GUIDELINE 1
Committed Church leadership and culture
Safeguarding children and adults is embedded in the church’s leadership, governance, and culture.
Criteria
INDICATORS
1.1.The church authority publicly commits to safeguarding, with a zero-tolerance stance towards abuse.
1.1.1. The church’s Safeguarding Policy is formally approved and endorsed by the church authority.
1.1.2. The church’s Safeguarding Commitment Statement is publicly available and is widely disseminated.
1.1.3. The church authority and church leaders promote and monitor their safeguarding culture, emphasizing universal responsibility.
1.2. The church body’s governance structures are clear, transparent, and effective.
1.2.1. Clear and transparent governance structures are in place with defined roles and responsibilities for safeguarding accountability.
1.2.2. The church authority establishes a Safeguarding Committee at the leadership level to oversee the effective implementation of safeguarding practices, policies, and procedures.
1.2.3. The church authority appoints a safeguarding coordinator (s) with specific safeguarding roles and responsibilities.
1.3. The church body upholds a defined Code of Conduct, outlining behavioral expectations for Church personnel.
1.3.1. The Code of Conduct applies to all church personnel and provides guidance on appropriate and expected standards of behavior.
1.3.2. The Code of Conduct is written in accessible language and made publicly available to all.
1.3.3. The Code of Conduct addresses the needs of diverse and vulnerable groups and outlines how power imbalances can occur in ministries.
1.4. The church body implements a risk management strategy across its ministries.
1.4.1. There is a comprehensive safeguarding risk management plan across the church body’s ministries.
1.4.2. Regular risk assessments and updates to the risk management strategy are undertaken.
1.5. The church authority informs communities while respecting privacy, data protection and maintains thorough records.
1.5.1. Record keeping and Information sharing is governed by legal requirements, canon law, respect for privacy, and best-practice procedures.
1.5.2. Information sharing and record-keeping policies and procedures are documented and communicated to personnel.
1.5.3. There are clear communication strategies to inform communities about past abuses and ongoing support.
1.6. The church authority ensures open and transparent communications relating to safeguarding.
1.6.1. The church authority is responsible for ensuring all safeguarding communications, both internal and external, are executed with clarity, transparency, and inclusivity, addressing all requirements as specified throughout the UGF. This encompasses a comprehensive approach to safeguarding information dissemination across the entire church body.