New Bishop of Whitby - The Diocese of York

Safeguarding and Safer Recruitment -
Autumn 2012 update
Making sure that children, young
people and vulnerable adults are safe
within the life of the Church is a key
priority. The honour and value that
is given to all people — including
those who are in any sense
vulnerable — reflects faith in God
who loves and values everyone he has
made. At the same time, we need
practical common-sense ways of
working, and we are required to
operate within the terms of the law
Earlier this year, the Protection of
Freedoms Act was passed. Among
other things, it re-defines the kinds
of work for which people may be
CRB checked. The Church’s national
advisers are in discussion with
Government in order to settle some
points where it is not entirely clear
how the law will be applied in detail:
so they have issued some interim
guidance, for use until the final
guidelines are issued, probably in
2013.
Whether someone needs a CRB
disclosure depends on the work they
are doing. It does not depend on
their status, or on whether they are
paid or volunteer workers.
The general principles in the
diocesan policy on Safer Recruitment
still apply, and you are encouraged to
refer to them.
All candidates for public ministry,
serving clergy and Readers, and other
recognised lay ministers must still
have a current CRB disclosure issued
through the Archbishop’s office.
As for other people involved in the
Church’s work, the Government uses
comparison with the level of contact
between children and a shopkeeper
as a yardstick — if an adult has a role
that involves more significant
contact than that with children, and
if (s)he is not within sight of a
supervisor at all times, then an
enhanced CRB is likely to be
appropriate. That would include
youth and family workers, and those
who teach and train children (e.g.,
where applicable, bell ringing
instructors, head servers and
musicians). Leaders of parent and
toddler groups only require a
disclosure if the children are cared
for away from their parents at any
stage.
There are some circumstances in
which a CRB disclosure issued by
another organisation may be
accepted by the Church (so-called
portability) — but only if a set of
conditions is fully met. It is not
enough for someone simply to
produce a CRB disclosure document.
See Section 6 of the national
guidance.
For more on these interim
guidelines, visit
www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/your-
church/safeguarding/autumn-2012-
update.
Please ask your archdeacon or the
CRB unit at Bishopthorpe if you have
any queries or concerns about
Safeguarding issues and procedures.
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