Responding to safeguarding concerns or allegations that relate to children, young people and vulnerable adults
Report
Please note that if you believe that a child or adult is in immediate danger of significant or serious harm, you should contact the police on 999.
If a church officer notices signs or symptoms of potential abuse of a child or adult, you should report this to your activity leader/manager (where appropriate) and seek advice and guidance from the diocesan safeguarding adviser and/or the nominated safeguarding officer for your church body. This must happen within 24 hours of identifying a concern (see section 2).
If the information suggests that the child or adult is at risk of abuse or neglect, then the information will also need to be reported to the statutory services immediately (see section 2).
Introduction
This guidance is underpinned by the Church of England’s Safeguarding Policy Statement Promoting a Safer Church 2017, Ecclesiastical law and Government Guidance such as Working Together 2018 and the Care Act 2014. It replaces section 5 of Protecting All God’s Children 2010, including Annex A5 and Guidance Practice 2, and Appendix 3 of Promoting a Safe Church 2006. It replaces section 6 of Protecting All God’s Children and Promoting a Safe Church.
One of the key safeguarding policy commitments of the Church of England is that:
Anyone who brings any safeguarding suspicion, concern, knowledge or allegation of current or non-current abuse to the notice of the Church will be responded to respectfully and in a timely manner, in line with statutory child and adult safeguarding procedures and the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance.
All safeguarding work will be recorded in line with the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Practice Guidance.
All suspicions, concerns, knowledge or allegations, that reach the threshold for reporting to the statutory authorities, will be reported via the diocesan safeguarding adviser or designated safeguarding adviser/officer in another church body to the appropriate statutory authorities. This will be done irrespective of the status of the person.
Who is the guidance for?
This practice guidance is for use by all those who have a role with children, young people and vulnerable adults. This includes diocesan, cathedral and provincial safeguarding advisers [*] , members of the national safeguarding team, archbishops, bishops, deans and their senior staff.
It includes information that applies to parishes but, for ease of reference, this is also covered in the Parish Safeguarding Handbook.
It applies to all church bodies [*] and church officers [*] .
Under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016, all authorised clergy, bishops, archdeacons, licensed readers and lay workers, church wardens and PCCs must have ‘due regard’ to safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops. A duty to have ‘due regard’ to safeguarding 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. All decisions not to pay ‘due regard’ must be recorded and the reasons clearly stated.
This duty applies to this practice guidance.
In addition, failure to have due regard to the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance may have direct consequences for the validity of your insurance.
When must this guidance be used?
This guidance must be used when there are concerns about the welfare and safeguarding of children, young people and/or adults that do not relate to church officers.
Please see ‘Responding to, Assessing and Managing Safeguarding Concerns or Allegations Against Church Officers’ for the procedure for dealing with concerns or allegations that relate to church officers.
If you are not sure whether a concern falls within this guidance, please consult your nominated safeguarding officer and/or the diocesan safeguarding adviser.
What does this guidance aim to do?
This guidance aims to offer the Church procedures for dealing with concerns or allegations against children, young people and adults, which are compliant with local safeguarding children’s and adults’ procedures. It offers guidance on:
1. Be alert to safeguarding concerns
1.1. Guidelines for responding to a person disclosing abuse
1.2. How do I know that a child or young person is being abused?
1.3. How do I know that an adult is being abused?
2. Reporting a safeguarding concern or allegation about a child or young person
2.1. Quick guide
2.2. What will the diocesan safeguarding adviser do?
2.3. Do I need to obtain consent?
2.4. Making a referral to statutory agencies
2.5. What to expect from children's social care
2.6. How to access early help services
3. Reporting a safeguarding concern or allegation about an adult