Safeguarding

As a Catholic pilgrimage that takes place at the Catholic National Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady of Walsingham, within the Roman Catholic Diocese of East Anglia, New Dawn is committed to ensuring and maintaining a Christ-centred, safe, caring, attentive, compassionate, and charitable environment for all, particularly children and adults at risk or who may be otherwise vulnerable.

“For the purpose of this document, a ‘child’ is defined as “a person under the age of 18”. ² Throughout this document therefore, ‘child’ means ‘child and young person’ and ‘children’ means ‘children and young people’. An ‘adult at risk’ is defined as any person aged 18 years or over who: “is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect; has needs for care and support, and as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it”.³ ”

¹ This section is taken from ‘Caring Safely for Others: Pastoral Standards and Safe Conduct in Ministry’, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales.
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² As defined by the law in England (Children Acts 1989 and 2004) and Wales (Section 3 of the Social Services and Well-being [Wales] Act 2014). The universal law of the Church also defines a child (‘minor’) as: “any person under the age of 18, or who is considered by law to be the equivalent” (Vos estis Lux Mundi, Art.1, §2, a, Apostolic Letter promulgated by Pope Francis, 7th May 2019)

³ As defined by the law in the Care Act 2014 (England) and Social Services and Wellbeing Act 2014 (Wales). The universal law of the Church also defines an adult at risk of abuse (‘vulnerable person’) as: “any person in a state of infirmity, physical or mental deficiency, or deprivation of personal liberty which, in fact, even occasionally, limits their ability to understand or to want or otherwise resist the offence”. Cf. Vos estis Lux Mundi, Art.1, §2, b.

This policy seeks to provide the overarching principles that guide New Dawn’s approach to safeguarding. It seeks to promote a culture of safeguarding through the commitment of its trustees, staff, and volunteers to the highest standards of practice.

To ensure highest standards of practice, New Dawn’s safeguarding policy and procedures are adopted, tailored* (where necessary) and implemented according to the six principal policy documents of the National Safeguarding Policy, promoted by the Catholic Safeguarding Standards Agency [CSSA]⁴.

- Management of Allegations & Concerns Policy
- Safer Recruitment Policy
- DBS Processing Policy
- Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy
- Handling of DBS Related Complaints Policy
- Whistleblowing Policy

 ⁴ https://catholicsafeguarding.org.uk/resources/national-safeguarding-policy/. 

In addition to the above, this policy should be read alongside the following related policies, procedures, and documents:

• Role Description for the Designated Safeguarding Officer

• Safeguarding Practice Guidance (including supervision ratios)

• Safeguarding Care Statement

• Responding to Allegations & Concerns

• Reporting an Incident

• Volunteer Policy

• Volunteer Code of Conduct

• Service Users Conduct of Conduct

• Photography Policy

• Online Safety Policy

• Health and Safety Policy

Affirming the inherent dignity of each person⁵ as someone who is created in the image and likeness of God⁶, New Dawn upholds and recognises that:

• All people particularly children and adults at risk or who may be otherwise vulnerable, should never experience abuse of any kind and have an equal right to be protected from all harm.

• Its highest priority is its duty of care to safeguard, protect, and promote the welfare of all vulnerable people in all its work and decisions.

• Working in partnership with children and adults at risk or who may be otherwise vulnerable, their families, carers and agencies is essential in promoting their welfare.

• Some children and adults at risk or who may be otherwise vulnerable, may be additionally vulnerable because of previous experiences, their level of dependency, communication needs or other issues.

⁵ Irrespective of age, disability, gender, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
⁶ Cf. Code of Canon Law, Canon 768, §2; Catechism of the Catholic Church §1701 to 1709.

New Dawn seeks to keep children and adults at risk or who may be otherwise vulnerable safe by:

• Valuing, listening to and respecting them.

• Adopting and implementing the six principal policy documents of the National Safeguarding Policy as well the related safeguarding policies and procedures listed in section three above.

• Appointing a designated safeguarding officer, a deputy safeguarding officer and a lead trustee.

• Ensuring the highest standards of safer recruitment, supervision, training⁷, and support for all staff and volunteers so that they can carry out their duty of care to safeguarding competently and confidently.

• Having a clear way for children and adults at risk or who may be otherwise vulnerable, their families, parents, or carers to report concerns.

• Reporting concerns to relevant agencies when needed involving children and adults at risk or who may be otherwise vulnerable, parents, carers, and families appropriately.

• Recording, storing, and using information professionally and securely, in line with data protection legislation and guidance.

• Building a safeguarding culture where staff and volunteers, children and adults at risk or who may be otherwise vulnerable, families, and parents or carers treat each other with respect and are comfortable about sharing concerns.

• Ensuring a safe physical environment for children and adults at risk or who may be otherwise vulnerable, staff and volunteers, by applying health and safety measures in accordance with the law and regulatory guidance.

⁷ All staff and volunteers will be required to complete the online safeguarding training provided by the CSSA before volunteering. The CSSA provides three levels of safeguarding training and the level of training a volunteer should undertake will be included on their role description. Volunteers will be able to access the training platform remotely and complete the course within 60 - 90 minutes. To ensure learning there is a pass or fail test at the end. The successful learner will then receive a certificate with a unique reference to prove compliance.