6 November 2008 3 The role of the Parish Safeguarding Officer In co-operation with the incumbent and the PCC, to: be familiar with the Diocesan Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Adults who may be vulnerable and Responding to Domestic Abuse policies and procedures work with the incumbent and the PCC to ensure that they are adopted, implemented and reviewed in all parish activities which involve children and young people and adults who may be vulnerable ensure that the guidelines for activities with children and adults who may be vulnerable are followed in all parish activities contribute to the appointment of all voluntary workers and paid workers with children and adults who may be vulnerable by ensuring that necessary safeguarding procedures are followed compile and update annually a list of names of paid and voluntary workers ensure relevant training and information on Safeguarding Children and Adults who may be vulnerable and Responding to Domestic Abuse policies and procedures and their implementation is offered to all voluntary workers and paid workers listen to concerns or allegations regarding a child or young person or adult who may be vulnerable, or the behaviour of an adult, in the parish, and follow Diocesan procedure in responding 3-6
inform the incumbent of all concerns and allegations made; in the case of an allegation against clergy or licensed or commissioned ministers, inform the archdeacon maintain contact with the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, to keep abreast of Diocesan policies and procedures, and ensure the parish is informed of changes and developments attend Diocesan training in Safeguarding Children and Adults who may be vulnerable keep a log of incidents, allegations or concerns which arise keep records safely and securely in a locked cabinet, with access restricted to the Parish Safeguarding Officer and the incumbent. 4 The role of the Churchwarden In co-operation with the incumbent, the PCC and the Parish Safeguarding Officer, to: ensure, in the period of an incumbency vacancy, that the incumbent s safeguarding roles are fulfilled, in co-operation with the PCC and Parish Safeguarding Officer pay attention to the specific needs of children and adults who may be vulnerable when undertaking routine Health and Safety inspections and risk assessments ensure that risk assessments are carried out before new activities are undertaken (regular and one-off) ensure that all parish activities are adequately insured ensure that paid staff who will have contact with children or adults who may be vulnerable are recruited safely receive complaints and grievances, and ensure that the parish has procedures for responding to them ensure that offenders and those known to pose a risk to children and adults who may be vulnerable in the church are managed effectively, and following Diocesan procedure ensure that the guidelines for activities with children and adults who may be vulnerable are followed in all parish activities ensure that safeguarding requirements are included in all booking arrangements with organisations and individuals answer questions regarding safeguarding as they arise in the Archdeacon s Articles of Enquiry and Parish Visitations, and address specific advice which may be given Under the Canons and other law of the Church of England, a Churchwarden must maintain order and decency in the Church and Churchyard, especially during Divine Service and must not allow conduct in a Church, Church porch or Churchyard which creates a disturbance during Divine Service. Legally, the Churchwardens may restrain and arrest a person who is causing riotous, violent or indecent behaviour in a Church or Churchyard, whether during Divine Service or not. In practice, this power should be exercised with caution, and only in extreme circumstances. If time and circumstances permit, it is preferable for the police to be alerted. Grounds for excluding someone from Church are obtainable from the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser. & form section 10 See section 5 See section 6 & template section 10 See section 8 & form section 10 3-7 June 2010