1: Introduction

Chapter 1:
Introduction to the procedures for safeguarding children and the congregation’s child safeguarding statement

Aim of chapter 

1. To connect with the denominational policy statements
2. To explain absolute actions and good practices
3. To advise on how to use these procedures
4. To outline roles and responsibilities
5. To outline what the denomination can expect with regard to timescales for responses from the central Safeguarding Team

Policy statements and procedural arrangements 

General Assembly 2025 passed resolutions approving new policies with regard to children and adult safeguarding within the denomination.

Policies are the broad statements of belief and intention, foundational to our safeguarding strategies. 

Procedures are the thorough working out of those policy statements. 

The following procedures advise congregations and ministries how to achieve this – especially actions necessary in the development of a congregation’s child safeguarding risk assessment and local Child Safeguarding Statement.These are legal requirements under the Children First Act 2015 and its guidelines, with local congregations being registered as individual organisations under charity law.  See chapter 13 for detailed guidance on Child Safeguarding Statements.

Absolute actions and good practice guidance

Procedures are comprehensive and detailed, designed to ensure the Church complies with legal requirements and best practice.

They also contain explanatory commentary. 

Absolute actions

Absolute actions are procedures that cannot be deviated from. They are rooted in legal responsibilities and our denomination’s Code. 

For example, the chapter ‘Recruitment and Selection of Leaders’ is a mandatory procedure, and an absolute set of actions with which we all must engage.

Good practice guidance

Following good practice is not always a legal requirement. However, these will be practices that are understood as a strong way to manage something.

As a denomination, we set out in these procedures strong recommendations for good practice that underpin the qualities for which we strive in safeguarding. 

As one denomination across two jurisdictions, we have a wealth of opportunity to share good practice and learning across our ministry family from both the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and Northern Ireland (NI). 

We seek to use the best practice from both jurisdictions to inform our work with children. Our church works around and across the border. Members, volunteers and staff can attend church on one part of the island and live on the other. Which set of procedures to use will depend on a number of things: 

• Where the incident or concern arose
• Where the child is domiciled
• Where any alleged abuser resides

Advice can be sought from the PCI Safeguarding Team but this should not cause any delay to speaking with statutory bodes and where necessary a report should be made to PSNI or Garda Síochána/Tusla and social services

Good practice is based on evidence of safeguarding practices that have been tried and tested. 

Sometimes good practice is simply established regional practice and guidance. Sometimes good practice is specific to our denomination and how we work in our own culture on a biblical basis. 

In the case of good practice, humility is always required because we are all always learning, and safeguarding is complex and constantly changing. 

Good practice is always going to be recommended by the central Safeguarding Team as it is evidence based.

Where a Kirk Session chooses not to follow good practice, it must ensure that it records that decision-making. 

For example, Chapter 11: Online safety has some elements of good practice and some elements of absolute action. A Kirk Session may not deviate on some points; however, it can make alternative arrangements in others. 

How to use these procedures 

• All safeguarding policies and procedures for the denomination are available on our website
• Each policy has its own section: children and adults separately, ROI and NI separately. Access the section relevant to your setting or query. While separate guidance is based on each jurisdiction’s legislative and policy framework, there are common standards to both sides of the border, and in places important overlap.
• Each section contains the associated broad denomination-wide policy statement
• This is the followed by a series of ‘chapters’ on the individual aspects of carrying out that policy
• Each chapter includes the procedures for a specific area of safeguarding
• Each chapter will explain its aim
• Each chapter will include links associated to other parts of the procedures that are relevant
• Each chapter will include links to any relevant resource you may need (e.g. a link to a form)
• There is a separate area to access a variety of safeguarding resources to help implement the procedures (e.g. templates and forms, or contacts for relevant statutory bodies)
• The website includes an ‘alert’ function that will highlight if there has been a change to any procedure or an update in legislation; once alerted, the responsible individual will need to adjust your local policy and procedure
• In line with good practice, we intend to update online the policies and procedures as they develop
• Kirk Sessions and individuals responsible for the local congregational arrangements should copy and paste the denominational procedures, ensuring that they are adapted to suit the specific setting

(Until 1 September 2026 only) Action Required

Either

1. Write a new suite for child protection arrangements in your setting
or
2. Review your current child protection arrangements and adjust in line with the new procedures 

In both cases, all reference to ‘Taking Care’ should be removed from your current policy and procedures.

It is permissible to copy and paste our denominational procedures, adapting them for your setting (e.g. adding your congregation name and logo) 

Once updated:

• ensure all old copies are removed from circulation
• the new review date and signatures should be added
• Kirk Session should ensure it is fully aware of all changes to be implemented
• the updated copy should be shared with all relevant parties and made available on your website, if applicable

This must be in place by 30 June 2026 and fully implemented by 1 September 2026.

It is the responsibility of Presbytery to ensure compliance in individual churches.

CHAPTER END