The Diocese have published new guidelines for the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults, called Safe Haven.

Safe Haven is an essential document for all clergy, Readers, Licenced Lay Workers and Named Persons.  It replaces the guidelines in the previous green booklet, ‘The Protection of Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults.’  Please read it carefully.  Whilst the guidelines for the protection of under 18s are essentially unchanged, those for the protection of vulnerable adults have undergone significant alteration.

Others who should have access to a copy include PCC Secretaries, youth and children’s leaders, pastoral visiting teams and similar post holders.  To aid implementation, much work has been done to make the necessary procedures as similar as possible to those already established for child protection.

As well as having been sent out by post, the guidelines and resources it includes can be freely downloaded below.

Safe Haven (full version) (PDF)    Children & Young People pages only (PDF)

The files below are contained within the above PDF's:

• Sample Child Protection Policy (PDF / Word) - this may be used as it is or PCCs may wish to make additional commitments or comments on their policy
  
  
• Sample volunteers agreement (PDF / Word) - recommended for use with new volunteers
  
  
• Parental Consent Form (PDF / Word)
  
  
• Confidential Declaration Form (PDF / Word) - required to be completed every 3 years by everyone working with children or young people
  
  
• Sample Letter to Inform Ofsted (PDF / Word)
  

To request a printed copy, please contact Tricia Elson at the Youth & Children's Office.