Thank you for all you do to ensure a safe church for all.  We hope you find this second of our regular bulletins to be helpful in supporting you with the valuable work you do.

As always, if you need help or have any questions in relation to the information below please contact the Safeguarding Service

Please use the contact details below; we would ask that you do not email an individual direct to ensure that your enquiry is dealt with in a timely manner.

safeguarding@churchofscotland.org.uk

0131 240 2256

A message from Julie Main, Safeguarding Service Manager

Hello there,

I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself and say hello to you all. My name is Julie Main. I am very pleased to have been appointed to the post of safeguarding service manager with the Church of Scotland and have been in post now for around 4 weeks. I look forward to working with you all and indeed may have already had the opportunity to speak to some of you.

My background is in local authority social work services. For around twenty years I have worked mostly in the field of child protection work but have also had a stint in criminal justice social work, both prison and community. Public Protection and Safeguarding can be a complex and challenging area of work but can also be very rewarding and interesting. No two days are ever the same!

The safeguarding service already has a well-established team of experienced workers to support you in your role and I hope that I can also make a positive contribution going forward. I look forward to meeting as many of you as I possibly can.

Packs should be requested from the Safeguarding Service as and when they are required, they will contain everything you need to process an application. 

We would respectfully ask that you do not stockpile packs as guidance and forms may change and you should always be using the most up to date version.  Packs may be requested either by phone or email.  We will endeavour to have packs issued to you as soon as possible.

Our guest speaker at this years' General Assembly was Professor June Andrews of the Dementia Services Development Trust.  She has published a very useful resource 'A guide to supporting people with dementia in the local church' which you can access here

You can download the resource here

Let's make sure we are all singing from the same hymn sheet!

Can we put an individual through the PVG scheme if they are not going to be doing regulated work?

No. It is an offence to put through a PVG application for someone who is not going to be undertaking regulated work with a particular group.  Please refer to Handbook 2 and the link below for guidance on this.  VSDS do spot checks by telephoning applicants direct.

http://www.churchofscotland.org.uk/about_us/safeguarding_service/key-publications

How long does it take for a PVG clearance to come through?

It takes approximately 6 weeks for a clearance to come through from Disclosure Scotland.  Please therefore ensure that all applications are submitted to us in plenty of time.

The Mission & Discipleship Council are encouraging all churches and presbyteries to start planning how they might be involved with special services, training and events during the year that engage and celebrate young people (under 25’s) in our churches and communities.

A Church Toolkit will be available in the autumn. 

For more information on the Year of Young People please visit the Church of Scotland Year of Young People webpage here