Safeguarding
Diocesan Safeguarding Department
“Being loved and being kept safe go to the very core of the Church’s Ministry to children and vulnerable adults. The work of safeguarding has to be seen within the overall mission of the Church. As she seeks to protect the vulnerable and weak, the Church needs to ‘act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with God’. (Micah 6:8).
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It is a ministry of love and healing and seeks justice for all”.
The Cumberlege Commission 2007
Reporting abuse:
If you are concerned about the welfare of a child or adult at risk, do not delay in contacting the police, using 999 if a child or adult is believed to be in immediate danger.
It is the policy of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to report all allegations of abuse to statutory authorities, regardless of whether the abuse occurred recently or in the past, or whether the accused person is living or deceased.
If you are in any role within the Clifton Diocese, you must refer allegations directly to the Clifton safeguarding department or religious congregation, or directly to the Police.
If you are a member of the public, please refer allegations directly to the police and also to our safeguarding Co-ordinator Becky Cawsey 0117 954 0993
Our Commitment to Safeguarding:
The Diocese of Clifton is committed to Safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church. Supported by and in compliance with the policies and procedures of the Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service of England and Wales, we are striving towards a culture of safeguarding where all are safe from harm and abuse and where everyone is encouraged and enabled to enjoy the fullness of life In Jesus Christ through the prayerful, nurturing, supportive and protective endeavours of the Catholic Community, both individually and collectively. Our commitment applies to everyone within the diocese. That is Clergy, Religious, employees, seminarians, volunteers and agencies operating within the Diocese. We aim to be a place of welcome, where each person is respected and loved, and in which everyone receives and shares their unique gifts. We seek to support and protect each other, recognising that particular care may be needed for those who may be vulnerable because of age, disability, illness or who may be vulnerable because of past or current experiences. The Diocese will ensure that any allegations of a safeguarding matter are responded to promptly and liaise openly with statutory authorities to support investigations, responding sensitively and compassionately to those in need, and ensuring perpetrators are held to account.
We affirm our undertaking for the Diocese of Clifton to be a place where all come in confidence, and that they will be cared for and loved by their Christian Community.
Contacting the Clifton Diocesan Safeguarding Team:
Safer Recruitment:
Anyone involved in recruitment at whatever level should first make themselves familiar with the below CSSA documentation to help support you through the process.
Practice-Guidance-Safer-Recruitment.docx (live.com)
Flowchart-Recruitment-and-appointment-process-planner-1.docx (live.com)
Flowchart-Safer-recruitment-of-new-volunteers-1.docx (live.com)
Templates and guidance for all the documents you need to complete the Safer Recruitment process are available on the new website for the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency, formally known as CSAS. See link below.
Parish Resources – cssa (catholicsafeguarding.org.uk)
Disclosure and Barring (DBS) checks
Enhanced DBS checks are required for specific roles which participate in “regulated activity”. Advice should be sought from a PSR, Parish Safeguarding Rep, or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team to determine whether an enhanced DBS will be required and any general queries regarding safer recruitment.
It is the policy of the Clifton Diocese that all individuals undertaking regulated activity, must have a disclosure check appropriate to their role.
Please see below document detailing the most frequently performed roles requiring DBS clearance. This is not exhaustive but covers the main roles. Any queries please contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Direct on 0117 954 0993 or Safeguarding@Cliftondiocese.com
Everyone who undertakes a role on behalf of the Catholic Church should be clear as to what that role entails. Both the parameters and expectations. We aim to provide some sample role descriptions over the coming months to support the parishes.
It is essential that no individual should be expected to undertake a role that they do not feel comfortable with.
Safeguarding in the Catholic Church in England & Wales:
The Catholic Safeguarding Advisory Service is responsible for driving and supporting improvements in practice throughout the Catholic Church in England and Wales. Its primary role is one of co-ordination, advice and support in respect of safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk across the Church Website:More information:
Safeguarding Children
Working together to safeguard Children 2018 Download PDF
Guidance for conference calls, especially with young people
Below you will find risk assessments and codes of conduct documents that may help if you are using the internet to have meetings with young people in your parish or youth group.
Some of the issues we need to consider are as follows;
- Obtaining parental permission via email
- Register to know who was present at each session, also seeking to ensure that no one that had not been invited is present.
- Two leaders at all times in the Zoom meeting. These leaders should have a current DBS clearance with the Diocese. We are still able to deal with DBS issues, so please do contact us. We would like all Leaders to complete at least 1 of the on line Educare Safeguarding courses. We, the Safeguarding team still provide access to any parishioners / helper who requires it providing we have their email address. You can find details at the foot of this page
- We recommend some scripted starter to the meeting advising against oversharing of personal information ie addresses.
- Leaders to consider how to deal with an unexpected disclosure from one of the participants.
