Safeguarding and disclosure
This page outlines current meeting safety policy and the procedures to follow should a disclosure occur.
The policies on safeguarding children and young people and the management of disclosure of abuse or harm are currently expressed in four places:
Basic policy and guidance is to be found in the document Meeting Safety 2011.
Meeting Safety guidance is further developed and expressed in the document, Guidance for Churches published by the Churches Child Protection Advisory Service. This document has been recommended to all Meetings as the basis for their policies and practice. It also applies to the centrally managed children and young people’s work.
Britain Yearly Meeting Trustees have approved and adopted a Yearly Meeting policy as it applies to their role in overseeing Safeguarding within Britain Yearly Meeting and to the governing principles and practice for Britain Yearly Meeting as a whole. This was drafted for them by the staff Safeguarding Team.
The staff Safeguarding Team is in the process of drafting, for Yearly Meeting Trustee approval and adoption, an extension of the primary policy document. This will give detailed guidance on responding to the disclosure of abuse or harm by children, young people and vulnerable adults. This will be substantially based on the existing Children and Young People’s Staff Team Disclosure folder. This existing guidance remains in place for 2011. It is intended for the Trustee approved and adopted guidance to be in place for 2012.
All of these policies, procedures and guidance can be adapted for use in other settings.
If you are using these for another event, such as a link group or regional Quaker event you should ensure that you meet the requirements of insurers, venues and your own organisation.
