4D.5-4D.7: Risk assessment and management

Requirements

4D.5 Where information is identified that indicates other individuals who were linked to the respondent and who continue to be Church Officers may present safeguarding risks, those risks must be managed in line with this Code.

4D.6 Where a case involves multiple complainants, respondents or Church Bodies, or where a case presents specific complexities, the Safeguarding Officer must decide whether a Safeguarding Case Management Group (SCMG) needs to be established. Any SCMG established must run in line with the requirements outlined in Section 3 of this Code.

4D.7 After the closure of a case, the Safeguarding Officer and, where one has been established, the SCMG, must undertake a reflective practice exercise, and must consider if a recommendation to undertake a Safeguarding Practice Review should be made to the DSAP (or an equivalent committee).

Guidance 

Establishing if there are any associated risks with a particular situation is not about the risk associated with the deceased person, but any resulting risks that remain. These might be:

  • if the allegation is that a crime might have been committed (even if the crime is alleged to have happened many years ago) or that a child, young person or vulnerable adult might be at risk of harm, then relevant statutory services need to be informed;
  • if the deceased person might have had connections with other individuals who continue to be connected to the Church Body and may pose a risk to vulnerable individuals (for instance, if there is the possibility that a different Church Officer or a group of Church Officers covered up or failed to act to stop abuse from taking place);
  • safeguarding risks may be identified in relation to the complainant and the respondent’s family;
  • other potential victims who may come forward as a result of publicity might be part of the respective Church community or Church Body, and may require support;
  • if the processes put in place to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable adults have failed, their effectiveness will need to be reviewed and improved.