SAFEGUARDING NEWS

SAFEGUARDING MATTERS NEWSLETTER – DECEMBER 2017

New Practice Guidance

Responding to, assessing and managing safeguarding concerns or allegations against Church Officers

This practice guidance also includes the ‘Risk assessment and management of those that may pose a known risk to children, young people or vulnerable adults within a Christian Congregation or Community’. You can read the guidance by clicking here

Key Roles and Responsibilities of Church Office Holders and Bodies Practice Guidance

This guidance was issued in October 2017 and clarifies key safeguarding roles and responsibilities for church office holders and bodies within this complex structure to support a consistent approach to safeguarding across the Whole Church.

You can read the guidance by clicking here

The 12 ways of Keeping Children Safe this Christmas

12 pieces of advice for shoppers when buying smart toys and devices for children this Christmas. The ICO wants parents to consider privacy and protection issues in the same way they would check the safety of presents they plan to give children. The advice includes securing webcams and making sure device manuals are read before the chaos of Christmas Day. You can download CCPAS free leaflet on Online safety here.

Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking and My Church

In the last newsletter, we asked if you could let us know if you had any suggestions for safeguarding topics for the newsletter. We were asked to include an article on Modern slavery and human trafficking so we have done so this time.

The Metropolitan Police estimate that over 20,000 people are trafficked into and throughout the UK every year, making it one of the most prominent destination countries for people to be trafficked to in Europe. Modern slavery can take many forms, including the trafficking of people, forced labour, servitude and slavery. We all have a duty to ensure any victims are identified and supported so that they can be freed from such cruel acts. In addition to this, Child trafficking and exploitation is child abuse and should therefore be treated as a child protection matter with the police and local authority children’s services being notified immediately and child protection procedures followed. Free e-learning online is available through your local Children’s Safeguarding Board.

Church of England Website

The national Church of England website has relaunched. If you scroll to the bottom of the page you will find the link to the safeguarding pages. There is lots of helpful information and required reading so it is well worth putting some time aside to browse the pages.

And finally, a reminder about training courses…….

C0 is required training for everyone before undertaking C1/2

C1/2 if for PCC members and Lay volunteers

C3 training is for clergy

If you have not had safeguarding training in the last three years please book onto a course to update it. All dates are on the website but we can also provide training for groups of between 14-20 people in your parish in the evening or on a Saturday morning if you have the facilities to deliver training sessions. If you want to book training in your parish please contact Julie Grimshaw on 01254 503088 or Julie.grimshaw@blackburn.anglican.org with a selection of dates and we will try our best to accommodate you.