Lesley and Alan recently undertook some safeguarding training, and were reminded that the reason that the church sometimes does things differently is because most organisations can safeguard by exclusion – if they think that someone might be a risk they exclude them. The church is inclusive and welcomes all. However, the impact of this is that we need different procedures to other organisations.
The training was about Safer Recruitment, and one of the facts we were given was that other voluntary groups are getting better at this, and if the church doesn’t also do so we will become the most likely place for malevolent people to seek to infiltrate their way in.
All people helping with church activities which involve children or vulnerable adults should be “safely recruited”. We have a large number of people who have taken on roles over many years without this. It is within the PCCs authority to accept all those currently in role and implement this for those going forwards.
Safe recruitment says that for those roles which involve children or vulnerable adults:
A role description should be written;
The role should be advertised (not essential for volunteer roles);
An interview (which could be an informal chat for volunteer roles);
References should be taken;
There should be an ongoing oversight role;
A confidential declaration should be completed;
A review should determine whether a DBS is required.
If you would like to know more, please contact Alan.
Picture by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
The Parish of Badshot Lea and Hale 