SAFEGUARDING PROCEDURES - See document for full details.

What to do in the event of a disclosure or allegation

Keep calm and listen carefully.

Tell the child/person you will need to let someone else know – Do not promise confidentiality.

Reassure the child/person.

Show acceptance of what the child /person discloses (however unlikely the story may sound).

If the child/person decides not to tell you after all, then accept that and let them know that you are always ready to listen. Do not push for information if they are reluctant to share. It is the responsibility of the appropriate authorities to investigate the disclosure. Safeguarding Coordinators may have to follow different advice depending on the situation.

Let the child/person know what you are going to do next and that you will let them know what happens. You will need to let the Safeguarding Coordinator know of the allegations unless they are implicated.

Consider your own feelings and seek pastoral support if needed.

Make handwritten notes in pen detailing what has been said as soon as possible (ideally within an hour) using the person’s own words to describe the abuse. Remember to sign and date this record.

See Appendix B: Safeguarding Incident Recording Form and further guidance notes.

Follow up Action

After disclosing the abuse the person often feels relieved but also vulnerable and anxious about what will happen next. They should be reassured and, if at all possible, not left alone.

It is important to remember that what has been shared is in confidence and should only be shared on a need-to-know basis.

In any of the above situations the Safeguarding Coordinator in consultation with the church leadership, if appropriate, will make a decision on what action to take.

If the suspicions in any way implicate both the Coordinator and the Deputy Coordinator, then the report should be made in the first instance to the relevant child or adult social services or thirtyone:eight.

A referral may be made to the police or social services and the first person told may have to make a statement to the police. The notes made at the time may form part of this and that is why it is so important to use the actual words used to describe the abuse.

Helpful things to say (as a Worker)

I believe you

Thank you for telling me

It’s not your fault

I will help you

Things to avoid saying (as a Worker)

Why didn’t you tell anyone before?

I can’t believe it

Are you sure this is true?

Why? When? How? Who? Where?

Never make false promises

Never make statements like: “I am shocked. Don’t tell anyone else.”