SAFEGUARDING
in our Parish we take very seriously the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults. This web page gives details of our safeguarding policies, our safeguarding officer, and other safeguarding contacts
PARISH POLICY ON THE SAFEGUARDING OF ADULTS IN THE CHURCH
This statement was adopted by the Parish of St John the Baptist, Kirdford with Holy Trinity, Plaistow on 2nd May 2017. This policy will be reviewed annually by the PCC and a report given to the APCM by the parish representative in order that the policy might be monitored.
1. We recognise that everyone has different levels of vulnerability and that each of us may be regarded as vulnerable at some time.
2. As members of this parish we commit ourselves to respectful pastoral care for all adults to whom we minister.
3. We commit ourselves to the safeguarding of people who may be vulnerable, ensuring their well-being in the life of this church.
4. We commit ourselves to promoting safe practice by those in positions of trust.
5. The parish commits itself to promoting the inclusion and empowerment of people who may be vulnerable.
6. It is the responsibility of each of us to prevent the physical, verbal, emotional, financial, sexual, institutional and spiritual abuse of vulnerable people and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
7. We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with people who may be vulnerable, including the request for a DBS (Disclosing and Barring Service) clearance when required, to be processed by our parish Lead Recruiter.
8. The Parish is committed to supporting, resourcing, training and regularly reviewing those who undertake work amongst people who may be vulnerable.
9. The parish adopts the guidelines of the Church of England and the Diocese.
10. Each person who works with vulnerable people will agree to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this Church.
PARISH CHILD PROTECTION POLICY
Parish of St John the Baptist, Kirdford with Holy Trinity, Plaistow
The following was agreed at the PCC meeting held on Tuesday 2nd May 2017.
1. As members of this PCC, we are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of all our members, particularly the children and young people.
2. We recognise that our work with children and young people is the responsibility of the whole church community.
3. We are committed to implementing the House of Bishops' Child Protection Policy 'Protecting All God's Children 2004', and the Diocesan procedures, which are based on the Children Act 1989, and Government guidance 'Working together to Safeguard Children 2006'.
4. We will carefully select and train ordained and lay ministers, volunteers and paid workers with children and young people using the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), amongst other tools, to check the background of each person.
5. We will respond, without delay, to every complaint made that a child or young person, for whom we are responsible, may be harmed.
6. We will co-operate fully with statutory agencies during any investigation concerning a member of the church cornmunlty.
7. We will seek to offer informed pastoral care to any child or children, young person or adult who has suffered abuse.
8. We will care for and supervise any member of our church community known to have offended against a child.
9. We will review this policy annually and as part of this process will ensure that all our procedures, particularly in relation to the DBS, are up to date.
PARISH SAFEGUARDING OFFICER
Mrs Lindsay Nutting is our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Lead Recruiter, and Child and Adult Protection Coordinator.
Address: Chestnut Cottage, Kirdford, Billingshusrt, West Sussex, RH14 0LW
Phone: 01403 820508
ADDITIONAL CONTACTS
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser:
Colin Perkins (for contact details click on the "Diocesan Safeguarding Team" link below).
Local Authority Social Services
West Sussex County Council
- For children at risk, Tel: 01403 229900 or 033 022 26664 for out-of-hours calls
- For adults at risk, Tel: 01243 642121
WHERE TO GET EXTRA HELP
If you are a child and you need to talk to someone about things that are happening to you that you don’t like, please visit the Childline website here, or telephone Childline on 0800 1111.
If you are an adult and you need to access support about something that is happening to you, please click here to find out how you can do that. Scroll down to find links to various support organisations for you to contact.
If you need to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team, please click here
If you need to report a safeguarding concern to the statutory authorities in Sussex, please click here; click on the option on the left that most describes the situation you are concerned about, and follow the advice and further links you find there. Please remember to contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team as well once you have contacted the statutory authorities.
SAFEGUARDING DURING A SERIOUS ILLNESS OUTBREAK
Note that in the event of an outbreak of a serious disease among the congregation and population, appropriate measures will be put in place to safeguard everyone (as they were during the Covid-19 outbreak of 2020-2022).