Requirements
Escalation
3.13 If any SCMG member is of the view that the Group, or members in the Group, are acting in a way that does not manage risk effectively, this must be escalated to the DSAP Chair, the Chair of an equivalent body (e.g. Cathedral) , or where alternative local arrangements are already in place, these should be followed. For the NST, this must be escalated to the DSAP Chair (or a Cathedral equivalent) of another diocese with no interest or involvement in the case.
3.14 The Chair of the DSAP, or anyone in an equivalent role, must:
- review the information brought to them by the respective SCMG member and request any other relevant information from the Group, as needed;
- check that the procedures within this Code have been followed;
- check that any decisions made in an SCMG meeting were informed by evidence and were proportionate; and
- decide whether any actions or decisions need to be reconsidered by the SCMG and make recommendations on next steps.
Guidance
It is important that any individual member of an SCMG who has concerns about the Group’s ability to manage risk effectively has an avenue to raise these. Differences of opinion are inevitable, but members should not feel that they have no recourse when faced with making a decision they are uncomfortable with. Generally, disputes arising at the SCMG will be referred to the DSAP Chair (or the Cathedral equivalent), however in certain circumstances, a Church Body may commission an Independent Safeguarding Consultant on a one-off or residual basis to handle escalations or disputes. When a matter is escalated to the DSAP Chair, or whoever is performing the equivalent role, they will not reverse any decisions made by the SCMG, the Safeguarding Officer, or any actions undertaken by them. However, they will make a set of recommendations to the SCMG, which may include a recommendation to revisit a decision and / or gather further information. Should the SCMG decide not to act on the advice of the DSAP chair, the reasons for doing so must be given in writing to the RSL.
For the NST, escalation will be to a DSAP Chair (or Cathedral equivalent) from another diocese that has no interest or involvement in the case.
As the SCMG is a forum for assessing and managing risk, complainants, respondents and their representatives cannot appeal decisions made by the SCMG. However, if they are of the view that the requirements outlined in this Code are not appropriately met and want to challenge this, they can follow the complaints procedure in the relevant Church Body.