Pauline Book Centre Safeguarding Policy for Children and Adults at Risk of Harm.

Introduction

Pauline Book Centre is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults at risk. This commitment directly relates to the fact that we are all made in the image of God and the Church's common belief in the preciousness, dignity and uniqueness of every human life. We start from the principle that each person has a right to expect the highest level of protection, love, encouragement and respect. Following on from the safeguarding reviews in 2020 we are committed to the One Church Approach to safeguarding by implementing the changes needed and ensuring we respond to victim/survivors promptly and compassionately. This policy outlines our approach to ensuring their safety and well-being in all our activities and interactions.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to provide a clear framework for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, ensuring that all sisters, staff, volunteers, and stakeholders understand their responsibilities and act accordingly.

Scope

This policy applies to all sisters, staff, volunteers, contractors, and anyone working on behalf of Pauline Book Centre.

It is the responsibility of all to prevent, whether by action or omission, abuse. Abuse in this policy refers to:  physical; sexual; emotional; spiritual; neglect; self-neglect; organisational; material; psychological; financial; domestic or verbal. Additionally, behaviour which effectively results in modern day slavery or where there is evidence of discrimination or radicalisation, needs to be recognised and addressed as a safeguarding issue.

Definitions

• Child: Any person under the age of 18. Safeguarding children means to::
  • Protect children from abuse and maltreatment
  • Prevent harm to children’s health or development
  • Ensure children grow up with the provision of safe and effective care
  • Take action to enable all children and young people to have the best outcomes
• Adult at risk: Safeguarding adults at risk means protecting their right to live in safety and free from abuse and neglect. Safeguarding duties for adults at risk apply to anyone aged 18 or over who:
  • has needs for care and support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs) and
  • is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect and
  • as a result of those care and support needs is unable to protect themselves from either the risk of, or the experience of, abuse or neglect

Core Principles

The Care Act 2014 provides the following principles for safeguarding adults:

1. Empowerment: People being supported and encouraged to make their own decisions and informed consent
2. Prevention: It is better to take action before harm occurs.
3. Proportionality: The least intrusive response appropriate to the risk presented.
4. Protection: Support and representation for those in greatest need.
5. Partnership: Local solutions through services working with their communities. Communities have a part to play in preventing, detecting and reporting neglect and abuse.
6. Accountability: Accountability and transparency in safeguarding practice.

Safeguarding Responsibilities

1. Trustees and Senior Management:
   • Ensure safeguarding policies and procedures are in place and reviewed annually.
   • Promote a culture of safeguarding within the organization.
   • Ensure all staff and volunteers receive appropriate safeguarding training.
2. Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL):

• Act as the main point of contact for safeguarding concerns. This includes direct oversight of safeguarding policy and guidance, including management and oversight of documentation, case progression/management and the secure, legally compliant storage of safeguarding reports and related material. Provide support and guidance to sisters, staff and volunteers on safeguarding issues.
• Oversight of the relationship with and input in the work of the RLSS.
• The Designated Safeguarding Lead may delegate some of this responsibility to the RLSS by referring the case to them but will remain as key contact for the case duration unless another individual is identified to assume responsibility.

3.  Sisters, Staff and Volunteers:

• Be aware of and follow the safeguarding policies and procedures.
• Attend regular safeguarding training.
• Report any concerns about the welfare of a child or vulnerable adult to the DSL.

4. General:

Everyone involved in the work of Pauline Book Centre has a duty to disclose to the Designated Safeguarding Lead any safeguarding concerns that have been raised about them.

Recognizing and Reporting Concerns

This policy must be applied in all situations where it is alleged, or there are reasonable grounds to believe, that a member of the Religious Community, lay persons, or associated volunteer or employee, has acted in one of the following ways:

• Has behaved in a way that has harmed or is likely to have caused harm to a child or a vulnerable adult. This would include any vulnerable adult irrespective of the cause of that vulnerability or whether the vulnerability is temporary or permanent.
• Has or is suspected to have committed a criminal offence against or related to a child or a vulnerable adult (including a vulnerable adult as indicated above.)
• Has behaved towards a child or vulnerable adult in a way that indicates they may pose a risk of harm to children or vulnerable adults.
• Has behaved in a way or made statements indicating that they may not be suitable to work with children or vulnerable adults.
• Has behaved in such a way that, by actions or omissions, their conduct has been intended to interfere with, prejudice, undermine or avoid a criminal, civil or canonical investigation, against any person associated with or who is a member of a contracting congregation.

The behaviours above are to be considered within the context of the different categories of abuse outlined above and further detailed guidance is specifically provided in relation to sexual offences against children, including both recent and non-recent offences, and possession and distribution of indecent images of children.

Additional guidance is provided by the CSSA in relation to the sexual and criminal exploitation of children by organised criminal networks.

Additional guidance is also provided in relation to adults disclosing abuse outside the context of the Church. If a competent adult explicitly refuses the making of a referral about abuse that occurred outside of the Church, consideration must be given to whether the accused person has access to children who may be at risk. In these circumstances, the name of the accused and details of the allegation must always be referred to the statutory authorities.  This can be done without disclosing the name of the victim/survivor where they have refused consent to do so, or where it is not possible to obtain consent.        

It is the policy of the Catholic Church in England and Wales to report to statutory authorities where a child or an adult is at immediate risk of harm, or there is concern that a child or adult is suffering or is likely to be suffering from significant harm or abuse, from somebody who does not hold a role within the Church. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Someone who is at serious risk of harm from self or others
• Someone who poses a serious risk of harm to someone else
• A concern about a child or vulnerable adult at risk of harm from someone else
• Concerns over someone’s mental capacity

Responding to Concerns

PROCEDURE

If Pauline Book Centre becomes aware of a safeguarding issue, they should contact the RLSS Safeguarding Team and pass the concern and all associated documentation immediately. You should ensure the person who made you aware of the concern knows you are doing this.

