10 minute read
IT'S TIME TO RETHINK
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Check whether safer recruitment is followed
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Safer recruitment is vital because it minimises the likelihood of those who may be vulnerable being harmed by those in positions of trust. Leaders, workers, and those holding a variety of other positions should undergo a thorough recruitment process. Consider:
• Are job descriptions being prepared and advertised (paid and volunteers). • Are job applications being completed giving details of previous experience, qualifications, referees and any other supporting information. • Are self-declaration forms being completed by those applying to work with children or adults at risk, and those who are in positions of trust (including trustees) detailing any cautions, convictions and any other criminal history. • Are references being obtained? • Are applicants – including volunteers – being interviewed? • Are criminal record checks being carried out where relevant?
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See that safeguarding is being communicated
Your organisation should ensure that all those involved with children, young people and safeguarding adults know how to communicate effectively and relate to those with whom they come into contact. Consider:
• Are all workers aware and informed about lines of communication and know when and who to report concerns to.
• Is there clear communication with external agencies including statutory safeguarding bodies. • Do all workers know how to safely communicate including online? • Have workers been trained and equipped to communicate effectively with those with special needs and disabilities.
Are workers trained in listening and communicating?
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Check that all workers know how to respond
Every organisation that is in contact with, or provides services for children, young people or adults with care and support needs must be able to respond appropriately to concerns or allegations of abuse. Consider:
• Does the Safeguarding Coordinator and Deputy know how to respond where there are concerns or allegations of abuse • Do all workers know how to respond to an allegation of abuse made by a third party • Do all workers know the reasons for not contacting the parent /carer or alleged abuser and act accordingly. • Do workers know how to respond where there is an allegation against a worker.
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Consider Pastoral Care
Each organisation that is open to activities for children, young people and adults, should ensure pastoral care and support is available to all those affected by abuse.
• There are people within the organisation who are trained in pastoral care, understand confidentiality, accountability, and have listening skills and are available to those who wish to talk.
• The organisation recognises the difference between counselling and pastoral care including that counsellors must be appropriately qualified. • The organisation has ensured there is confidentiality and accountability for those in the counselling / pastoral care roles. • There are clear guidelines and boundaries for all providing pastoral care. All pastoral carers know how to respond to concerns
of abuse and have a clearly defined role which is conveyed to the person receiving the pastoral care. • Organisations understand the impact on families and ensure that practical help is provided for those affected by abuse, particularly where there is a formal investigation. • There is an understanding throughout the organisation and an appropriate response to the effects of physical, sexual, emotional abuse and neglect, as well as spiritual abuse.
Finally, say Thank You to all your workers and volunteers. It’s been a tough, emotional time for everyone and those people who have worked faithfully through this time deserve praise, thanks and encouragement and every possible opportunity.
Thirtyone:eight provide advice and guidance on conducting a self-audit. We also offer one or twohour bespoke Advice Surgeries that will help with any questions you have about safeguarding. Advice surgeries are for organisations that would like to spend some focused time with one of our experienced team of advisors discussing the safeguarding, safer recruitment or DBS issues that are specifically impacting your organisation. They usually last between 1-2 hours and can be done by telephone, video meeting, or face-to-face. Advice surgeries (thirtyoneeight.org)
Speaking out in the public square
By Janet Daby MP
Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Safeguarding in Faith Communities
Faith communities play a vital role within society today. For hundreds of years, places of worship have been a presence within our villages, towns and cities. These places of worship have become synonymous with a wide range of activities taking place to support local communities.
Leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer said in his New Year’s speech that places of worship are one of the places “that give our lives meaning, that shape our identities… [the spaces] in which our lives unfold.” In politics it is essential we understand the value of our faith institutions as well as the people that congregate them.
Recent figures provided by the Charity Commission (England & Wales)i suggest that over 45,000 (or 25%) of all registered charities are recorded as having religious or faith-based activities as their focus. Outside of these are the many thousands of faithbased organisations that do not meet the threshold for registration, yet undertake much important work engaging different communities on a regular basis.
