Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
In this Parish, we are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of the children and vulnerable adults within our church community and we believe that Christian communities should be places where all people feel welcomed, respected and safe.
We are therefore committed to safeguarding all those who attend the worship and other activities that we offer.
We adopt and implement the House of Bishops’ Policies ‘Protecting All God’s Children’ (2010); Promoting a Safe Church’ (Policy for Safeguarding Vulnerable adults in the Church of England) 2006; the Diocese of Ely Policy and Procedures (2015) and The Church of England Practice Guidance: Safer Recruitment (2015). Read our full Safeguarding Policy here
We seek to create a culture where everyone is included, respected, listened to, and taken seriously. We accept the prime duty of care for children and vulnerable adults, and have appointed a Parish Safeguarding Officer to ensure that what we do is informed by up-to-date policies and procedures from local and national authorities.
We follow recommended safeguarding practice in recruiting, training and supporting our ordained and lay ministers, our employees and our volunteers. Recruitment includes Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks for those working regularly or substantially with children and/or vulnerable adults. Health and safety policies are in place and we have provided adequate insurance cover for all activities undertaken in the name of the parish. All those working on behalf of the parish have agreed to comply with the safeguarding policy and with the good practice guidelines for their work.
We respond without delay to any complaint that a child or vulnerable adult in our care may have been harmed by the behaviour of an employee or volunteer working on behalf of the church. We always seek advice on such matters from outside this church, and we will co-operate with statutory agencies during any enquiries they need to make into allegations against a member of the church community. During those enquiries we will do our best to ensure that those making an allegation, and those against whom an allegation is made, are supported appropriately.
We seek to offer informed pastoral care and support to any child or adult whose life has been affected by abuse, whether the abuse was recent or long ago. Where there is a current risk to vulnerable people that has not yet been brought to light, we support the person who has suffered abuse in taking information to the appropriate agencies.
This church wishes to welcome and support all members of its community. Those who have a history of offences against children or vulnerable adults, and/or who may pose a risk to them are offered a supportive agreement to help them take part in church life; they are supported pastorally, and boundaries are set to protect those who might be vulnerable within the church. Confidential safeguarding agreements are the responsibility of the Bishop’s Safeguarding Adviser and the incumbent, who work together.
We regularly review and update our safeguarding policy, and we welcome comments from those using our services on how we could improve our awareness and safeguarding practices.
Full details of our policies are available in our churches or from the Safeguarding Co-ordinator.
If you have a concern and would like to speak to someone, please contact our Safeguarding Co-ordinator in the first instance.
Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is:
Mrs Jo Proctor and she can be contacted on 07388 470207
If you would like to speak to the Diocese of Ely Safeguarding Team, you can find their details here: http://www.elydiocese.org/safeguarding
If you are concerned that someone you know is being abused or is at risk of being abused or presents a risk to others, you can report the matter to Social Care Services or the Police on 101 or one of the helplines listed below. In an emergency dial 999.
NSPCC for adults concerned about a child - 0808 800 5000
Childline for children and young people - 0800 1111
Action on Elder Abuse helpline - 0808 808 8141
24-hour National Domestic Violence helpline - 0808 2000 247