Recording a Safeguarding Concern

RECORDING PROFORMA

DO

· Keep calm and listen carefully to what the person is saying

· Take what the person is saying seriously and tell them that you believe them

· Reassure the person that they were right to tell and that the abuse was not their fault

· Be honest and let the person know what will happen next and that you will need to refer to your parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator to help stop the abuse

· Write down immediately, or as soon as possible, what the person has said. Have your signature witnessed and dated

DON’T

· Show shock or disbelief

· Make promises you cannot keep, such as promising that you will not tell anyone

· Push the person into giving details of the abuse; your role is to listen to what the person wants to tell you, not investigate

· Ask direct or leading questions – this could be harmful to the investigation

· Jump to conclusions or put words in the person’s mouth

· Discuss what the person has told you with others who are not directly involved with helping the person

· Alert the perpetrator

Hand this report directly to the Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator (or incumbent/Priest-in-Charge, where appropriate). This report must be kept securely with your parish safeguarding records in perpetuity.

NAME & CONTACT DETAILS OF PERSON COMPLETING THIS FORM
PARISH
NAME & CONTACT DETAILS OF PERSON SPOKEN TO / EMAILED
DATE, TIME & PLACE OF CONVERSATION
INFORMATION KNOWN ABOUT THE VICTIM – NAME, CONTACT DETAILS etc
INFORMATION KNOWN ABOUT THE VICTIMS FAMILY – NAMES, CONTACT DETAILS etc
INFORMATION KNOWN ABOUT THE ALLEGED PERPETRATOR – NAME, CONTACT DETAILS etc
IF DIFFERENT FROM ALLEGED PERPETRATOR, INFORMATION ABOUT CHURCH OFFICERS INVOLVED – NAMES, CONTACT DETAILS etc
DETAILS OF THE CONCERN OR ALLEGATION:
WHO HAVE YOU SPOKEN TO ABOUT YOUR CONCERNS:
Child / young person you are worried about		Yes / No If yes, DATE:
Parish Safeguarding Children Co-ordinator		Yes / No If yes, DATE:
Incumbent / Priest-in-Charge		Yes / No If yes, DATE:
Bishop’s Safeguarding Adviser		Yes / No If yes, DATE:
Other		Yes / No If yes, DATE: NAME: POSITION:
SIGNED
PRINT NAME	DATE
GIVE DETAILS OF ALL ACTIONS TAKEN IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER (what was said and done and by whom)

Safeguarding

	SAFEGUARDING
	Safeguarding Policy
	Promoting a Safer Church
	Domestic Abuse Policy