Promoting A Safer Church

Scope

The care and protection of children, young people [*] and vulnerable adults† involved in Church activities is the responsibility of the whole Church. Everyone who participates in the life of the Church has a role to play in promoting a Safer Church for all. This document sets out the safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults’ policy of the Church of England. It has been informed by the Joint Safeguarding Statement between the Church of England and the Methodist Church, with whom we work jointly on many aspects of safeguarding policy on a covenant basis. [*]

The Church of England safeguarding policy statement is based on five foundations and offers six overarching policy commitments:

Promoting a safer environment and culture
Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the Church
Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons
Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons
Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others. This policy applies to all Church Bodies* and Church Officers†. Full understanding of, and adherence to, this policy should lead to a deepening in the understanding of, and respect for,

This policy applies to all Church Bodies* and Church Officers†. Full understanding of, and adherence to, this policy should lead to a deepening in the understanding of, and respect for, the rights of children, young people and vulnerable adults as people of faith in the life of the Church.

Under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016, all authorised clergy, bishops, archdeacons, licensed readers and lay workers, churchwardens and PCCs must have ‘due regard’ to safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops (this will include both policy and practice guidance).* A duty to have ‘due regard’ to guidance means that the person under the duty is not free to disregard it but is required to follow it unless there are cogent reasons for not doing so. (‘Cogent’ for this purpose means clear, logical and convincing.) Failure by clergy to comply with the duty imposed by the 2016 Measure may result in disciplinary action.

This Policy Statement is supported by more detailed Practice Guidance and Reference documents which can be downloaded from: https://www.churchofengland.org/clergyoffice-holders/safeguarding-children-vulnerable-adults.aspx

Building on this, Church bodies may provide additional local procedures and guidance in line with the House of Bishops policy and practice guidance

Safeguarding Policy Statement of the Church of England

Introduction

The Church of England, its archbishops, bishops, clergy and leaders are committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church

Safeguarding means the action the Church takes to promote a safer culture. This means we will promote the welfare of children, young people and adults, work to prevent abuse from occurring, seek to protect those that are at risk of being abused and respond well to those that have been abused. We will take care to identify where a person may present a risk to others, and offer support to them whilst taking steps to mitigate such risks.

The Church of England affirms the ‘Whole Church’ approach to safeguarding. This approach encompasses a commitment to consistent policy and practice across all Church bodies, Church Officers and that everyone associated with the Church, who comes into contact with children, young people and adults, has a role to play.

The Church will take appropriate steps to maintain a safer environment for all and to practice fully and positively Christ's Ministry towards children, young people and adults; to respond sensitively and compassionately to their needs in order to help keep them safe from harm.

Foundations

In developing and implementing the Safeguarding Policy, the Church of England is guided by the following foundations.

1 Gospel

The Church is called to share the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus Christ. The life of our communities and institutions is integral to how we address this task. The good news speaks of welcome for all, with a particular regard for those who are most vulnerable, into a community where the value and dignity of every human being is affirmed and those in positions of responsibility and authority are truly trustworthy. Being faithful to our call to share the gospel therefore compels us to take with the utmost seriousness the challenge of preventing abuse from happening and responding well where it has.

2 Human rights and the law

The Church recognises the personal dignity and rights of all children, young people and adults, as enshrined in the Human Rights Act 1998 and the 1989 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Safeguarding work is undertaken within a legislative framework supported by government guidance which sets out a range of safeguarding duties, responsibilities and best practice

3 Core principles

The following core principles underpin the Church’s approach to safeguarding practice:

The welfare of the child, young person and vulnerable adult is paramount*
Integrity, respect and listening to all
Transparency and openness
Accountability
Collaboration with key statutory authorities and other partners
Use of professional safeguarding advice and support both inside and outside the Church
A commitment to the prevention of abuse
The active management of risk
Promoting a culture of informed vigilance
Regular evaluation to ensure best practice

4 Good safeguarding practise

The following key features will help Church bodies promote and maintain a safer culture that protects and promotes the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults.* These features are:

A leadership commitment, at all levels, to the importance of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults A safeguarding policy available to Church Officers A clear line of accountability within the Church for work on safeguarding Clear reporting procedures to deal with safeguarding concerns and allegations Clear roles for Church Officers Practice and services informed by on-going learning, review and by the views of children, young people, families and vulnerable adults Safer recruitment procedures in place Clear arrangements for support and/or supervision Safeguarding training for all Church Officers working with or in contact with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults Effective working with statutory and voluntary sector partners Publicly advertised arrangements for children, young people and vulnerable adults to be able to speak to an independent person, as required Complaints and whistleblowing procedures that are well publicised Effective information sharing Good record keeping

Learning from the past

In the July Synod 2013 Archbishop Justin Welby stated:

The reality is that there will always be people who are dangerous and are part of the life of the Church. They may be members of the congregation; we hope and pray that they will not be in positions of 15 Promoting a Safer Church responsibility, but the odds are from time to time people will somehow conceal sufficiently well. And many here, have been deeply affected, as well as the survivors who have so rightly brought us to this place. Many other people here have been deeply affected and badly treated. So we face a continual challenge and reality … There has to be a complete change of culture and behaviour. And in addition, there is a profound theological point. We are not doing all this, we are not seeking to say how devastatingly, appallingly, atrociously sorry we are for the great failures there have been, for our own sakes, for our own flourishing, for the protection of the Church. But we are doing it because we are called to live in the justice of God, and that we will each answer to Him for our failures in this area. And that accountability is one that we must take with the utmost seriousness.