Safeguarding Best Practice 14/08/2015© Safeguarding Office 2006 Keeping Our Children Safe Child Protection in the Church of Scotland WELCOME

SafeguardingBest Practice

19/04/23© Safeguarding Office 2006

Keeping Our Children Safe

Child Protectionin the Church of Scotland

WELCOME


© Safeguarding Office 2006 19/04/23

Policy StatementThe Church of Scotland has a deepconcern for the wholeness and well

beingof each individual. It seeks to safeguardThe welfare of all people, regardless ofage, who come into contact with theChurch and its organisations. It is theresponsibility of each individual withinthe fellowship of the Church to preventthe physical, sexual or emotional abuseof children and young people.



Biblical Basis

o Mark 9.30-37

o Mark 10.13-16

o Old Testament:• Samuel• Joseph• David



The Safeguarding The Safeguarding OfficeOffice

Who are we?Who are we?

&&

What do we do?What do we do?




o The Safeguarding Office wasThe Safeguarding Office was established in August 2005 and is established in August 2005 and is aa Central Services function.Central Services function.

o It evolved from the Child It evolved from the Child ProtectionProtection Unit which was part of the Board Unit which was part of the Board ofof Parish education from 1997Parish education from 1997



o There are eight members of theThere are eight members of the

Safeguarding Team Safeguarding Team

o There are 50 CP Presbytery There are 50 CP Presbytery Contacts Contacts

o There are 57 CP TrainersThere are 57 CP Trainers

andand

o Approx 1,800 Child ProtectionApprox 1,800 Child Protection

CoordinatorsCoordinators




What do we do?What do we do?o Continue development of the ChurchContinue development of the Church of Scotland’s policy and procedure onof Scotland’s policy and procedure on child protectionchild protection

o Coordinate a national system of safeCoordinate a national system of safe recruitment of voluntary workersrecruitment of voluntary workers

o Recruit, train and support a team of volunteers to present child protection training across Scotland



What do we do?What do we do?

o Facilitate child protection training for volunteers and coordinators in congregations

o Develop, maintain and update Develop, maintain and update resources relating to child resources relating to child protectionprotection

o Provide support, advice and Provide support, advice and guidance to congregationsguidance to congregations



What do we do?

o Liaise with other church denominations, para-church bodies and other voluntary organisations

o Develop the ‘Safeguarding’ role in line with changing legislation



Safeguarding and

the Ministries Council



1998

o Training of Ministers

o First compulsory post ordination training



General Assembly 1998

Ministers must be:o conversant with policy in this areao clear about measures to be

implemented by Kirk Sessionso Clear about action to be taken in

the event of an allegation of abuseo Aware of issues for good child

protection practice in their pastoral work



2003

o General Assembly Act 15

o Disclosures for Ministers and Deacons

o Paid for by the Church

o Best practice



Others

o 2004:• Those on the enquiry process• Admission and Readmission

of

Ministers

o 2006:• Readers included in Act 15



Why do we do what

we do?



Fact 1Fact 1

There are approximately 1 There are approximately 1

million children under the million children under the

age of 16 living in Scotlandage of 16 living in Scotland



Fact 2Fact 2

Scotland has one of the highest Scotland has one of the highest

rates of relative child poverty in rates of relative child poverty in

the developed world; one third of the developed world; one third of

households are in, or on the households are in, or on the

margin of povertymargin of poverty



Fact 3Fact 3

Annually, approximately Annually, approximately

6,000 children are referred to 6,000 children are referred to

Social Work Departments in Social Work Departments in

relation to Child Protection relation to Child Protection

IssuesIssues



Fact 4Fact 4

Around 9,000 children Around 9,000 children

annually will run away annually will run away

from homefrom home



Fact 5Fact 5

1 in 7 will be physically or 1 in 7 will be physically or

sexually abusedsexually abused



Fact 6Fact 6

Around 100,000 children in Around 100,000 children in

Scotland live with domestic Scotland live with domestic

violenceviolence



Fact 7Fact 7

About 125,000 young people About 125,000 young people

experience mental health experience mental health

problems that interfere with problems that interfere with

their daily livestheir daily lives



Fact 8Fact 8

Just over 11,000 children and Just over 11,000 children and

young people are looked after young people are looked after

away from homeaway from home


19/04/23© Safeguarding Office 2006

What Informs

Legislation?



