St Bartholomew’s Catholic Church - Safeguarding Policy - February 2018
The key principle of the Diocese is to promote ‘A Safe Church’ enabling children to contribute to their community and ensuring that they are protected from harm or potential harm. There is an expectation that the parish is a nurturing and welcoming environment for children to thrive in. In respect of vulnerable adults, the aim is to enable these individuals to be able to play an active part in their church community, create a welcoming environment and ensure that they are protected from harm or potential harm. The Diocese is also keen to ensure that individuals are protected in all relationships and not subject to domestic abuse. If there are historical concerns that individuals have that allude to harm, this is also an area that the church are keen to offer parishioners support. More information from the Diocese can be obtained from HERE.
Safeguarding is a community responsibility and requires us all to be vigilant and responsible for taking action, where there are concerns regarding the welfare of those who are vulnerable in our church. It is important that where there are concerns individuals take action by speaking with someone about these concerns, no matter how small they may seem. If individuals are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm, then there are a number of options available to speak with someone. You can also raise your concerns with Father Deo or Deacon Ged. You can also contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser on 020 7939 9423 (office hours), 07982 279713 (out of hours). If there are immediate concerns about the safety of someone, then contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services.
We are a fortunate parish, in that there are a number of volunteers willing to give their skills, experience and time to assist with the numerous groups that take place. Our safeguarding leads are keen for this practice to continue. It is important that all prospective volunteers are deemed appropriate to undertake the role they wish to assist with, before doing so. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) formerly known as the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is the safeguarding process the Diocese uses for all regulated activity within the parish, to ensure the safeguarding of vulnerable groups, including children and vulnerable adults.
Any individual wishing to undertake a volunteer role within the church must undertake a DBS process with the Diocese. Oftentimes prospective volunteers have an existing enhanced DBS from their current place of work and maybe under the misapprehension that this will suffice. A paper DBS is not portable and therefore cannot be used by the parish, as evidence that an individual is deemed fit for the role they wish to be part of. Where individuals have an online DBS account, then the Diocese as a registered organisation can be given permission to access the account to ensure that a satisfactory enhanced level is in place. Individuals with an online DBS account will still need to complete a safeguarding declaration form and follow through with the necessary ID verification process.
There is a complicating factor in that the online DBS may not meet the required needs of the volunteer role within the parish. As a general rule of thumb, the Diocese request that the Diocesan DBS process is completed to mitigate against this complication and cause unnecessary delay. So essentially, undertaking the DBS process again.
To begin the DBS process you will need to obtain an application pack, from the parish office during office hours. You can contact us to arrange to pick one up outside of these times, if this is a challenge. Within the pack is an application form, two reference request forms (you must get your referees to complete this), an ID verification and safeguarding declaration form. Completing these forms does not mean that the DBS process has been completed. Once the application form and two references have been completed, we can then contact the Diocese for the actual DBS form or if you have an email account a DBS link can be sent to you. The DBS form is posted to me and we will then contact the individual to arrange a time for them to complete it and bring original documents to be photocopied as required to verify ID. If you have completed the DBS link online, you will need to contact me when you have finished it. Again, we will make a time to meet with to verify your ID and take copies of your original documents. Your ID verification form, photocopy of documents and safeguarding form are all sent to the Diocese. A satisfactory enhanced level check is required in order to undertake the role you wish to assist with.
Facilitators of groups and prospective volunteers, please contact the parish directly to seek advice and guidance before engaging in any activity. It is imperative that we follow through with the expectations of the Diocese to ensure the safety of all.
Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Teresa Furtado 07933 614589.
Safeguarding is a community responsibility and requires us all to be vigilant and responsible for taking action, where there are concerns regarding the welfare of those who are vulnerable in our church. It is important that where there are concerns individuals take action by speaking with someone about these concerns, no matter how small they may seem. If individuals are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm, then there are a number of options available to speak with someone. You can also raise your concerns with Father Deo or Deacon Ged. You can also contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser on 020 7939 9423 (office hours), 07982 279713 (out of hours). If there are immediate concerns about the safety of someone, then contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services.
We are a fortunate parish, in that there are a number of volunteers willing to give their skills, experience and time to assist with the numerous groups that take place. Our safeguarding leads are keen for this practice to continue. It is important that all prospective volunteers are deemed appropriate to undertake the role they wish to assist with, before doing so. The Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) formerly known as the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is the safeguarding process the Diocese uses for all regulated activity within the parish, to ensure the safeguarding of vulnerable groups, including children and vulnerable adults.
Any individual wishing to undertake a volunteer role within the church must undertake a DBS process with the Diocese. Oftentimes prospective volunteers have an existing enhanced DBS from their current place of work and maybe under the misapprehension that this will suffice. A paper DBS is not portable and therefore cannot be used by the parish, as evidence that an individual is deemed fit for the role they wish to be part of. Where individuals have an online DBS account, then the Diocese as a registered organisation can be given permission to access the account to ensure that a satisfactory enhanced level is in place. Individuals with an online DBS account will still need to complete a safeguarding declaration form and follow through with the necessary ID verification process.
There is a complicating factor in that the online DBS may not meet the required needs of the volunteer role within the parish. As a general rule of thumb, the Diocese request that the Diocesan DBS process is completed to mitigate against this complication and cause unnecessary delay. So essentially, undertaking the DBS process again.
To begin the DBS process you will need to obtain an application pack, from the parish office during office hours. You can contact us to arrange to pick one up outside of these times, if this is a challenge. Within the pack is an application form, two reference request forms (you must get your referees to complete this), an ID verification and safeguarding declaration form. Completing these forms does not mean that the DBS process has been completed. Once the application form and two references have been completed, we can then contact the Diocese for the actual DBS form or if you have an email account a DBS link can be sent to you. The DBS form is posted to me and we will then contact the individual to arrange a time for them to complete it and bring original documents to be photocopied as required to verify ID. If you have completed the DBS link online, you will need to contact me when you have finished it. Again, we will make a time to meet with to verify your ID and take copies of your original documents. Your ID verification form, photocopy of documents and safeguarding form are all sent to the Diocese. A satisfactory enhanced level check is required in order to undertake the role you wish to assist with.
Facilitators of groups and prospective volunteers, please contact the parish directly to seek advice and guidance before engaging in any activity. It is imperative that we follow through with the expectations of the Diocese to ensure the safety of all.
Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Teresa Furtado 07933 614589.
