Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh Safeguarding Risk Assessment

Archdiocese of St Andrews & Edinburgh

Safeguarding Risk Assessment for Groups, Activities and Places
Parish
Group Name:
When will this group/activity take place?
Where will this group take place?
Group Coordinator Name:
Group Coordinator Contact Tele:

2. SUPERVISION

The starting point for any parish group activity is to ensure that there has been full compliance with the mandatory requirements when recruiting supervising adults (IGI Standard 2.1)
2.1 Please list the volunteers recruited as leaders for this group or activity:
Supervision Ratios - GUIDANCE

Essential to safeguarding those in your group is the deploying of supervisor-to-participant ratios suitable to the specific activities.

Although 'In God's Image' does not set guidelines on particular ratios, best practice is that there should always be a minimum of 2 volunteers at groups involving children and vulnerable adults.

Please use this table to indicate your agreed supervisor-to-participant ratios:

(You may wish to refer to NSPCC guidelines:

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/research-resources/briefings/recommended-adult-child-ratios-working-with-children)

2.2 Group Size and Volunteers Required:

	Number of Volunteers Required	Additional Notes (if required)
Up to 5 (No less than 2 volunteers required)
5 to 10
10 to 15
15 to 20
20 to 25
25 to 30
other:
Other:
other:
other:

Consideration should be given to other factors which impact upon the lives of those who have special needs within faith communities:
2.3 Please detail below how you plan to support members of the group with any additional support needs:
You may want to give consideration to those with: reduced or limited ability to communicate • cognitive problems. • physical disabilities • life-limiting conditions • significant reliance on others for personal and intimate care • limited ability at times to understand personal boundaries.
Additional supervision factors:
2.4 Please detail below how you plan to manage new or unknown attendees at your group:

3. CONSENT AND HEALTH / MEDICAL INFORMATION

3.1 Consent and information gathered

	(Please type your answer here)
Have you used the Consent form for this group?
Who is responsible for the collection of this information?
Where is this information being kept?
How is this information being kept secure?
How will this information be made available to group leaders / volunteers?

Illness or Injury - What to do if an accident occurs

However good your policy or training is, accidents can still occur. It’s important not to panic, to carry out the measures outlined in your policy and calmly task a trained adult to attend to the child or vulnerable adult.

Planning for emergencies and incidents ensures that if something does go wrong you are able to deal with it appropriately and without any further loss of control over safeguarding issues.
3.2 Please list below those volunteers within your group / parish who are trained in First Aid:
3.3 Please note below where the nearest First Aid Kit is located and any access issues:

4. RECORDING OF INCIDENTS

You should make a note of the incident and any treatment that was required and keep a record of this.

Please note below where the accident recording book / sheets / folder is located and any access issues:
The accident recording book for this parish/group is located:
Please note: Where unanticipated risks have occurred, these are recorded on a Risk Register and reviewed to reduce or eliminate potential re-occurrence.

Ground rules for the activity - GUIDANCE

All our employees and volunteers are expected to uphold the Safeguarding Code of Conduct as outlined in ‘In God’s Image’ (P25-26)

Do the participants (children / young people / vulnerable adults) themselves know and understand the ground rules for the activity, and why its important to have these ground rule for this group / activity?

The NSPCC provide excellent guidance on ‘Behaviour management and codes of conduct’ for children and young people. This can be seen at:

https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/media/1595/behaviour-code-children.pdf

5. SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS AND ALLEGATIONS

‘In God’s Image’ Standard Three states:

A safeguarding Concern relating to a Church activity or to Church personnel may arise from the observation of the conduct of Church personnel/volunteers, or from worrying signs in the behaviour or appearance of a child or vulnerable adult.

An Allegation of Abuse relating to a Church activity or to Church personnel is the disclosure of the abuse of a child or vulnerable adult, either recently or in the past by a bishop, priest, religious, seminarian, Church employee or volunteer.

ALL CONCERNS OR ALLEGATIONS OF ABUSE REQUIRE TO BE REPORTED TO THE PARISH PRIEST OR PARISH SAFEGUARDING COORDINATOR.
The Parish Safeguarding Coordinator for our Parish is:
RECORDING OF SAFEGUARDING CONCERNS or SESSION NOTES

Your Parish Priest / Parish Safeguarding Coordinator will require you to take note of any concerns you may have for individuals in your group sessions. Completing these notes will ensure that others leading the group are also informed of concerns.

Please note below where the session recording book / sheets / folder is located and any access issues:
The session recording book for this group is located:
ALL CONCERNS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE PARISH PREIST OR PARISH SAFEGUARDING COORDINATOR.
PLEASE NOTE: We encourage all members of the public to understand that, in any emergency situation in which they become aware that a child or a vulnerable adult may be in immediate danger, they have an obligation to pass on all relevant information to the Police immediately.

6. HEALTH AND SAFETY FOR GROUPS

‘In God’s Image’ Standard One states: The provision of safe environments is an essential requirement for all Church activities that involve children and vulnerable groups.

Health and safety checks of the environment you plan to use for your group / activity are an essential part of any robust safeguarding risk assessment.
6.1 The Environmental and premises check completed by:
PLEASE NOTE: Once the environmental assessment is completed, all identified hazards and risks should be registered in the Parish Risk Register. The Parish Risk Register is a tool for documenting risks, and actions to manage each risk. The Parish Risk Register is essential to the successful management of risk. As risks are identified they are logged on the register and actions are taken and recorded to respond to the risk identified.
6.2 Please identify where the Parish Risk Register is kept and the date you added any identified risks:

7. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THIS ASSESSMENT

RISK ASSESSMENT COMPLETED BY:
Name

First NameLast Name
Email
example@example.com
Signature

Clear
Date completed:

MonthDayYear
Date
Risk Assessment Review date: (Minimum annually)

MonthDayYear
Date
Should be Empty:

	Yes	No	Comment: How will you minimise any risk?	Issue referred to:	Date
Adequate lighting in all rooms / halls / access routes used by your group?
Passageways/stairs clear of obstructions?
Any slippery surfaces?
Signs indicating emergency exits / hazardous situations?
Fire exits clearly marked, free of obstruction, secure and easily opened?
Fire extinguishers / alarms clearly marked, accessible and in working order?
Phone accessible for emergencies and in working order?
Are hazardous substances accessible?
Health & Safety Policy Statement displayed?

	Yes	No	Comment: How will you minimise any risk?	Issue referred to:	Date
Stored safely and securely?
In good repair?
Suitable for age group?
First Aid box clearly marked, accessible and equipped?
Accident book accessible?

	Yes	No	Comment: How will you minimise any risk?	Issue referred to:	Date
Floor clean and clear. Covering in good repair?
Well lit?
Sufficient soap, paper towels, toilet paper?
Are obstacles / hazardous substances accessible?
Water temperature safe / Hot water signs in place?
Baby changing facilities/stools for toddlers?

	Yes	No	Comment: How will you minimise any risk?	Issue referred to:	Date
Children cannot access unattended?
Floor clean and clear. Covering in good repair?
Well lit?
Surfaces clear and clean?
Are obstacles / hazardous substances accessible?
Are there any overhanging flexes / sharp knives?