Requirements
Risk assessments
4C.2 Where a risk assessment has been carried out in respect of the respondent by statutory services, the Safeguarding Officer must seek to gain a copy of that assessment. Where such a risk assessment is not suitable for the management of risk within the Church context, the Safeguarding Officer must carry out a separate risk assessment.
4C.3 The risk assessment carried out by the Safeguarding Officer must focus on assessing any specific risks in the Church context, and not the general level of risk as assessed by statutory services.
4C.4 When carrying out a risk assessment, the Safeguarding Officer must use the approved forms provided by the National Safeguarding Team.
4C.5 The Safeguarding Officer must provide the subject of the risk assessment with the opportunity to comment on the draft risk assessment report for accuracy of facts and must share the final report with that person. Where a report contains references to third parties, the Safeguarding Officer must consider sharing a redacted version of the report, having taken the necessary data protection advice.
4C.6 The Safeguarding Officer must include in the risk assessment report a set of actions focused on the effective management of any risks identified, which should inform the Church Safety Plan.
Guidance
Risk assessments play an important role in making Church communities safe for all those who participate in them. If a risk assessment regarding a person who poses safeguarding risks has not been provided by statutory services or if the information within a risk assessment is not sufficient for the management of risk in the Church context, the Safeguarding Officer will carry out their own assessment. It is essential, however, that the Safeguarding Officer maintains contact with the relevant statutory services (e.g. the police, probation) throughout and involves them in the risk assessment process.
The purpose of a risk assessment is to assess, or to contribute to the assessment of risk of harm to children, young people or vulnerable adults, that may be presented by an individual. Such risks are considered within the context of that person being a member of a Church community and considering the ability of a Church community to manage such risks.
Each assessment helps to achieve the following:
- the identification and evaluation of risks of harm to children, young people or vulnerable adults, in terms of their likelihood and impact;
- how risks may be addressed or managed, and what safety would look like for individual children, young people or vulnerable adults;
- a shared understanding and common approach by those with safeguarding responsibilities to the management and reduction of risk; and
- a plan which seeks to ensure the safety of children, young people or vulnerable adults, and to address the safety of the person who presents a risk.
The Church’s approach to risk assessment is underpinned by the following principles:
- a commitment to a just, fair and proportionate process;
- a non-discriminatory approach to risk assessment and risk management;
- an approach to risk assessment which is evidence-led and objective; and
- communicating well and including respondents in the process, which is done with their involvement, rather than to them.
Additional guidelines on the Church’s approach to risk assessment can be found on the Safeguarding Learning Portal.
The Safeguarding Officer must use the National Safeguarding Teams approved templates when carrying out a risk assessment and preparing a risk assessment report.
Engaging the person who may pose a safeguarding risk in the risk assessment process
When carrying out a risk assessment it is good practice for the Safeguarding Officer to supply the subject of the risk assessment with a clear statement which:
- explains why the risk assessment is required;
- identifies who will be involved in the assessment;
- explains how the assessment will be carried out; and
- explains that a copy of the final risk assessment report will be provided to them and may also be shared with others for the purposes of managing the identified risk.