Safeguarding

Barbourne St. Stephen Parochial Church Council (PCC) Policy on Safeguarding Children

The Parish of Barbourne St. Stephen

The nominated Parish Children’s Safeguarding Representative can be contacted via the Vicar or Churchwardens

The following policy has been agreed and implemented by the PCC.

1. We are committed to the safeguarding and care of the children within our church community

2. We are aware of and will implement the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Children Policy Protecting All God’s Children (2004) 4^th Edition 2010, and the diocesan policy and procedures. Copies of these can be accessed on the Diocese of Worcester website www.cofe-worcester.org.uk. We will work closely with the Bishop’s Adviser for Child Protection

3. We will ensure that lay ministers, volunteers and paid workers who work with children are carefully selected and trained using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), amongst other tools, to check the background of each person as outlined in the diocesan procedures. We will expect the Diocese to do likewise in respect of ordained and licensed ministers

4. We will respond without delay to every complaint made that a child for whom we are responsible may have been harmed or is in significant danger, reporting it to the relevant authorities as required

5. We will fully cooperate with statutory agencies during any investigation into allegations concerning a member of the church community. We will inform the statutory agency of any suspected criminal offences or concerns that we are made aware of in respect of our contact with children

6. We will offer informed pastoral care to any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse and provide them with details of local and national support agencies

7. We will support any member of our church community known to have offended against a child and supervise any contacts they may have with the church, ensuring proper and appropriate preventative safeguards are in place

8. We will review this policy annually and, as part of this, check that all our procedures and activities involving children, including the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) process and checks, are up to date

9. We will review our insurance policy for those working with children ensuring we adopt the advice in the House of Bishops’ Policy www.cofe-worcester.org.uk

10. A copy of this Policy will be displayed on the Parish Notice Board

The PCC has identified the following activities involving children and young people to which the House of Bishops Policy applies as follows. These and the persons named, who are responsible for implementing this policy for their area of activity on behalf of the PCC, may change during the year. Churchwardens can provide up to date information if required. 

1.         Young Disciples for 4-16 year olds meets in the Church Hall weekly during morning service. The person responsible is Danny Payne

2.         Little Stars is a mother and baby/toddler group that meets weekly, every Thursday in term time, in the Church. The person responsible is Viv Todd

3.         Choir  Church services. The person responsible is the Musical Director  

4.         Serving team on ad hoc occasions. The person responsible is Geoff Kington

5.         Bellringers -the person responsible is Beryl Thorp or Sue Kington

6.         Social activities including functions in the Church Hall for all users other than private family functions such as children’s birthday parties

This Policy was updated and agreed at the PCC meeting held on December 1st 2016

We the PCC agree to review and update this policy annually. Signed by:

PCC Chair/Priest in charge   Andy Todd

Churchwarden: Judy Hood

Children’s Safeguarding Representative: Carol Amos

Parish Church of Barbourne St Stephen

Policy for Safeguarding Adults who may be vulnerable

This policy is based on the Diocesan Policy for Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults and the document ‘Promoting a Safe Church’ – Church of England Model Policy for Safeguarding Adults - 2006. Other relevant policies include ‘Responding Well to those who have been sexually abused -2011’ and ‘Responding to domestic abuse - 2006’. It also takes account of the Protection of Freedoms Act 2012, the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 and the Care Act 2014. The parish does not appoint any volunteers or paid staff to roles that involve Regulated Activity as defined in the legislation above.

We are committed to promoting and supporting environments that

• ensure that all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from abuse
• encourage adults who may be vulnerable to lead as independent a life as

possible, to choose how to lead their life, and to be active contributors to

the church community

• protect adults who may be vulnerable from actual or potential harm
• enable and encourage concerns to be raised and responded to openly and

consistently.

We recognise that

• everyone has different levels of vulnerability, and that each of us may be

regarded as vulnerable at some time in our lives

• all adults who may be vulnerable (regardless of age, disability, gender, racial

heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity) have the right to

equal protection from all types of harm or abuse

• abuse of adults who may be vulnerable can occur in all communities and is

most likely to occur within families and by people known to them

• working in partnership with adults who may be vulnerable, their carers and

other agencies is essential in promoting their welfare.

We will endeavour to safeguard adults who may be vulnerable by:

5. In all our activities

• valuing, listening to and respecting adults who may be vulnerable
• fostering and encouraging best practice by setting standards for working with

adults who may be vulnerable, and boundaries for acceptable behaviour, in

co-operation with statutory bodies, voluntary agencies and other faith

communities

5. In our recruitment of paid staff and volunteers, following Diocesan

procedures in

• ensuring careful selection and recruitment of ordained and lay ministers as

appropriate, voluntary workers, and paid workers with adults who may be

vulnerable, in line with safer recruitment principles and checks

• providing supervision, support and training

5. When concerns are raised, following Diocesan procedures in

• responding without delay to every concern raised that an adult who may be

vulnerable may have been harmed, or be at risk from harm, through abuse,

harassment or bullying; or about the behaviour of an adult or child

• working with the diocese and the appropriate statutory bodies during an

investigation into abuse, including when allegations are made against a

member of the church community

• challenging any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust

5. In our care

• ensuring that informed and appropriate pastoral care is offered to any

vulnerable adult who has suffered abuse (which includes non-recent abuse), and includes support to make a complaint if so desired

• ensuring that appropriate pastoral care is offered to any member of our

church community against whom an allegation is made

5. In our supervision, following Diocesan procedures in

• ensuring, in partnership with the diocese and other agencies, that care and

supervision is provided for any member of our church community known to

have offended against a vulnerable adult, or to pose a risk to them

We will ensure that

• All those involved in direct contact with vulnerable adults are aware of the potential for allegations of abuse being made against them for a variety of reasons including abuse having actually taken place or a misinterpretation of their language or actions because they are reminded of something else
• Each person who works with vulnerable people will agree to abide by this policy and will take personal responsibility for safe practice thereby protecting themselves from any potential allegations such as financial integrity or sexual conduct
• There is a nominated person who will represent the concerns and views of vulnerable people at parish meetings and to outside bodies

This policy applies to all church activities where members of the church regularly come into contact with adults who are vulnerable. These include:

• Sunday and weekly services
• Funeral and bereavement visits
• Home communions
• Visits to residential homes
• Occasional church celebrations and events
• Open Church
• Clubs/regular church activities such as the Good Companions

We are committed to reviewing our policy annually

This Policy was updated and approved by the PCC on December 1st 2016. Signed by:

PCC Chair/Priest in charge  Andy Todd

Churchwarden: Judy Hood

Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Representative: Carol Amos

An Important Message from the Archbishops of Canterbury and York