IncidentIncident

InquiryInquiry

FindingsFindings

(Inquiry Report)(Inquiry Report)



RecommendationsRecommendations

New LegislationNew Legislation

Changes in Policy & Good Changes in Policy & Good PracticePractice



o LawLaw

o PolicyPolicy

o Best (Good) PracticeBest (Good) Practice

So what is the So what is the difference between…difference between…



““The aim of the law is to set and The aim of the law is to set and

uphold the parameters within which uphold the parameters within which

people go about their lawful people go about their lawful

business.”business.”

(Answerable to the Courts)(Answerable to the Courts)

LawLaw



PolicyPolicy

““Guiding principals designed to Guiding principals designed to

influence decisions, actions etc. influence decisions, actions etc.

Typically, a policy designates a Typically, a policy designates a

required process or procedure required process or procedure

within an organisation.”within an organisation.”

(Answerable to the Organisation)(Answerable to the Organisation)



Best (Good) PracticeBest (Good) Practice

““An activity or procedure that has An activity or procedure that has

produced outstanding results in produced outstanding results in

another situation, and which could another situation, and which could

be adapted to improve be adapted to improve

effectiveness, efficiency, and/or effectiveness, efficiency, and/or

innovativeness in another innovativeness in another

situation.”situation.”



Which Incidents Which Incidents

have Informed have Informed

Child Care and Child Care and

Protection Protection

Legislation?Legislation?



1974 1974 Maria CaldwellMaria Caldwell

1985 1985 Jasmine BeckfordJasmine Beckford

1987 1987 Tyra HenryTyra Henry

1988 1988 Clevland InquiryClevland Inquiry

1992 1992 Orkney InquiryOrkney Inquiry

1996 1996 Dunblane InquiryDunblane Inquiry

2003 2003 Victoria ClimbieVictoria Climbie

2003 2003 Caleb Ness InquiryCaleb Ness Inquiry

2005 2005 Soham InquirySoham Inquiry



Dunblane InquiryDunblane Inquiry

The Dunblane Inquiry was led by The Dunblane Inquiry was led by

Lord Cullen and became more Lord Cullen and became more

commonly known as the commonly known as the Cullen Cullen

ReportReport



Soham InquirySoham Inquiry

The Inquiry into the Soham The Inquiry into the Soham

Murders (Jessica and Holly) was Murders (Jessica and Holly) was

led by Lord Bichard and his led by Lord Bichard and his

findings have become more findings have become more

commonly known as the commonly known as the Bichard Bichard

ReportReport



So lets go back to the Law So lets go back to the Law

and look at which bits of and look at which bits of

legislation have had the legislation have had the

most impact on our most impact on our

practice over the last few practice over the last few

years:years:



o The Protection of Children The Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003(Scotland) Act 2003

o The Police Act (1997)The Police Act (1997)

o Rehabilitation of Offenders Act Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974)(1974)



New Legislation

o The Protection of Vulnerable Groups (Scotland) Act 2007

o Received Royal Assent on 18th April 2007

o Not expected to be enacted until at least the Autumn of 2008



What Does The New Legislation Say?

o The Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 will be repealed and become part of the PVG(S) Act 2007

o The definition of a ‘Child Care Position’ has been expanded to include website monitors and private tutors amongst others



New Legislation

o The new legislation will introduce a new Vetting and Barring Scheme in Scotland.

o A Vetting and Barring Scheme membership will replace the current enhanced Disclosure Check



Vetting & Barring Scheme - Advantages

o A National, mandatory scheme making Disclosure information portable between organisations

o The scheme membership lasts for up to 10 years and the plan is to update information electronically

o A Central Barring Unit (CBU) will decide which individuals will be barred from the child care and AAR workforce



Issues Presently Under Consultation

o Retrospective checking

o Benchmarks for Barring

o Fees



The Future for us all?

Food for thought?



Thank You!Thank You!

Documents

Safeguarding Best Practice 14/08/2015© Safeguarding Office 2006 Keeping Our Children Safe Child Protection in the Church of Scotland WELCOME