Safeguarding Policy

In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy our Church is committed to:

• Promoting a safer environment and culture.
• Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the Church.
• Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
• Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
• Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.

The Parish will:

• Create a safe and caring place for all.
• Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.
• Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.
• Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the Parish.
• Display in Church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
• C (see Appendix 1).
• Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately.
• Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
• Care for and monitor any member of the Church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and safety of all parties.
• Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.
• Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually.

Each person who works within this Church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this Church.

Appendix 1

Procedure for dealing with safeguarding allegations or concerns

Whenever a child, young person and /or adult reports that they are suffering or have suffered significant harm through abuse or neglect, or have caused or are causing harm to others, the initial response should be limited to listening carefully. If someone makes a disclosure this might be the only time they will tell someone about what is happening.

Respond

Do:

· Listen

· Take what is said seriously

· Only use open questions (who, what, when, where and how)

· Remain Calm

· Take into account the person’s age and level of understanding

· Check whether they mind you taking notes – at the end you can check with them that you have understood everything correctly

· Offer reassurance that disclosing is the right thing to do

· Establish only as much information as is needed to report

· Check out what the person hopes to result from the disclosure

· Tell the child or adult what you are going to do next

Do Not:

· Make promises that cannot be kept

· Make assumptions or offer alternative explanations

· Investigate

· Contact the person about whom allegations have been made

· Do a physical examination

Record

· Make brief notes at the time and write them up as soon as possible

· Record date, time place and actual words used

· Record facts and observable things, not your assumptions

· Don’t speculate or jump to conclusions

Report

· If there is immediate danger to a child or adult contact the police – Ring 999

· Otherwise avoid delay and take action: talk immediately, within 24 hours to either activity leader, PSO, The Incumbent, Churchwardens and share any concerns

· Within 24 hours the nominated PSO reports concerns to the DSA

· The DSA will advise regarding reporting to child/adult social care and/or police. This must be done within 24 hours.

If in any doubt seek advice from child/adult social care and/or police.