Parish Safeguarding Policy: Promote, Prevent, Protect
We will promote the wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We will do this by:
- All members of the community being responsible for creating a welcoming, safe and caring environment for all.
- Providing appropriate training, supervision and support is for church members and staff so that they feel able to promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, raise concerns and feel supported in their safeguarding role.
- Using safe recruitment procedures for all staff employed by the church.
- Mandatory induction for staff which includes familiarisation with safeguarding procedures and a requirement to sign that they have read the safeguarding policy.
- Including the safeguarding policy and procedures in the staff handbook.
- Ensuring that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed at least annually.
- Ensuring that where we let our premises or contract with others to provide services that the same policy and procedures apply.
- Providing separate guidance in relation to school visits and tower tours.
We will seek to prevent inappropriate behaviour including abuse.
We will do this by:
- Having a named Safeguarding Officer to work with the incumbent and PCC to implement policy and procedures.
- Having a named member of the PCC to take leadership responsibility for the organisation’s safeguarding arrangements.
- Displaying in church premises and on the parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs, together with the safeguarding policy.
- Having a structure to manage safeguarding within the University church with clear lines of accountability.
- Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and vulnerable adults so that they have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.
- Having procedures in place for all activities with children, young people and vulnerable adults including risk assessment, ratios of leaders to children / vulnerable adults and record keeping.
We will seek to protect and support those who are suffering or who have suffered abuse.
We will do this by:
- Creating an environment where concerns can be raised and they are responded to promptly and consistently.
- Listening to and taking seriously all those who disclose abuse.
- Ensuring that staff and volunteers understand that any information about abuse is taken seriously and referred to the Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) and Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA).
- Taking steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the DSA and statutory agencies immediately.
- Offering 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 the safety of all parties.
- The PSO maintaining a log of all safeguarding matters, reporting the matters raised and the response provided to the incumbent, the PCC Safeguarding lead and the DSA.
- The PSO sharing information with any relevant Diocesan or Church of England Safeguarding Adviser in the event of serious safeguarding incidents or allegations of abuse.
- Ensuring that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.
- Ensuring that any Serious Incident is reported to the Charity Commission in a timely manner, and while we delegate the responsibility for submitting this report to the Diocesan Secretary of the Diocese of Oxford, all members of the PCC will ensure that they are informed about any Serious Incidents being reported.
Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this church. This policy, including all related procedures and practices, will be reviewed at least annually. In formulating and revising this policy, we will pay due regard to the Church of England's guidance in Promoting a Safer Church. This policy was last reviewed and revised on 11th July 2023.
The Parish Safeguarding Officer is
Name Judith Pettersen
Telephone 01865 511526
Email judith_pettersen@hotmail.co.uk
The PCC Safeguarding Lead is:
Name Michael Stevens
Telephone 07796 146440
Email mcgstevens@me.com
The Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor is
Name Sophie Harrold
Telephone 07350359809
Email safeguardingreferrals@oxford.anglican.org
Helplines
NSPCC: 0808 800 5000
Childline 0800 1111
Stop It Now: 0808 1000 900
NAPAC: 0808 801 0331
Samaritans: 116 123
Family Lives: 0808 800 2222
National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
Action on Elder Abuse: 080 8808 8141