Requirements
Referrals
1.1.8 For all safeguarding allegations, the Safeguarding Officer must:
- consider whether any referrals to statutory services are needed;
- make any required referrals; and
- keep a record of their decision and rationale for referring / not referring a matter to statutory services.
1.1.9 The Safeguarding Officer must explore what information is held in respect of the respondent and, if that information could be relevant to a police or social services investigation, they must share it with the relevant authorities.
1.1.10 Church Bodies that are relevant persons must assess if an allegation constitutes a Safeguarding Serious Incident, in which case, it must be reported to the Charity Commission.
Guidance
1.1.8, 1.1.9 – Statutory Referrals
Safeguarding Officers should keep their knowledge regarding thresholds for referrals to statutory services up to date. Thresholds for social care referrals are published by individual local authorities, as part of their local safeguarding procedures for children, young people and vulnerable adults. Where a Safeguarding Officer is unsure if a referral should be made, they should seek advice from the relevant statutory service. There will also be cases where referrals need to be made to the LADO.
For guidance on making referrals to the DBS for barring, see Section 9 of the Safer Recruitment and People Management guidance. Referrals to the DBS should not only be considered towards the end of a safeguarding process, but at key points during the process and specifically when a member of clergy or ordinand is suspended or temporarily withdrawn from regulated activity.
1.1.10 - Safeguarding Serious Incident reporting to the Charity Commission
The Church has worked with the Charity Commission to agree bespoke guidance for Diocesan Boards of Finance (DBFs), PCCs, religious communities, Diocesan Boards of Education (DBEs), and cathedrals, on how to identify and report a Safeguarding Serious Incident. Church Bodies should follow this guidance when considering a potential Safeguarding Serious Incident.