1.1 - Chaplaincy roles and responsibilities

1.1 - Chaplaincy roles and responsibilities

To access The House of Bishops' full key roles and responsibilities guidance document click here.

Archdeacons

Archdeacons are responsible for, within their Archdeaconry:

  • Ensuring that the Safeguarding Policy is implemented within each Chaplaincy.
  • Ensuring continued Safeguarding awareness within their Archdeaconry.
  • Checking the implementation of the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy in each of their chaplaincies via the Archdeacon Informal Safeguarding Audit.
  • Assisting with any Safeguarding Queries within their chaplaincies.
  • Ensuring that any Safeguarding complaint brought to their attention within the Archdeaconry, no matter how trivial or historical it may seem, is immediately addressed.

For these responsibilities, Archdeacons are accountable to the Diocesan Bishop.

Area Deans

Area Deans are responsible for:

  • Supporting the Archdeacon with Safeguarding responsibilities by undertaking such safeguarding responsibilities which may be delegated to them by the Archdeacon; in particular, checking the implementation of the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy in each of the chaplaincies in their area via the Archdeacon Informal Safeguarding Audit.
  • Ensuring that any Safeguarding complaint brought to their attention within the Archdeaconry, no matter how trivial or historical it may seem, is immediately addressed.
  • Keeping their Archdeacon informed of any relevant Safeguarding information.

For these responsibilities, Area Deans are accountable to the Diocesan Bishop.

Incumbents

Incumbents are responsible for ensuring that:

  • The Safeguarding Policy has been implemented in their chaplaincy.
  • The Chaplaincy Council is fully aware of Safeguarding matters.
  • A Safeguarding Officer is appointed for their chaplaincy.
  • Local arrangements are in place to ensure that all required individuals complete a Safeguarding Check.
  • Local arrangements are in place for handling Safeguarding concerns, no matter how trivial or historical they may seem.
  • The congregation is kept aware of the need for good Safeguarding practice and vigilance.
  • Where the Incumbent is personally responsible for leading or organising any chaplaincy activity (beyond worship), ensuring that the activities are subject to appropriate safety, health and welfare measures so as to protect, as far as possible, those in their care. This includes ensuring that those who assist in the activity have undergone a suitable Safeguarding Check.

All other licenced clergy ministering in the chaplaincy are required to:

  • Work with the Incumbent (or the Churchwardens if there is no appointed Chaplain) to assist them in fulfilling their responsibilities and help to ensure that the chaplaincy maintains a robust approach to Safeguarding. As appropriate, some Safeguarding responsibilities may be delegated to them.
  • Where personally responsible for leading or organising any chaplaincy activity (beyond worship), ensuring that the activities are subject to appropriate safety, health and welfare measures so as to protect, as far as possible, those in their care. This includes ensuring that those who assist in the activity have undergone a suitable Safeguarding Check.

For these responsibilities, Clergy are accountable to the Diocesan Bishop.

Churchwardens

Where there is an Incumbent, churchwardens are responsible for:

  • Supporting the Incumbent.
  • Dealing with safeguarding concerns brought to their attention.

Where there is not an Incumbent in post (including in an interregnum), churchwardens are responsible for:

  • All of the responsibilities otherwise allocated to the Incumbent (see above).
  • Using only approved Locums/visiting Clergy.
  • Where the Churchwarden is personally responsible for leading or organising any chaplaincy activity, ensuring that the activities are subject to appropriate safety, health and welfare measures so as to protect, as far as possible, those in their care. This includes ensuring that those who assist in the activity have undergone a suitable Safeguarding Check.

For all these responsibilities, Chaplaincy Wardens are accountable to the Diocesan Bishop.

Safeguarding Officers

The Safeguarding Officer is the key link between the Diocese and the chaplaincies concerning safeguarding matters. The Safeguarding Officer will have an overview of all church activities involving children, young people and vulnerable adults and will seek to ensure the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy. The role can be taken by one person or the role shared; for example, with one person covering children the other vulnerable adults, or with the appointment of an Assistant Safeguarding Officer/s.

The key tasks of the Safeguarding Officer are to:

  • Have an overview of all church activities involving children and vulnerable adults and keep a record of these activities.
  • Be familiar with Diocesan Safeguarding guidance and ensure that leaders of activities are fully aware of and are implementing this guidance.
  • Liaise with the Incumbent over Safeguarding issues.
  • Keep in touch with the leaders of all activities and offer them advice and support over Safeguarding matters.
  • Liaise as necessary with the Diocesan Safeguarding Team and the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor. Report all concerns or allegations against church officers to the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor.
  • Attend Diocesan Safeguarding Training offered for Safeguarding Officers.
  • Assist with Safeguarding Training in the chaplaincy, as appropriate.
  • Attend a meeting of the church leadership (Chaplaincy Council) at least annually to ensure Safeguarding issues are discussed and that the church leadership adopt the annual Chaplaincy Safeguarding Policy.
  • Ensure that the Chaplaincy Safeguarding Policy and safeguarding contact details are displayed during all services, if appropriate to your locality.
  • Keep full records of any safeguarding concerns that arise.
  • Promote safety in places of worship and within church activities.
  • Keep the church leadership informed of good safeguarding practice.
  • Undertake a regular chaplaincy safeguarding self-assessment in the format offered by the Diocese.

For all these responsibilities, Chaplaincy Safeguarding Officers are accountable to the Chaplain and Churchwardens.

Chaplaincy Council

As well as their general responsibilities as a member of the congregation, Chaplaincy Council Members, have a responsibility to:

  • Support the Chaplain, Churchwardens and the Safeguarding Officer in their respective Safeguarding responsibilities.
  • Adopt and reaffirm the Chaplaincy Safeguarding Policy each year at the Annual Meeting.
  • Be aware of the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy and have a working knowledge of their Chaplaincy’s Safeguarding Policy.

Activity/Group Leaders

Leaders of chaplaincy activities/groups that may involve children, young people or vulnerable adults are responsible for ensuring that:

  • They and those assisting with the activity/group have undergone a suitable Safeguarding Check and have been suitably trained (the Safeguarding Officer will assist with this).
  • The activity/group has implemented appropriate safety, health and welfare measures so as to protect, as far as possible, those participating.

The Congregation

Every member of a chaplaincy congregation shares a duty to provide a safe and secure environment within their chaplaincy. In practice, this means complying with all relevant aspects of the Chaplaincy Safeguarding Policy, and in particular:

  • If regularly involved in chaplaincy-organised activities with children, young people, or vulnerable adults, a Safeguarding Check may be required (the chaplaincy’s Safeguarding Officer will be able to advise on this).
  • Awareness of a Safeguarding Concern, no matter how trivial or historical it may seem, must be brought to the attention of the Safeguarding Officer or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team as soon as possible. Proof is not required before reporting a Safeguarding Concern.