The Diocese of Derby has created a template policy for the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders which may be downloaded and completed by Benefices and Parishes.  It can be downloaded here.

The Diocese of Derby Safeguarding team in partnership with the Derby Association of Church Bellringers (the Assiociation) has developed guidance which applies to all Bellringers in Church of England towers in the Diocese of Derby, whether or not they belong to the Association. 

The Guidance can be downloaded here

Predatory Marriage - Daphne Franks

 Joan Blass and Daphne Franks at Joan’s 90^th Birthday Party, April 2014

Please watch the documentary about our story – the third in the series   “Inheritance Wars: Who Gets the Money” – Channel Five, 9pm, October 1, 2023 and on Channel Five catch-up after that

“Your mother and her man friend – did you know they were married?” So, with a phone call from Joan Blass’s doctor, began a horrific series of events which have highlighted the gaps in safeguarding for the elderly and the vulnerable, both at the time of marriage and in the Law.

In March 2016 Joan Blass was almost 92 years old, with severe vascular dementia and terminal cancer. She was unable to make the simplest decision and never knew that she had remarried just five months before her death.

Joan’s daughter Daphne Franks tells the story of a secret marriage, a revoked will, an unmarked grave, grooming, gaslighting, a Private Member’s Bill and a campaign to highlight all the issues. The Franks family hope to fill all the gaps so nothing like this will ever happen to another family in the future – because, as they have learned, it’s currently happening to many of our elderly and vulnerable and their families.

This story is “right up there amongst the most shocking we’ve come across in the ten years that we’ve been making this programme.” - Angela Rippon, Rip-Off Britain, BBC Television.

Daphne Franks, 67, is a teacher who worked at Leeds Medical School for many years, teaching Communication Skills and other non-clinical courses. She is still teaching freelance part-time. Daphne now lives in Newcastle, Tyne and Wear, with her husband Stephen, son Oliver, daughter-in-law Alex and adorable granddaughter Linnet, two!

Issues with current safeguards^*:

• • If the victim has set up a power of attorney, the attorney is not notified if the victim marries.
• • Notifications of marriage are displayed on notice boards in register offices and are not easily searchable or listed online.
• • No evidence is kept at the point of marriage – no video or audio recordings – once a marriage certificate is attained the following impact on wills is almost impossible to challenge.
• • Registrars have responsibility for judgment of mental capacity on the day. These persons may not have training on dementia or mental capacity.
• • There is an absence of joined up safeguarding between different relevant organisations and an absence of standardised safeguarding or mental capacity training.

(* Credit: Hourglass March 2022)

www.predatorymarriage.uk

www.justiceforjoan.com

www.facebook.com/predatorymarriage

info@predatorymarriage.uk

This information may be downloaded here

The Spring 2023 Safeguarding Newsletter has just been sent to all Parish Safeguarding Officers. If you do not receive a copy and would like to read more about the work happening in Safeguarding in the diocese and a little more about one of the safeguarding team you can download the newsletter here.

The latest Safeguarding Newsletter has just been sent to all Parish Safeguarding Officers. If you do not receive a copy and would like to read more about the work happening in Safeguarding in the diocese and a little more about one of the safeguarding team you can download the newsletter here.

Technology can help to keep people safe. But abusers can also use technology to cause harm.

This day marks the start of 16 Days of Action for Violence Against Women and Girls. So to support this campaign, The ann craft trust is raising awareness of the role technology has in exacerbating instances of domestic abuse.

A poster is avaialble to download highlighting that technology could be used to empower domestic abusers and can be had to spot and difficult to escape.  You may download it here.

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Todays theme for Safeguarding Adults Week is Elder Abuse.

Elder abuse is a single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust, which causes harm or distress to an older person.

The World Health Organisation has found that rates of elder abuse have increased since the pandemic. Around one in six people aged 60 years and older experience some form of abuse in a community setting. Also, rates of elder abuse are high in institutions such as nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Two thirds of staff report that they have committed abuse in the past year.

A poster to promote awareness can be downloaded here

Continuing the week of contemporary safeguarding issues today we look at safeguarding in everyday life. One of the main ways we can achieve this is to promote safer cultures.  This is all about how our Churches and individuals can take steps to minimise harm occurring in the first instance. It’s also about embedding appropriate policies and procedures. In this way, people will know what to do if they have a concern to report. In addition, the churches will have a plan in place for acting on concerns.  All PCC's must have a Safeguarding Policy in place.

You can download a poster to promote Safer Cultures here

Conitinuing the theme of Safeguarding Adults week 2022 of contemporary issues of Safeguarding, todays isue is Self Neglect.  The ann craft trust writes

"The term “self-neglect” covers a wide range of behaviour neglecting to care for one’s personal hygiene, health or surroundings.

We’ve seen a rise in self-neglect cases over the last two years, particularly for older people.

On this day you can explore how you can spot the signs someone is at risk of self-neglect. We’ll also provide practical guidance about how to start difficult conversations and respond to those at risk, while maintaining autonomy."

You can download a poster here to encourage people to explore this area themsleves.

Criminals Are Forcing Adults at Risk to Traffic Drugs. Please see the downloadable fact sheet from the ann craft trust here.