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CCPAS Press Release

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11 October 2006

CCPAS EXPANDS INTO PROTECTING VULNERABLE ADULTS

Important new manual complements existing child protection activities

The Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service (CCPAS) is expanding into the important area of protecting vulnerable adults with the launch of an important new guide. Entitled Safeguarding Adults: A manual for working with vulnerable adults and developing safe practice , it compliments CCPAS's existing Guidance to Churches and Safeguarding Children child protection manuals.

The manual provides safeguarding policies and procedures for churches and organisations, and includes advice on how best to provide pastoral care, manage counselling centres, undertake work on the streets and in providing luncheon clubs for older people. It also suggests best practice principles to follow when anyone is called upon to act as an “appropriate adult”. It covers other important subjects such as safe recruitment, and how to respond if one is concerned that an adult is being abused, and exactly who to contact.

David Pearson, Executive Director of CCPAS, commented: “We have made this important new step into safeguarding vulnerable adults because, just as our understanding of child abuse has developed over the past 30 years, we are now recognising that adults with various vulnerabilities are often the target of abuse too.

“Churches are in many cases in the forefront in this situation. They often work with people who are vulnerable, either because they have a disability or learning difficulty, have mental problems such as dementia or personality disorders, or are homeless.

“Churches find themselves working with many people on the margins of society, including those substance abusers and the homeless. They also pastorally support those subjected to domestic violence. The manual also includes a section on working with sex offenders safely to ensure that children, young people and vulnerable adults are protected.

“CCPAS's helpline receives calls on a daily basis from churches and organisations asking how to devise and implement policies for working with vulnerable adults. Insurance companies and the Charity Commission are also taking the protection of vulnerable adults far more seriously, which is shown in the way they are both pressing various organisations to put proper protection policies in place immediately and where appropriate to undertake CRB disclosures.

“CCPAS's task is to ensure that our churches are safe communities for everyone, children and young people and vulnerable adults. We believe this new manual marks another major step in that direction.”

Research published earlier this year by the DoH and Action on Elder Abuse highlighted an increase in the number of adults being abused and at risk of abuse. Increasingly enquiries are being set up into adult abuse, for example the Cornwall Partnership NHS Trust of the abuse of people with learning difficulties last July.

Ron Holker, Review and Protection Manager of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council said: “This manual is a clear, concise document that will be helpful to all faith communities.”

Safeguarding Adults has also been endorsed by the Rt Revd Michael Nazir-Ali, Bishop of Rochester, who has written the foreword, Joni Eareckson Tada (The Joni and Friends International Disability Center) and Paul Dicken, Director of Through the Roof, as well as Jane Groves, who is the Mothers Union's Projects Officer

The manual also contains a mini CD with the entire manual in Word and PDF format including model policies and forms for churches and organisations to adapt to their own particular circumstances.

Media Enquiries: Iain Taylor

Taylor Communications

01732 461060 or 07979 914217

taylor.comm@tiscali.co.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS:

CCPAS is an independent Christian charity providing professional child protection advice and support across church denominations and organisations throughout the UK.

CCPAS was established in 1977. It assists churches, organisations, social services and other child care agencies as well as individual children and families by:

• helping churches and other organisations adopt safe practice in order to protect children from abuse – and youth workers from the possibility of false allegations

• advising on individual cases, giving ongoing help to leaders and others.

• training across the UK and providing “in-house” training and other resources

• acting as external consultants to denominational/organisational child protection advisors

• counselling individual adults or children about past or present abuse.