The House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy 2017 states,
The Church, based on the message of the gospel, opens its doors to all. It will therefore endeavour to offer pastoral care and support to any member of the church community who may present a known risk".
For further information, please see Section 7 of the House of Bishops’ Practice Guidance: ‘Responding to, assessing and managing safeguarding concerns or allegations against Church Officers’.
This means that there are likely to be those with criminal convictions for sexual offences and other forms of abuse attending church. In addition, there may be those who do not have convictions or cautions but where there are sound reasons for considering that they still might pose a risk to others. Where people may pose a risk to others, their position in a congregation will need to be carefully and sensitively assessed to decide whether they pose a present risk to others and to put in place arrangements to ensure that these risks are mitigated. In these circumstances, it is not only about monitoring individuals but offering support to lead a fulfilled life. As such, the Church has an important role in contributing to the prevention of future abuse.
Some examples of the risk that individuals may pose to children, young people and adults are:
Sexual Offences
Against both adults and children: This includes accessing indecent images of children on the internet.
Financial Abuse
Targeting of vulnerable adults for financial gain, for example, asking for money, the acceptance of large ‘gifts’ or offering to do a job for someone at an extortionate rate of pay.
Always contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) as soon as practicable, but within 24 hours, if you learn that any of the following people worship in your church:
Number 4 above may include a person in relation to whom:
If the DSA is made aware by any other source of any person in the above categories who is intending to or is worshipping at a church within the Diocese, they will notify the local Safeguarding Officer/ incumbent in the first instance.
The DSA will determine the appropriate action to be taken to best safeguard the chaplaincy and its congregation/s, based on the particular facts and circumstances of each case. They will undertake a risk assessment and the formation of a risk management plan known as a Safeguarding Agreement.
This will involve the respondent and usually the incumbent, churchwarden, local Safeguarding Officer and, if involved, the police, local child/adult services, probation services, etc. Who is involved will depend on the case.
If a person is assessed as posing a risk to children or adults, the DSA, together with the police and any local agencies involved, will support the parish to:
The Safeguarding Agreement may include the following elements:
The respondent will:
It is not possible to prevent a member of the congregation from attending divine service, unless it is a condition included in a court order or in his/her licence conditions upon release from prison (although he/she could voluntarily agree not to attend certain services).
Any breach should be shared with the DSA immediately, who will liaise with the police and local agencies, as required.
Should the respondent refuse to sign the agreement the DSA will advise and liaise with the incumbent and local Safeguarding Officer to seek a resolution.
The Safeguarding Agreement must be monitored and reviewed at least annually by the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor.