Safeguarding

Contacts: The St John's Child Protection & Safeguarding Officer | The Diocesan Safeguarding Team: Email & Website

Safeguarding and child protection

St John's has operated to formal standards for safeguarding for a number of years; our policies on safeguarding children and adults who may be vulnerable,were agreed at the Parochial Church Council Meeting held in 2017.

We are committed to implementing a safeguarding policies and procedures accepting the guidance of the House of Bishops' Protecting All God's Children (4th edition 2010). In addition the Parish will follow the Diocesan Procedures and recommended good practice and be responsive to local parish requirements.
We will review and endorse all safeguarding policies annually so that all members are aware of their responsibilities.
The highest standards will be maintained in all the Church's contacts with children and young people and adult volunteers will be given appropriate support and opportunities for training.
We will respond without delay to every complaint made that a child or young person for whom we are responsible may have been harmed.
This Parish will co-operate fully with the statutory agencies in every situation and will not conduct its own investigations.
We will seek to offer informed pastoral care to any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse.
We will care for and supervise any member of our church community known to have offended against a child.
The PCC acknowledges its responsibility for all work with children, young people and adults who may be vulnerable done in the name of the Church and requires all those engaged in such work to be properly appointed and supported in accordance with the House of Bishop's Safeguarding Guidelines Relating to Safer Recruitment (May 2016) and Diocesan Procedures and guidelines.

In particular, the PCC are committed to ensuring that adequate resources are made available to ensure sufficient training is provided to all who require it. The PCC believes whole-heartedly in the principles embodied in the Church of England documents and has formally adopted a Code of Safer Working Practice. The PCC has:

Appointed a Child Protection & Safeguarding ("CP&S") Officer - The current post holder can be found on the Contacts page.
Determined that the St John's safeguarding policies will apply to all church activities and not those of independent organisations on property (however, if such organisations do not have their own safeguarding policy, the St John's policy will prevail).
Determined that all leaders of church activities involving the young or vulnerable adults are to be aware of the details of our safeguarding policy and be trained as needed.
Determined that unnecessary physical contact with a child or young person should never be initiated by an adult.
Determined that if a child or young person requires any physical intervention this should not only be reported to the parents, but should also be recorded in a log.
Determined that in an emergency the police should be called if it is believed that a child or young person is in immediate and imminent danger from their parents or carers; in lesser instances of concern the diocesan safeguarding officer or local authority social worker should be approached.
Determined that there should be an annual agenda item for the PCC to review safeguarding policies, and to consider the practice and any issues at St John's.

We have devised risk assessments for our activities which are available in the church porch. These are reviewed and updated either annually or when change occurs.