Parish Safeguarding Handbook

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Protecting All God's Children (safeguarding policy for children and young people, 4th edition, 2010) Go to www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding/promoting-safer-church/policy-practice-guidance/templates-resources for: A failure by a reader or lay worker to have due regard to House of Bishops safeguarding guidance would be grounds for the revocation of the reader’s or lay worker’s licence by the bishop.

A failure by a churchwarden or parochial church council to have due regard to House of Bishops safeguarding could result in an investigation being carried out by the Charity Commission and the churchwarden or PCC members being disqualified as charity trustees. We will seek to protect those who are at risk of being abused and respond well to those who have been abused. For templates and resourcesrelating to safeguarding policy and practice guidance, including those referenced in the Parish Safeguarding Handbook and Safer Working Practice, please see here .

A "Church Officer" is anyone appointed/elected by or on behalf of the Church to a post or role, whether they are ordained or lay, paid or unpaid. A failure by a member of the clergy to comply with the duty to have due regard to House of Bishops safeguarding guidance is misconduct under the Clergy Discipline Measure 2003 (‘CDM’). There is a requirement for each PCC to formally adopt and work to all the House of Bishop’s Safeguarding Policies . Government Guidance Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for parents and carers to keep children safe online(2021) Obviously, these Network Meeting are not taking place at present, however we will resume these when able to meet safely.

Please note under section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016*** all authorised clergy, bishops, archdeacons, licensed readers and lay workers, churchwardens and PCCs must have ' due regard' to safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops (this will include both policy and practice guidance). A duty to have 'due regard' to guidance means that the person under the duty is not free to disregard it but is required to follow it unless there are cogent reasons for not doing so. ('Cogent' for this purpose means clear, logical and convincing.) Failure by clergy to comply with the duty imposed by the 2016 Measure may result in disciplinary action. Responding to Safeguarding Concerns or Allegations that relate to Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adultspractice guidance(2018) Incumbents, PCCs and parish safeguarding officers have a broad range of safeguarding responsibilities. The Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016imposes a legal duty on all authorised clergy, licensed readers and lay workers, churchwardens and PCCs (parochial church councils) to have 'due regard'to safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops on matters relating to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults (this will include both policy and practice guidance).

Adopting The House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy

Follow the Parish Safeguarding Handbook link below for CofE policies, guidance and model templates. Your PCC needs to adopt this every year at the first PCC meeting after your APCM and send a statement confirming this into the Diocesan Safeguarding Team. Parish Safeguarding Handbook

The legal duty to have 'due regard' means that, asa matter of law, the guidance should be given great weight and must be followed unless there are ‘cogent reasons’ for not doing so. A person who is required to have due regard to the guidance should not simply take it uponthemselvesto decide that there are cogent reasons for departing from the guidance. Such a decision should be taken – if at all – only after case-specific advice has been obtained from both the DSA (Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser) and the Diocesan Registrar.Guidance on safer working practice, called Safer Environment and Activities, which provides highly practical advice for parishes, helping them to run their day-to-day activities as safely as possible, was published in November 2019 and can also be found on the Parish Safeguarding Handbook link below. Those appearing in video or photographs will need to have given you their permission. A photo release form can be signed by adults. The form must include all the places that the photo or video may be used by the church. The Ecclesiastical Insurance Group has made it clear that their insurance cover is only valid where House of Bishops’ safeguarding policy and practice guidance is being followed. Promoting a Safer Church’ sets out the safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults policy of the Church of England. It has been approved by the House of Bishops and applies to all Church Bodies and Church Officers.