Welcome to the Safeguarding pages for the Diocese in Europe where you will find our safeguarding policy, guidance and resources. The safeguarding policy, documents and resources will be regularly reviewed and updated in line with the Church of England's Safeguarding policies and guidance.
Please use the grey left-hand menu or on-page links to explore all topics.
Chaplaincy or parish
Whilst we mostly use the term ‘Chaplaincy’ in the Diocese in Europe, there are congregations in the Diocese who refer to themselves as a ‘Parish’. For those parishes, throughout this Policy please read ‘Chaplaincy’ as ‘Parish’.
Children
The abuse of children and young people can take many forms. They have the same right to protection regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Children and young people from minority ethnic groups and those with disabilities (physical, sensory and/or learning difficulties) are especially vulnerable and need special care and protection. (For further information, see the Church of England’s Fact Sheet: Types of Abuse.)
Adults
All adults, including vulnerable adults, have a fundamental human right to choose how and with whom they live, even if this appears to involve a degree of risk. They should be supported to make those choices, to live as independently as possible and treated with respect and dignity. (For further information, see the Church of England’s Fact Sheet: Types of Abuse.)
Please note that some adults may not consider themselves vulnerable but may be vulnerable to being abused by individuals in positions of leadership and responsibility.
Occasional helpers
Occasional Helpers who work with children, young people and/or vulnerable adults will need to complete a Safeguarding Check to include vetting checks for all countries visited (as a total of all visits above one month in duration) within the last ten years.
‘Occasional’ refers to a role that is undertaken for less than three days in a thirty-day period.
A message from the Right Reverend Dr Robert Innes, Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe
Our Diocese first issued a formal policy on Safeguarding in 2012. We produced a major update to the policy in 2015, which brought us up to date with the best advice available at that time. But safeguarding knowledge and practice continues to develop. And we have been able to learn from the practical experience of applying our own protocol across our Chaplaincies. So I am now pleased that we are able to set out policy and practice which is consistent with revised Church of England guidelines as at 2019 in a form that is accessible and easier to use.
The requirements set out in this document, together with the linked guidance, are based on current best practice across the Church of England. The requirements are there to help make sure our churches and communities are safe spaces and safe places.
I am well aware that the priority given to safeguarding matters varies from one country to another. But that is not an excuse for doing safeguarding less well where custom and practice is less rigorous or sensitivity less heightened. For me, safeguarding is a theological priority that is integral to the mission of the church. It is an area where the church should lead and not just follow.
Diocesan safeguarding operates with proper care for personal data in line with the EU’s GDPR legislation. If your chaplaincy is in a territory outside the scope of GDPR where safeguarding data transfer is problematic then you must seek specific guidance from the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor. Operating in countries with different legal frameworks is not a reason for departure from the principle of doing safeguarding well.
Safeguarding continues to be a top priority for me – and I expect this to be the case across our Diocese. We have a duty before our Lord to enable the church to be a safe and secure place for all. This document sets the standards and guidelines to which are all required to work.
Thank you for your co-operation and commitment to working with me in making our diocese a safer space.
Robert Gibraltar in Europe
Diocesan Bishop
Safeguarding in the Diocese in Europe is highly involved with many cultural and legal challenges to be absorbed and accommodated within each country. The DST and I are committed to supporting all of our chaplaincies in their efforts in providing a safe church. Excitingly, there is a willingness across the diocese to engage with safeguarding requirements and associated training, and to support victims and vulnerable groups.
The safeguarding service continues to be available to assist you in achieving the best for all in the diocese.
Grace Fagan-Stewart
Head of Safeguarding
The primary role of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisory Committee (DSAC) is to provide independent and impartial advice to the Diocese on all matters relating to the development and implementation of the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy and practice.
DSAC membership is made up of:
Independent Members:
Senior Clergy:
Reporting officers:
In the event of an allegation against a member of clergy, volunteer or elected member, a SCMG is convened to identify and manage risk, share ideas and discussion and ensure the correct processes are followed.
The Head of Safeguarding (HoS) should convene a SCMG within 10 working days (unless urgent, within 2 working days) of becoming aware of the safeguarding concern or allegation. If it is impossible to meet face-to-face, a virtual meeting should be set up. The review period will be every 6 weeks unless otherwise stipulated by the independent chair. The SCMG advise and oversee management of the process for the duration of the case, meeting as required. All information should be made available to the group to support decision-making.
The SCMG membership will usually include:
Advisors to SCMG:
Complainants, respondents and their representatives are not members of the SCMG. The SCMG Chair must ensure that a member of the SCMG has responsibility to keep the complainant and the respondent informed of SCMG decisions, recommendations and outcomes.
It is also the role of the SCMG to establish lessons learnt at the end of a case.
