Safe & Sound

Safeguarding Service

The Safeguarding Coordinator and the Safeguarding Adviser are responsible for the planning and monitoring of all aspects of vulnerable groups work within the Diocese, with the exception of schools.  This involves responding to any allegations past or present, of inappropriate behaviour or actual abuse of children or vulnerable adults by any person working for the Diocese, either paid or voluntary, and liaising with the police and social services.  It also involves promoting and implementing the National Policies for Child Protection or the Protection of Vulnerable Adults which have been adopted by the Diocese.

Diocese contacts for Safeguarding

Mgr Canon Harry Turner,  

Safeguarding Co-ordinator, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Harpenden                                 

Tel: 01582 712245                  Mobile: 07814 879 129         

Peter Turner, Safeguarding Advisor, Vaughan House

Tel: 020 7798 9350                 Mobile: 07803 634 236

Caroline Keogh, Assistant to Safeguarding Advisor                                                              

Tel: 020 7798 9356                                                                

All CRB queries contact Paula Brown in Safeguarding Office

Tel: 020 7798 9359

Parish Safeguarding Representatives

June Lusted  

Catherine MacGillivray

CRB Forms  -  Forms of identification

 Group 1 documents:                                                                        

 Passport, driving license issued in the UK, birth certificate issued in the UK, EU national identity card                                                      

Group 2 documents:

Marriage certificate, current utility bill (evidence of address), bank/benefit statement etc

NB

Complete in black pen & block capitals and all referees should live in the UK

Roles that need CRB checks

Clergy & religious , Seminarians

Adult altar servers, Sacristans

Children liturgy helpers, Catechists

Eucharistic Ministers, Parent & Toddler group volunteers

Pastoral assistants, SVP members

Transport-drivers/helpers (ambulance)                                

NB Not an exhaustive list -anyone whose role involves working with children & vulnerable adults.

New Developments

Vetting & Barring Scheme (VBS) – effective start date for this will be July 2010. All new people in roles working with vulnerable groups will be able to register with the Vetting & Barring Scheme and will be checked by the Independent Safeguarding Authority. All existing & new volunteers prior to July 2010 will have been CRB checked & will be able to continue in their role until notified that it is time to register with the Vetting & Barring Scheme.

The benefit of the VBS is that various lists kept by different government departments will be joined as of October 2009 and only 2 lists will exist – one containing details of persons barred from working with children and one of people barred from working with adults and both will be centrally managed by the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

Tips for parents when dealing with internet use by children

1 be aware of the internet filtering software and child friendly search engines.

2 use your pc’s browser controls as some offer different degrees of security for each family member.

3 check out what child protection services your internet provider offers.

4 keep computer in communal area of the home if possible where it’s easier to monitor what your children are viewing.

5 tell children not to give out their personal details if they want to subscribe to any services on line. Make up a family email address to receive mail.

6 make sure children only use moderated chat rooms & encourage them to introduce you to their on line friends.

7 encourage your children to tell you if they feel uncomfortable, upset or threatened by anything they see on line.

8 involve your children in writing your own family code of acceptable internet use.

9 the web is a great resource for homework but use more than one site for research, cross reference, for more balanced information.

10 surf together! – go online with children and become part of their on line life.