Report a safeguarding concern

If you have a safeguarding concern, it is extremely important to talk to someone about it.

If a child or adult is in immediate danger of significant or serious harm, please remove yourself from any danger, then immediately contact the emergency services by calling 999.

One of the Diocesan Safeguarding Team must be contacted within 24 hours of the concern or allegation.

The Diocesan Safeguarding Team are:

• Jez Hirst, Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
  01727 818107 or 07867 350886 (Monday – Friday)
• Dave Adams, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
  01727 818104 or 07469 351357 (Monday – Friday)
• Warren Lucas, Assistant Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
  01727 818106 or 07391 010033 (Monday – Wednesday)
  
  All can be emailed at safeguarding@stalbans.anglican.org.

There are many situations whereby a member of the church may have concerns, or be made aware of concerns, regarding a child, young person and adult. For example:

• A child, young person or adult discloses abuse
• Someone discloses concern for a child, young person or adult
• Someone notices signs of potential abuse of a child, young person or adult
• A child, young person or adult makes a disclosure about their own behaviour towards another child, young person or adult
• Someone witnesses concerning behaviour during a church activity or during a home visit

The concern or allegation might relate to someone at church or to someone elsewhere (e.g. at home, work or school).

Initial response

If you suspect a child is being abused

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
   Advisor.
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.

The numbers children can ring if someone has harmed them or they think someone might be going to harm them are:
Childline on 0800 1111
Family Lives (previously Parentline) 0808 800 2222

If a child tells you something which suggests they have been abused:

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

For the purpose of Church policy and guidance, the definition of “vulnerable adult” is contained in the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016. That defines a ‘‘vulnerable adult’ as a person aged 18 or over whose ability to protect himself or herself from violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation is significantly impaired through physical or mental disability or illness, old age, emotional fragility or distress, or otherwise; and for that purpose, the reference to being impaired is to being temporarily or indefinitely impaired’.

Church of England

If a vulnerable adult appears to be at risk

• 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.
• It may be appropriate to refer them to the local authority adult protection service if you have reasonable grounds for suspecting that a vulnerable adult is being abused or neglected .
• 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 Adviser 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.

Model Procedure for a PCC

A model procedure for a PCC can be downloaded.  This model procedure can be adapted by the PCC to suit their local requirements.