- The Risk Assessment covers some additional elements to take account of and action.
Use of Zoom for children/youth ministry risk assessment
Code of Conduct for Leaders and Helpers
Code of Conduct for Children and Young Persons
NSPCC (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.
Telephone: 0808 800 5000
Email: help@nspcc.org.uk
Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.
South West Safeguarding Children Board websites.
These websites are a useful resource to identify local provisions in your Parish. Much of the work focus of the Safeguarding Boards is to ensure there is a focus on early help and intervention. The right help at the right time.
Domestic Abuse
Here you will find information about where and how to report domestic abuse and get help.
Phone the Police
If you are in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police.
If you are in danger and unable to talk on the phone, call 999 and listen to the questions from the operator and if possible, respond by coughing or tapping the head set.
If prompted, press 55 to Make Yourself Heard and this will transfer your call to the police. (NB Pressing 55 only works on mobiles and does not allow police to track your location.)
When 999 calls are made from landlines, information about your location should be automatically available to the call handlers to help provide a response.
Seek help
Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge
0808 200 0247
www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Live Fear Free helpline (Wales)
0808 80 10 800
www.livefearfree.gov.wales
Men’s Advice Line
0808 801 0327
www.mensadviceline.org.uk
Rape Crisis (England and Wales)
0808 802 9999
www.rapecrisis.org.uk
Respect phoneline
0808 802 4040
www.respectphoneline.org.uk
Galop (for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people)
0800 999 5428
www.galop.org.uk
Scotland’s Domestic Abuse and Forced Marriage Helpline
0800 027 1234
sdafmh.org.uk
Scottish Women’s Aid
0131 226 6606
www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk
Women’s Aid Federation (Northern Ireland)
0800 917 1414
www.womensaidni.org
Karma Nirvana
Karma Nirvana runs a national honour-based abuse helpline.
Telephone: 0800 5999 247
Email: support@karmanirvana.org.uk
Hestia
Hestia provides a free mobile app, Bright Sky, which provides support and information to anyone who may be in an abusive relationship or those concerned about someone they know.
Chayn
Chayn provides online help and resources in a number of languages about identifying manipulative situations and how friends can support those being abused.
Imkaan
Imkaan are a women’s organisation addressing violence against black and minority women and girls.
Southall Black Sisters
Southall Black Sisters offer advocacy and information to Asian and Afro-Caribbean women suffering abuse.
Stay Safe East
Stay Safe East provides advocacy and support services to disabled victims and survivors of abuse.
SignHealth
SignHealth provides domestic abuse service support for deaf people in British Sign Language (BSL).
Telephone: 020 3947 2601
Email: da@signhealth.org.uk
Shelter
Shelter provide free confidential information, support and legal advice on all housing and homelessness issues.
Sexual Assault Referral Centres
Sexual Assault Referral Centres provide advice and support services to victims and survivors of sexual assault or abuse.
Women’s Aid
This service runs on Monday to Friday from 10am – 2pm
https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/
Safeguarding Training
Would your Catechist known how to respond if a child confided in them regarding a Safeguarding matter? Would your Eucharistic Minister be aware of the importance of acting on their suspicions about something they had seen or heard? Would your Parish Safeguarding Rep be confident in dealing with the disclosure from someone in has plucked up the courage to speak out about something. Do you know how to raise and record any concerns
All who work, volunteer or worship within the Catholic Church have access to free Safeguarding training. This is E learning that can be completed in your own home at entirely your own pace. We urge as many people as possible to take advantage of this free training.
Anyone wishing to engage please forward you request to Rebecca.Monks@cliftondiocese.com and Beci will set up the account for you.
Webinar on Love & Loss - exploring questions around dementia, bereavement and grief
Love & Loss – exploring questions around dementia, bereavement and grief
You can access a recording of the main parts of the webinar here.
You can access the Dementia Friendly Resource pack here.
If you would like to receive regular updates from Bristol Dementia Action Alliance about dementia activities, research etc please sign up at the website: www.bdaa.org.uk
Safeguarding Adults
Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 080 8808 8141 (free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm).
Care act 2014 SCIE guidance to support vulnerable Adults https://www.scie.org.uk/care-act-2014/safeguarding-adults/
Hurt by Abuse
Samaritans Helpline: 08457 90 90 90 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
Safe spaces
Safe Spaces England and wales – Safe Spaces England and wales
https://www.safespacesenglandandwales.org.uk
Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service, providing a confidential, personal and safe space for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with either the Church of England, the Catholic Church of England and Wales or the Church in Wales.
Forms library
Please click on this link to access all forms and templates provided by the CSSA.
The forms will assist with the following:
- Safeguarding casework (for the safeguarding office only)
- Safer recruitment processes
- Parish activities
If you are a PSR, you will be able to access the safer recruitment paperwork via SharePoint.