The RLSS or Designated Safeguarding Lead at Pauline Book Centre who takes the case should:

• Ensure the victim/survivor or individual has been informed of the next steps
• Explain what will happen, give them options if possible and an indicative timescale
• Contact any relevant bodies 
• Complete the safeguarding paperwork and ensure appropriate record keeping of all communications including phone calls, meetings and discussions in relation to the case.
• Inform leadership that there has been a new safeguarding referral. 
• All referrals / reports outside of the RLSS should be made within 24 hours of receiving the information, unless there are exceptional circumstances to postpone making this referral/report
• The decision to delay a referral/report must be authorised by RLG Lead.

When the concern needs to be reported to a statutory agency, the individual reporting the issue must be informed that the information will not be kept confidential, and that the details will be passed on to the police and any other appropriate statutory body. All sisters, staff and volunteers should be supportive of the individual making the disclosure but should not seek more details than necessary for an initial statutory referral.                                                                                                 

WHEN TO REPORT:

Allegations or safeguarding concerns – When abuse is suspected, witnessed or a disclosure of abuse is received by Pauline Book Centre there is a requirement to report these allegations of abuse, and other relevant safeguarding concerns to the appropriate statutory authority including social services/the police within 24 hours.

In case of emergency – If a child or adult is in immediate danger, at imminent risk or requires medical attention, the relevant emergency service must be contacted via 999. Local Social Services should also be contacted at the earliest opportunity in the case of a child or vulnerable adult.

In case of non-emergency – In a situation when there is no immediate risk to a child or vulnerable adult and no requirement to make a statutory report, the Pauline Book Centre or the RLSS on their behalf will work with the individual to agree desirable outcomes in line with this policy.

In the case of a child - Referrals should be made to children's social care for the area where the child is living or is found.  If a crime has also been committed, the police in that area should also be contacted. The referrer should confirm any verbal and telephone referrals in writing, within 48 hours, and obtain social care /police report reference details for inclusion on the relevant case file.

In the case of an adult - a person over 18 - Referrals should be made to the relevant body.  If a crime has also been committed, the police in that area and if applicable the LADO, should also be contacted. The referrer should confirm any verbal and telephone referrals in writing, within 48 hours, and obtain any report references for inclusion on relevant case file.

 When a person’s conduct towards a child or an adult may impact on their suitability to work with or continue to work with children or adults, the allegation must be referred to the Local Authority Designated Officer for safeguarding within 24 hours. Additionally, restrictions may need to be placed on the person’s role and remit while the matter is investigated for example they may be ‘stepped down’ from ministry or other conditions may be imposed pending the outcome of an investigation

Where it is believed that a criminal offence may have taken place, regardless of whether the accused person is living or deceased, the allegation should be referred to the police within 24 hours.

Training and Awareness

1. Induction Training:

• All new staff and volunteers will receive safeguarding training as part of their induction.

1. Ongoing Training:

• Regular safeguarding training will be provided to all staff and volunteers.

All at Pauline Book Centre will undergo Safeguarding Training in relation to both Children and Adults relevant to their role. The list below outlines the minimum standards for training in each role:

1. Provincial /Superior / Leader – RLG Lead Training (equivalent to Level 2) 
2. Safeguarding Lead – Safeguarding Lead Training (equivalent to Level 3)
3. Board members – Trustee Training (equivalent to Level 2)
4. Community Members who work with public – Advance Safeguarding Training (equivalent to Level 2)
5. Community members who don’t work with public – Basic Safeguarding Training (equivalent Level 1)  

WHISTLEBLOWING

Pauline Book Centre will encourage and enable anyone with a serious concern, to raise that issue without fear of victimisation, or disadvantage.

If that concern is regarding malpractice, illegal acts, or omissions, at Pauline Book Centre or other religious institution relating to safeguarding, then the RLSS should be made aware.

The action taken by the RLSS will depend upon the nature of the concern referred. However, an investigation will be undertaken if appropriate, followed by appropriate action and written feedback will be provided, including a rationale documenting the reasons why identified actions have been taken. This can be delegated to the RLSS.

RECORDING AND STORAGE OF SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS AND CASE FILES

Primary responsibility for the management of documents and safeguarding case files lies with the Designated Safeguarding Lead / RLSS, who will ensure an accurate, auditable, and secure record of any safeguarding concerns or allegations referred to Pauline Book Centre are maintained.

 This record will include:

• Relevant contact details
• Details of how/when the concern or allegation was received.
• Details of the concern itself
• Relevant historical information
• Identified past and present risk factors
• Any actions or investigation undertaken including those by the Pauline Book Store or RLSS and from statutory agencies.
• Rational for actions and or outcome of case

All records are potential evidence in a criminal proceeding, civil case or statutory/public inquiry and must be stored in a suitable and retrievable format with an auditable record of provenance and integrity.

Review and Monitoring

This policy will be reviewed annually or more frequently if required, to ensure it remains effective and up to date with current legislation and best practices.

Designated Safeguarding Leads (DSL):

Sr Elaine Penrice fsp     

Sr Angela Grant fsp      

Contact: Safeguarding@Pauline-UK.Org

References

[1] Safeguarding for charities and trustees - GOV.UK

[2] Safeguarding and protecting people for charities and trustees

Last reviewd 20/02/2025