Each
of us has a right to be physically, emotionally and socially safe –
no matter what
our age or disability.
We
should be safe from abuse of any sort (verbal, physical, sexual,
financial, for example). And safe too from hurting ourselves by
ensuring that the building is physically safe.
And
if we are hurt or abused – of if we think someone else is – we
need to know who
to speak to and what we can expect when we do.
Making
it real
Safeguarding
means much more than just agreeing a policy at a meeting.
In
the course of the following year we will look at each aspect of the
church's life to see
what changes need to be made to make St Hilda's a safer place.
To
do this we will have to work in a
more formal way than we have been used to doing.
In
particular we will need to:-
be clear about who exactly is authorised by the PCC to do what work.
-
be clear about what each task and role involves – and to write it down.
-
know what to do if any abuse is alleged, or suspected, or disclosed.
-
ensure every relevant person has had a DBS check (what was CRB).
-
provide timely and relevant training and support.
-
record decisions, actions and relevant events more regularly and systematically.
It
won't be the same
St
Hilda's has a number of things already in place for safeguarding –
not least the care
with which DBS checks are undertaken and administered.
But
there is more to do. Inevitably Safeguarding will mean doing things
more formally,
with more paperwork, processes and procedures. Things will be
different but there is no way round it.
And
I personally will regret this change. But I also know from experience that
informality and
mutual trust can hide abuse and abusers and this must never be
allowed.
Paul Bagshaw