Faith-based organisations have the opportunity to make a significant contribution to society and particularly in relation to social welfare and social justice. Whilst this is extremely encouraging, with this opportunity comes great responsibility to engage with communities and society in safe ways. Understanding the unique safeguarding challenges faced by communities of faith and encouraging them to share in active dialogue to ensure safe practices are embedded is extremely important. The recently established All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Safeguarding in Faith Communities, which I am privileged to co-Chair with Bishop Viv Faull is one way of ensuring that an appropriate voice can be heard within the public square on a range of safeguarding matters of importance to communities of all faiths. This voice is ably facilitated through the work of the secretariat to the group, provided by thirtyone:eight. The majority of focus to date in the UK towards safeguarding in faith contexts has been in relation to the Christian faith and community. In reality, the many safeguarding issues that have been highlighted publicly in recent times (via the general press and media and through other channels such as the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse), are no less likely to be issues within communities of other faiths, beliefs and religions. In fact, evidence would show that this is very much the case. For this reason, the new APPG focuses on safeguarding concerns relevant to any community of faith, belief or religion – in this way it may be possible to gain the widest participation to learn, share and work together to address such concerns collectively. It is important for the group to act as a vehicle through which communities of faith, belief or religion can contribute positively towards the development of understanding, policy development and good practice in a broad range of areas. We therefore have the ability to facilitate both exploration and learning into areas of key challenge as well as promote the many positive messages that there are in relation to the faith-basis or motivation for many who are active in creating safer places for vulnerable groups. In a recent studyii of 1,170 active Christians, 50% believed that making financial donations and volunteering in activities focused on local poverty (e.g. food banks, debt relief and homelessness) was most important, 35% believed the same of activities caring for the vulnerable (e.g. elderly, mental health and disabilities) and 19% believed activities supporting children’s rights (e.g. child labour, sexual exploitation, neglect and violence) were most important. These findings show a significant commitment towards issues of social justice and inequality, within which issues of safeguarding are often embedded. It is extremely encouraging to see this appetite for action. I know that thirtyone:eight have been at the forefront of championing
I know that thirtyone:eight have been at the forefront of championing improved engagement and best practice for many years in this area of community life.
improved engagement and best practice for many years in this area of community life. I am also encouraged to see the emerging outcomes of work led by thirtyone:eight through the previous APPG on Safeguarding in Faith Settings (which concluded its work in 2020) following its inquiry concerning ‘Positions of Trust’ (Sexual Offences Act, 2003). The inquiry engaged with a wide range of stakeholders, including many different faith groups, professional bodies, academics and charities concerned with safeguarding in multi-faith contexts. The inquiry report was published and launched in parliament in January 2020, following which continued efforts were made to engage the Ministry of Justice in seeking a commitment to changing the existing laws to improve safeguards to young people in faith settings through revised ‘Positions of Trust’ arrangements. Alongside others such as the NSPCC, it is good to see that these issues are being taken forward through the Police, Crime & Sentencing Bill currently making its way through parliament towards the statute books. Without the excellent work of the APPG and the many individuals and organisations that participated in their work, it is likely that this progress would not have been seen.
In recent weeks, my Co-Chair and I have been working with thirtyone:eight and others to consider the most appropriate areas of focus for the new group moving forward into 2022 and beyond. At its recent meeting held in November 2021, it was decided that a longstanding area of concern for many was still in real need of attention and positive change. This is in relation to the interaction and engagement between faith communities and statutory agencies concerned with safeguarding vulnerable groups. Many different studies, commentaries and reviews have pointed towards the difficulties experienced within both faith communities and statutory agencies who need to work together to safeguard children and adults. The APPG is now committed to focusing on this and being a part of wider collaborative efforts to explore the issues and identify potential solutions to the problems often faced within these relationships. Engaging in public life in this way is an important activity for Christians and groups of other faiths. If we do not offer our voice in constructive ways to the development of policy, legislation and broader thinking on matters that affect faith in society, we will have missed a great opportunity to be a part of affecting change that represents the interests, challenges and needs of our distinct communities. It is an honour and privilege to be a part of this and I look forward to being able to update you on our work again in the future.
Janet Daby MP
Janet Daby is the Labour MP for Lewisham East in London, where she has lived for over 22 years. She is a social worker by profession and is also a Christian. She is the Founding Director of The Whitefoot and Downham Community Food Plus Project, an organisation which combats food poverty and isolation, helps over 50 local people each week, and which received a national award in recognition for its work.
Janet has a record of successful local campaigning, including working with parents to save nursery services as well as establishing a local Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy and working with Community Safety Partners to prevent and reduce crime.]
i Data from the register of charities in England and Wales. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search ii ‘The UK Church in Action: Perceptions of social justice and mission in a changing world’ Barna Global, London, 2018
thirtyoneeight.org
One Church One day One message: Protecting vulnerable people. Together.
Join thousands of churches across the country this November who together, will be raising awareness of what the Church is doing to make it a safer place for everyone.
• Explore together what safer places look like • Celebrate the things your church is doing to make it safer • Thank those working behind the scenes to make it happen • Show your local community that you take safeguarding seriously
To register and find out more go to thirtyoneeight.org/safeguardingsunday or scan the QR code here
Join the conversation Safeguarding Sunday 2022
