Safeguarding Policy

Protection of Children & Adults who are Vulnerable Policy 

Good Practice in Safeguarding Children and Young People

At St. Wilfrid’s Church, we are dedicated to providing a safe, welcoming, and nurturing environment for children and young people. We want them to feel happy, valued, and supported in everything we do, knowing they are in a space where they can grow and thrive. At the same time, we understand the trust parents place in us, and we strive to ensure they feel confident that their children are protected, cared for, and encouraged in a way that fosters both their well-being and their development.

This document is designed to protect both children and those who work with them and to continue the openness and trust between all parties involved in our work at St. Wilfrid’s Church.

A Safe Environment

We are committed to carefully planning all work and activities to minimize the risk of child abuse and avoid unfounded accusations against adults, fostering a safe and fair environment for everyone.

To achieve this, we will:

• Aim to have at least two leaders present with every group.
• Ensure that a single child is never left alone with an older person unless they are clearly visible to nearby adults.
• Whenever possible, provide leaders of both genders in mixed-gender groups.
• Be mindful of how our words and actions could be misinterpreted as harmful.
• Ensure that any child not collected on time, especially after the building is due to be locked, waits with two leaders at the main entrance.

By implementing these measures, we create a secure and supportive space where children and young people can feel safe and valued.

Recruitment of Staff and Volunteers

To ensure the safety and well-being of children, young adults, and vulnerable adults, we follow a structured recruitment process:

• All prospective staff and volunteers must apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before being accepted for roles involving children, young people, or vulnerable adults.
• Applicants will receive full guidance and support during the Disclosure application process if needed.
• Disclosure applications will be submitted to the diocesan approved umbrella organisation for processing.
• Once a successful Disclosure is received, the applicant may begin their work with children, young people, and vulnerable adults.
• If concerns arise from a Disclosure, a risk assessment will be conducted in consultation with the ministry team, the PSO and the Diocesan Safeguarding Team to determine the individual's suitability for working with vulnerable adults, youths or children.
• The entire application process will be handled professionally and confidentially to protect both applicants and those in their care.

This approach ensures a secure and responsible recruitment process that prioritizes safeguarding at every stage.

Support for Staff and Volunteers

The primary aim of our work with children and young people is to encourage a deepening of their faith and to develop their social relationships.

Staff members and volunteers will receive, in writing, guidelines on their tasks and to whom they are responsible and from whom they can seek support

Regular meetings with other workers in the same team will be held to plan teaching and activities and to give mutual support.

Recognition of Abuse

Professionals working in statutory agencies receive thorough training in identifying child and vulnerable adult abuse. However, they often depend on those close to children to notice signs of distress or harm. As staff and volunteers, we have a crucial responsibility to be vigilant and responsive to children in difficulty.

Abuse can take various forms, including:

• Neglect: The failure to provide essential care and support that a child or vulnerable adult needs.
• Physical abuse: Any act that causes bodily harm or involves the exploitation of a child for an adult’s gratification.
• Emotional abuse: Persistent harm caused by a lack of love and affection, exposure to threats, taunting, or psychological distress.

Recognizing these signs and taking appropriate action is vital in ensuring the safety and well-being of those in our care.

Child abuse may be suspected for a number of reasons:

• The child may tell you outright that they are being abused
• You may notice bruises that cause you concern
• Another child may alert you to a friend that is being ill-treated
• An adult may admit they’ve harmed a child in some way
• An allegation may be made on a child’s behalf by a parent or carer.

Making our response

We are to pass on information carefully to the Parish Safeguarding Officer or ministry team, who will notify the Diocesan safeguarding team.

Any report should be recorded in writing, signed and dated; it follows that any suspected abuse must be taken seriously.  It is important to let a child know that they are being listened to.  It is not advised to promise confidentiality since the nature of the problem may be so serious as to require professional intervention.  Even if confidentiality is not requested by a child, always explain to the child that information will be shared.

What steps to take if abuse is suspected

Speak at once to the person who you are responsible to for your work and to the Parish Safeguarding Officer.  Do this even if you’re not sure, but your suspicions have been aroused.  If neither person is available, speak to another responsible person, e.g.  The Rector or another member of the ministry team.

Adults who are Vulnerable - Safe from Harm 

The Disclosure and Barring Service is the agency which provides the definition of Adults who are Vulnerable. In the context of DBS checks, a vulnerable adult is generally defined as someone aged 18 or older who is unable to protect themselves from harm or abuse due to a physical, mental, or learning disability, or because they have care and support needs. 

Guidelines for Activities When Working with Adults who are Vulnerable

All staff and volunteers authorised by the church should be checked under the DBS procedure, [as they are for children’s work] and a register should be maintained.

• All staff and volunteers who are official volunteers are to carry identification for their role and official records of their function is to be kept in the parish centre office.
• Where people are visiting residential homes, etc, these homes should be given a basic copy of the church’s policy and a list of staff and volunteers expected to visit that institution.
• Where people visit vulnerable people on their own, staff and volunteers should keep a detailed record of the visit.

The adult protection procedure identifies three distinct roles in the protection of vulnerable people.  The same principles apply to safeguarding children.

1. The Referrer – The person who identifies concerns and reports them to the appropriate authorities.
2. The Investigator – Professionals responsible for assessing the situation, gathering evidence, and determining the level of risk.
3. The Decision-Maker – Authorities who decide on the necessary actions, interventions, or support required to ensure safety.

Staff and volunteers act as Referrers.  Their duty is:

• To report suspected acts of abuse
• To be alert to what abuse means and take seriously what they are told
• To think about what they see and ask if it is acceptable practice
• To work strictly in accordance with inclusive, anti- racist, anti-sexist, anti-ageist and anti-disability practices
• To ensure the safety of the person you suspect is being mistreated as well as your own safety
• To contact the emergency services first, e.g. police, ambulance, if in a life-threatening situation.
• To be alert to hints, signals and non-verbal communication that could indicate abuse, which is being denied or deliberately hidden.

What to do if someone discloses abuse to you:

• Stay calm and try not to show shock
• Listen carefully rather than question directly
• Be sympathetic
• Be aware of the possibility that medical evidence might be needed

Tell the person that:

• They did right to tell you
• You are treating this information seriously
• It was not their fault

DO NOT:

• Press the person for more details

• Stop someone who is freely recalling significant events as they may not tell you again
• Promise to keep secrets: explain that the information will be kept confidential, i.e. information will only be passed to those people who have “a need to know”
• Make promises that you cannot keep (such as “This will not happen to you again”)
• Contact the alleged abuser
• Be judgemental (e.g. “Why didn’t you run away?”)
• Pass on information to anyone who doesn’t have a “need to know” i.e. do not gossip

The Referrer should notify the Parish Safeguarding Officer or any member of the ministry team of any concerns. The PSO will not investigate any reports. Anything notified to the PSO either via the ministry team or the Referrer will be reported to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.