Best Practice guidelines

• Treat all children and young people with respect
• Respect a young person’s right to personal privacy
• Always seek the parent’s and child’s consent if he or she is very young or disabled and needs help to go to the toilet. Leave doors open where possible for observation
• Remember that it is okay to touch children in a way which is not intrusive or disturbing to him or her, or to others.
• Keep this public and never behind a closed door
• Encourage young people and adults to feel comfortable and confident enough to point out attitudes and behaviours they are concerned about.
• Children should not be driven without parental consent and should be seated in the back seat of the car.
• Remember that someone else might misinterpret your actions, no matter how well intentioned
• Recognise that caution is required even in sensitive moments of counselling, such as dealing with bullying, bereavement or abuse.
• Beware of position of fire exits, fire extinguishers & first aid equipment.
• Provide an example you wish others to follow.
• Make sure that any work or activities with children and young people involves more than one adult, or at least takes place within the sight/hearing of others
• Ensure separate sleeping quarters for leaders and young people, if activities involve overnight stays.
• Make sure that allegations or suspicions are recorded and acted upon immediately.

DO NOT engage in rough physical games including horseplay
DO NOT touch a child in an intrusive or sexual manner
DO NOT make sexually suggestive comments to a child, even as a joke
DO NOT use physical discipline
DO NOT help a child with things of a personal nature that they can do for themselves, such as toileting or changing clothes etc
DO NOT show favouritism to any individual
DO NOT permit abusive youth peer activities (e.g. initiation, ridiculing, bullying)
DO NOT rely on your good name to protect you
DO NOT believe ‘it could never happen to me’
DO NOT spend too much time alone with just one child or young person
DO NOT give under 18’s overall responsibility

1. Record the facts as known to you – Including when and where conversations took place as well as what was said and being careful to distinguish facts from allegations and opinions.
2. Speak to the Parish Safeguarding Officer the Vicar or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.
3. It may be in certain exceptional circumstances that the police need to be contacted immediately.
4. Always consider whether immediate medical attention is required.

N.B. The number children can ring if someone has harmed them or they think someone might be going to harm them is

Family Lives (previously Parentline) 0808 800 2222

Childline on 0800 1111

1. Listen to the child rather than asking direct questions or pressing for details

2. Do not stop the child while they are freely recalling significant events
3. Reassure the child (who may have been threatened, told to keep what is happening secret, or told that no one will believe them) that they have done the right thing in telling someone, and that they are not to blame
4. Let them know that there are other people who need to be told so that they can help them
5. Record the facts and tell someone (as listed above in ‘if you suspect a child is being abused’)
6. Do not delay or decide to give the benefit of the doubt to parents or others
7. Detailed enquiries must be left to the investigating agencies

Inform the Parish Safeguarding Officer or the Vicar and in every case the Diocese Safeguarding Team MUST be informed as soon as possible.

These recommendations apply to all churches’ activities with adults who may be vulnerable.

• They apply as much to church ‘in house’ activities for regular attendees, as to activities which you run in and for the local community.
• Activities set up specifically for adults known to be vulnerable will need planning and preparation of a kind not needed for activities open to all.
• Ensure there are supervision arrangements and a reporting line back to the PCC.

• Always respect the vulnerable adult and all his or her abilities.
• Ensure his or her individuality – e.g. always use their name.
• Give the same respect as to others.
• Respect differences – e.g. in appearance, ideas, personalities, ability.
• Don’t assume or withhold physical contact – ask first.
• Have a proper conversation using appropriate language
• Sometimes it may be necessary to set boundaries for some to ensure the safety of others.
• Obtain specialist advice when necessary, e.g. on harassment, disability, mental illness, domestic abuse.

• Lifts arranged by adults among themselves are a private matter and not the concern of the church.
• Lifts arranged by the church, whether using existing pastoral care workers or a special team of drivers, are a church responsibility.
• Drivers need to be safely recruited. Carers should be consulted as appropriate.
• All cars that carry vulnerable adults must be comprehensively insured. The insured person must make sure that their insurance covers the giving of lifts during church activities. They must inform their insurance company that lifts may be given. There are separate requirements governing minibuses.
• If lifts are also provided to the GP, hospital appointments or adult social care facilities this is regulated activity and attracts a DBS check with barring information.

• Always do an assessment of risk to both the vulnerable adult and other interested parties.
• If there are concerns, give careful consideration to whether the visit is absolutely necessary.
• Always carry a mobile phone and ensure that someone knows where you are and when you are expected to return.
• Don’t call unannounced, call by arrangement.
• Always carry identification with you or a note of introduction from your church.
• When referring someone on to another person or agency, talk this through with the vulnerable adult. Ask his or her permission before passing on personal information.
• A record of pastoral visits and home communions must be kept by the church. Your local church should set a policy on this.

• The church does not itself investigate situations of possible risk to vulnerable adults from others but church members are entitled to clarify whether they consider there may be such a risk.
• If you have reasonable grounds for suspecting that a vulnerable adult is being abused or neglected it may be appropriate to refer them to the local authority adult protection service.
• The consent of the person concerned is normally needed. However, if they are not able to give informed consent or are being intimidated, they can be referred without consent.
• If in doubt whether a referral is appropriate, consult the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer or the local authority adult protection service.
• Make a record of the concerns and the action taken as soon as possible after the event and make sure a copy is on file. See guidance on Recording safeguarding issues.
• An abuse of power is a safeguarding issue.
• If there is a suspected criminal offence the victim should be encouraged to report the matter to the police and assisted in doing so if necessary.
• Refer on and work with existing statutory and voluntary services.

• Many carers are not aware that they are carers and may benefit from links with organisations for carers which can offer help and advice.
• Local carers’ organisations are able to advise churches on caring issues.
• Remember the needs of carers – treat them as individuals, include them as appropriate, offer breaks and short times apart and practical assistance if feasible.
• Carers are entitled to an assessment of need from local authorities, but this does not carry a guarantee of services to meet the needs identified.