A new safeguarding policy and resources have been launched to ensure that all people feel safe and protected in our faith environments.
- Safeguarding introduction and Update Video (see below)
The website has links to important information, 0800 telephone numbers for support for existing or historical concerns around abuse, as well as a variety of posters that can be displayed in church premises.
The Diocesan Office has sent out copies of posters and the policy document to all faith communities, please do feel free to contact us if you do not have access to a photocopier and need more.
The Rev'd John Graveston, one of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisors says:
This represents a significant shift in our Diocese to actively making sure all people - but especially those who are more vulnerable - are safe in our faith communities. We have tried to ensure that the right resources and information are available for vestries/chapter/local church committees and all members of faith communities, to be able to keep others safe and to know where they can go if there is something that needs to be dealt with sensitively.
Bishop Steve has also written the following letter as part of the launch of these resources.
Dear Clergy, Wardens and People of Faith
I greet you in the name of the Risen Lord.
Over the last year the Diocese of Dunedin, led by the Rev’d John Graveston (Child, Youth and Family Educator), has been doing a systematic review of the Child Protection Policy, Guidelines and Procedures that the Diocese of Dunedin implemented in 2018. During this review, it became clear that the policy need updating and modernising to ensure that it was providing the best structure for the care of our most vulnerable people.
We are excited to announce that this work has been completed and that on the 5th of April 2022 The Diocesan Council of the Diocese of Dunedin passed the following resolution:
Motion 8.5: Recognising that this must be a living document, that we implement the Safeguarding Policy Guidelines and Procedures and review it in six months’ time (September-October 2022). That Rev’d John Graveston and Mr Andrew Metcalfe (deputy) are confirmed as the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisors.
If you are familiar with our previous policy, you will notice a number of changes. We will highlight the biggest changes here but encourage you to read the whole document to fully understand the policy, guidelines, and procedures. The notable changes are as follow:
Policy
- The Policy has been re-written to include all vulnerable people in its mandate, hence the change of name from Child Protection to Safeguarding.
- The Policy has been reformatted to be as user friendly as possible while still maintaining the required information.
- The Definitions of Abuse have been expanded.
Guidelines and Procedures
- Clearer description of Parish/ Ministry Unit/ Cathedral Safeguarding Responsibilities and of the Ministry Unity Safeguarding Officer role (previously called Safety Coordinator).
- Clearer description of the Diocesan Responsibilities and the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor/s role.
- The creation of an annual safeguarding audit to be completed by each Ministry Unit.
- Expanded who is required to complete a safety check and who is to undergo what training.
- Clear guidance around Boundary Training requirements.
- A new guideline on Responding to every Safeguarding Concern or Allegation including a quick reference guide.
- Information on Non-recent abuse and the Diocese’s support around this.
At the top of this page (and attached) is a video created by our Diocesan Safeguarding Officer that walks you through these changes.
One of the changes that will be highlighted in the video with be the creation of an annual safeguarding audit to be completed by each Ministry Unit. You will be contacted shortly by the Rev’d John Graveston who will complete these with you. This process is not designed to be critical of what you may (or may not) be doing, but to help all of our Ministry Units work towards being the safest places they can be.
Our work on Safeguarding is ongoing, so more resources, material and information will be released in due course and you will be made aware of these when they come out.
If you have any questions, please contact the Rev’d John Graveston, Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor.
