PARISH OF BUXTED AND HADLOW DOWN

St Margaret the Queen • St Mary the Virgin • St Mark the Evangelist

PARISH POLICY AND GUIDANCE

Good practice guide for church work with vulnerable adults

Active membership and inclusion

These recommendations apply to all churches’ activities with adults who may be vulnerable – for instance, during worship on Sunday mornings, on outings, in groups and when visiting at home.

They apply as much to church ‘in house’ activities for regular attendees as to activities run in and for the local community

They are designed to protect the adults who may be vulnerable in your care, as well as your leaders

They aim to create an environment where all people, including those who are vulnerable, are encouraged to participate in and contribute to all aspects of church life.

Who do we mean by a vulnerable adult?

A vulnerable adult is a person aged 18 or over whose ability to protect himself or herself from violence, abuse, neglect, or exploitation is significantly impaired through physical or mental disability or illness, old age, emotional fragility, or distress or otherwise; and for that purpose, the reference to being impaired is to being temporarily or indefinitely impaired.

Although everyone is vulnerable in some ways and at certain times, some people by reason of their physical or social circumstances have higher levels of vulnerability than others.

Some of the factors which increase vulnerability are:

· A sensory or physical disability or impairment

· A learning disability

· A physical illness

· Mental ill health (including dementia), chronic or acute

· An addiction to alcohol or drugs

· The failing faculties in old age

· A permanent or temporary reduction in physical, mental or emotional capacity brought about by life events, for example bereavement or previous abuse or trauma.

Remember:

· Vulnerability is often not a permanent state

· Vulnerability is not always visible

· A person with apparently visible vulnerabilities may not perceive themselves as such

· We are all vulnerable at different stages of life

· Vulnerable people may also pose risk and cause harm