Within the safeguarding team based at Church House we are fortunate to have Ruth OHagan who is the DBS Administrator for the Diocese
She can help with any queries you might have about who is eligible for a DBS check and provide guidance as to what level of check is required for specific roles i.e. standard, enhanced or enhanced with barring.
She is also the link between individual parishes and APCS (Access Personal Checking Services) our partner company who counter sign our all DBS applications.
DBS checks are an important part of safely recruiting staff and volunteers and come after application forms, interviews (where appropriate) references, and confidential declaration forms have been completed so the DBS is only one part of the recruitment process.
If there is a blemish on a DBS certificate, Ruth Rogan is notified by APCS and she will assess whether the blemish would prevent the person undertaking the role they hope to have within the parish. Just because there is a blemish on a certificate doesnt mean the person wont be able to take up the position they are being recruited for.
Please do contact Ruth OHagan - she can assist with any of your DBS queries
Another important role Ruth OHagan undertakes for us relates to Safeguarding Training.
She is one of the people who can book you onto training, will send out details about the training venue and the learning aims of the module youve booked onto.
She can remind individuals what training they have done as she inputs attendance in our database.
Safeguarding training needs to be refreshed every three years.
As well as the core training offered other training can be delivered on request i.e. Parish Safeguarding Audit and producing an parish action plan, Safer Recruitment of volunteers, Modern Day Slavery and Domestic Abuse Awareness.
The training calendar for 2019 can be found on the safeguarding pages on the Diocesan website.
To book a place on training, please email info@newcastle.anglican.org or telephone 0191 270 4100.
If you are unsure of which course is most appropriate, you can email Ruth OHagan at r.ohagan@newcastle.anglican.org and she will be able to advise you.
Ruth OHagan also provides admin support to the two Safeguarding Advisers (Ruth Rogan and Andrew Grant) and helps them maintain the filing systems and collate the data required for the various reports that Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers need to produce for both the National Safeguarding Team and also within the Diocese.