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Safeguarding

Safeguarding

Safeguarding is about prevention of harm and early intervention to minimise the opportunity for the child, young person or vulnerable adult to be harmed.  

 

Safeguarding is a proactive preventative approach to child, young person or vulnerable adult protection.

Safeguarding includes:

  • Creating a culture where safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults is everyone’s responsibility
  • Regular Safeguarding training
  • Child, youth and vulnerable adult centred practise
  • Safer Recruitment procedures
  • Codes of Conduct for everyone

Child, young person or vulnerable adult protection is a reactive approach. It is part of a safeguarding process but prescribes the action to follow when a child, young person or vulnerable adult is identified as suffering from, or likely to suffer from serious harm. This may include suspected abuse and/ or neglect or a disclosure or a complaint.

Protection includes:

  • A Protection Policy
  • Procedures and guidelines which everyone in the parish knows and uses, including reporting abuse and supporting all those involved in this process.

To find out more about reporting abuse, please click and read:

 

If you need any assistance on any Safeguarding matter, please contact the Safeguarding Officer.

 

Key Resources

 

 

 

Support in Responding to Abuse

Resources for Clergy, Chaplains, Ministry Unit staff, Diocesan staff, and Standing Committee

 

Note: Click the ‘Responding to Disclosed Abuse’ diagram below for the pdf file (with clickable links):

Responding to disclosed abuse diagram
At a Glance diagram responding to disclosed abuse.

 

 

 

Suggested Prayers

A) Suggested Prayers for Use in Sunday Intercessions

 

A Prayer for Those Suffering Abuse

Almighty God and Everlasting God,
You are the author of all mercies, and the God of all comfort.
We pray this week for those who have been abused within our churches and faith-based organisations across our nation.

 

Have compassion upon all who have suffered the injustice,
humiliation and pain of abuse – sexual, physical, emotional, spiritual and all other forms of sinful conduct.

 

In the midst of their distress, give them courage to speak.
May your perfect love drive out fear and anxiety.
In your mercy, create opportunities for these men, women and children to share their pain,
reveal their struggles and expose the hurtful actions of others.

 

Give grace, sensitivity and wisdom to all who will minister to the victims and survivors of abuse.
Strengthen those who have been abused and their carers with the certainty of your love for them.
In all things, we ask that your name be glorified and that
we – your people – do justice, love kindness and walk humbly before you.

 

We humbly plead these things in the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, the King of compassion,
Amen.

(Source: http://thebriefing.com.au/2012/11/prayers-for-those-suffering-abuse/)

 

A Prayer for Survivors and Those who Abuse

God our redeemer and sustainer, we pray for the survivors of violence, abuse and neglect.
Be with them in confusion and pain.
Give your power to the powerless, your fullness to the empty of spirit.

 

Heal their wounds, free them from fear and restore them to true health.
Strengthen them to face the future with faith in you.
We ask this through Jesus your Son, who was himself a survivor of abuse and yet
in his resurrection, triumphed over the oppression.

 

Likewise, God of justice, judge of all the earth,
we bring before you those who abuse and mistreat others.
Turn the hearts of the exploiters from the way of evil.
Open their eyes to the truth of their conduct and
fill them with hatred for the damage they do.
And so by your Holy Spirit bring them to true repentance and amendment of their lives.

 

And now, may your Spirit draw us together, both in our church, and in the community.
May we face our mistakes with complete honesty.
But preserve us from unhelpful speculation and gossip.
Help us reach out, care for the hurting, and support each other.
Strengthen us with the gospel of your grace, for Jesus’ Christ’s sake.
Amen.

(Source: http://thebriefing.com.au/2012/11/prayers-for-those-suffering-abuse/)

 

B) Suggested Prayers for the Royal Commission of Inquiry Report into Abuse in Care Release

Creator, Ruler and Redeemer of this world,

Your Church is on its knees—how could it have come to this?

Our mission in this world is to tell others about you, baptise and make disciples for you—living out our earthly lives in faith, hope and love, humility, justice and compassion—just as Jesus did. But we have failed.

Today your Church faces the consequences of actions unworthy of Your Name as outlined in Whanaketia, the report from the Royal Commission on abuse in care. The report tells us we have failed to protect, failed to believe, failed to make it right, and failed Your Holy Name.

We can only cling to your merciful, patient and faithful nature and ask that as we consider the report, learn from our mistakes, and make changes to how we do things, that You will guide us. Help us to understand; grant us wisdom and insight. Lead us firmly down a path of acknowledgement, reconciliation and healing, as befits your Holy Church.

Help us to be mindful of others as we each grapple with the report’s content, the families and people harmed, and our part in it.

Holy God, as we sit in this most uncomfortable space, help us to see the report through Your eyes, align our hearts to Your heart, and humbly take steps to walk closer to You this day forward.

Grant us strength for this task.

In Jesus Name
Amen.

OR

Lord, as we digest the Royal Commission Report into Abuse in Care,
we are confused, angry, and deeply saddened.

In our distress, hear our cry.

In our confusion, grant us understanding.

In our anger, grant us action.

In our sadness, grant us compassion.

In humility but confident in your faithfulness we cry to you for mercy.

Kyrie Eleison

Christe Eleison

Kyrie Eleison

Amen.

OR

I Am, Author of all Truth, and Bearer of all Iniquities

Pour out Your Truth on the Your Church here in the Diocese of Christchurch and beyond.

Reign down Your Justice and Righteousness like a mighty stream in flood.

May we feel Your pain for those we have ignored, marginalised, and dismissed.

But trusting in Your great Compassion and unfailing Love,
rescue us, and set us back on the path of Righteousness.

Show us the way so we will not turn from it.

For Your Name’s Sake

Amen.

 

The Diocesan Monitor, and Bishop’s Reconciliation Advisor

 

Clare Ayres
Diocesan Monitor, and Bishop’s Reconciliation Advisor

021 217 1581

www.peoplematters.space

 

 

The Diocesan Monitor is an independent and confidential person who is available to hear the concerns of anyone who feels they have experienced professional misconduct by a person within the Anglican Church, including unethical behaviour, abuse of power or sexual harrassment.

The Diocesan Monitor is not a member of the Anglican Church, and is therefore considered independent and impartial. Although the Monitor reports to the Bishop, they have the authority to follow through the responsibilities, functions, and duties of the role.

 

Professional Development

Safe Ministry 101: This module is for clergy and licensed lay ministers, including youth ministers, and children and family workers. 2024 dates are now available for registration.

Safe ministry training is a condition that all personnel holding a bishop’s licence or Permission to Officiate in the Christchurch Diocese must attend a Safe Ministry professional development course (previously known as Boundaries Training) at least once every 3 years in order for their licence to remain current.

All workshops will be held 9am-4pm.

Thursday 11 April 2024 St Peter’s, Upper Riccarton

Thursday 9 May 2024 All Souls’, Merivale

Saturday 1 June 2024 St Stephen’s, Ashburton

Saturday 3 August 2024 St Mark’s Anglican Church, 101 Opawa Road, Opawa

Saturday 10 August 2024 St Mary’s, Timaru (NB: formerly 22 June)

Tuesday 13 August 2024 North Canterbury – venue TBC

Thursday 22 August 2024 St Faith’s, New Brighton

Thursday 24 October 2024 St Stephen’s, Lincoln (NB: formerly 27 June)

 

To register or for more information, email John de Senna.