CofE Diocesan safeguarding policy - help!

[VeggieParishLunch]

I need a good sex-realist policy for my diocese to protect women and children.
Does anyone have one they could share?

I'm hoping that our new archbishop, the Cass review and SC judgement will help move the Church of England onto a safer course.

Why?

Come up with a good safeguarding policy and it protect all.

I would go to sex matters site as lots of resources there on safeguarding for women and children that ensures that men portraying themselves as women are accepted in an appropriate manner, that does not include treating them as if they are biological women.

@ScaryM0nster post and username says all really lol

No men in women’s spaces and no women in men’s spaces would be a good start.

Thanks Bannedontherun, I thought I'd see if anyone had already done it first, but that's definitely a good idea.

I strongly suspect that most parishes that are inclusive are also very ‘be kind’ and therefore just haven’t considered the
safeguarding angle of keeping same sex spaces protected. The law is the law so this shouldn’t even be a thing but I wonder if it is worth trying to find a diocese that does have a suitable policy. I don’t think my diocese has one but I will double check.

I note the C of E website safeguarding section has a lot of links and resources but its just that, a lot of stuff, rather than setting out a coherent approach. When I saw Justin Welby interviewed after his resignation I could see all to clearly that he really didn't 'get ' safeguarding. I would look elsewhere for guidance OP.

You could also check Transgender Trend and Safer Schools Alliance - I think they both have resources on safeguarding. They will be aimed at schools, but I expect can be adapted.

It would be good if you could - the safeguarding leadership training in my diocese used ‘gender’ and the Social GGRRAAACCEEESSS concept, but didn’t go into what they meant by gender. (The idea that a 15 letter acronym might be rather less than inclusive to those of us with dyslexia didn’t occur to them.)

I would include the need to comply with H&S, Building Regs as part of creating a safe environment within our churches. And the law as set out in the Supreme Court judgement. Safeguarding includes a safe environment.

It’s just a complete non issue for most parishes. I’m a safeguarding officer and we have no programmes or facilities where safety is going to be compromised if someone appears who is trans - toilets are marked men, women and disabled but are self contained to corridor, no youth programmes, no overnight accommodation and the toddlers are more likely to be identifying as dogs or Spider-Man!

for parishes with potential issues they can add specific clauses but no point on the standard one used by the majority of- we have an average age of 7O+!

Are you letting your toddlers use the toilets unsupervised?

Because if not, you need a policy about who accompanies them.

What?

You need to have a policy about who accompanies them.

If they’re only there with their parents, this might not occur to you - but you still need to have a policy that states they are only to be taken to the toilet by a parent or carer. If the church has a toddler play group, or the kids are taken out during the main service for their own group, you need to ensure that any volunteers who may have to take them to the toilet or do an emergency toileting are extended DBS checked.

If any baby or toddler group hires your church facility, you need to make sure the requirements for parent/carer/Extended DBS are in writing and that their safeguarding policies are on file.

Thanks so much - lots of helpful ideas.

I'm sure this is necessary for some of the churches in our diocese, which can be quite big with youth clubs/trips and choirs that go on trips.

And even smaller churches need this as pointed out by @Anactor about any child going to the loo on church premises. Thanks also for suggesting Transgender Trend and SSA.

Hirers of the church also need to sign to confirm they will follow the church's safeguarding policy - we often have children and young people among the hirers. Aswell as vulnerable adults of course.

Wouldn't have helped in the shameful litany of cases of abuse that plague this Middle Eastern religion (all varieties of the cult)

Have a look at what the RC church have done. They are not perfect by any means. But are more ahead in terms of safeguarding than the C of E are.

Another resource you may find helpful is the scout association and guide association materials.

They are both organisations that have young people and adults mixing, and safeguarding needed for both children and vulnerable adults.

Both Scouts and Guides are captured, so not sex-realist.

My large CofE church has comprehensive policies including around toilets: specifying which toilets children use and when and supervised by whom. Any church that runs any activity with children will have a relevant risk assessment that will cover things like toileting and intimate care. And all trips away will be risk assessed.

That’s not to say that there may well be individual churches and organisations that have been stonewalled and might need to update their procedures to ensure compatibility with the actual law around single sex spaces, but it’s not the case that any CofE church in the land will be unaware of the need to risk assess and manage safeguarding of children. In fact it’s one of very few things vicars can actually be sacked for -
not following safeguarding policy - and all clergy and laity in positions of authority have safeguarding training as well as DBS checks (enhanced for anyone who qualifies legally for that, which includes all clergy and anyone working regularly or closely with children). And I’ve not known the trans thing be an issue in any church I’ve been part of. Yet.

Thank you for doing this OP. My diocese sent a safeguarding letter warning about something transition related, but had totally misunderstood the warning they’d received. Training is needed.

I’d suggest referencing the controversy around gender. It’s obvious to us, but the wider world still hasn’t noticed and doesn’t see the downside of BeKind. So make them aware that in addition to education the congregation to be kind to anyone that turns up dressed in a non conforming way, there will be people in the congregation that fully thought through and legally protected objections to being forced to use wrong pronouns etc.

So, actual policy on how we welcome transgender people into the church- respectful of their needs and those of other people. That may be diversity rather than safeguarding.

Safeguarding young people- gender non conformity is healthy, not a sign of being gay or the opposite sex. (No Transhausens, thank you.) No need to overtly socially transition a child- use a nickname, fine.

Also, might be worth a look at the children of transitioners website. They have some stuff about safeguarding children when a parent transitions.

Make clear you are looking at the safety of a transitioning child, transitioning parent, and the spouse of the transitioner.

It’s not about all the other children being at risk from a transitioned man- the usual procedures will cover that. Safeguarding applies to everyone, male/female/trans.

I'm a CofE member and I thought our policy was standard. For us it means no adults alone with children unless DBS checked. So the DBS checked Sunday School teacher yes, but the man who rings the bell for communion no, so when my son wants to help one of us goes with him.
I'm not sure on their policies on a DBS checked adult being alone with a child though, I assume it's the same as Scouting but I guess I should check!

It doesn't if it thinks TWAW - it will massively negatively impact the safety of women and children.