CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS SAFEGUARDING/CHILD PROTECTION POLICY

 

RATIONALE

St John’s Church Crowborough has a responsibility to promote the welfare and safety of all children, young persons and vulnerable adults.  We aim to create a culture in which the sanctity, dignity and wellbeing of children, young persons and vulnerable adults is openly and transparently at the heart of our church community.

 

PRINCIPLES

As members of this PCC we are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of all our members, particularly the children, young people and adults who are deemed vulnerable.

We recognise that our work with children and young people is the responsibility of the whole church community and consequently safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone

We seek to value, respect and listen to children and vulnerable adults.

We will adopt safeguarding practices through procedures and a code of conduct for all individuals involved or having regular contact with children or vulnerable adults.

We will ensure that all relevant safeguarding checks are undertaken.

We will ensure that safeguarding concerns are shared with nominated/appropriate personnel.

 

PURPOSES

To assume a duty of care to protect children and vulnerable adults from inappropriate behaviour.

To ensure lines of communication are defined, effective and transparent.

 

GUIDELINES

As members of this PCC we are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of all our members. 

We recognise that safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We are committed to implementing all safeguarding policies and practice guidance issued by the House of Bishops.

We will carefully select and train all those who work or volunteer in positions of trust.  We will use the Disclosure and Barring Service, amongst other tools, to check the background of each person.

We will respond appropriately to every concern made that a person for whom we are responsible may have been harmed or is at risk of self-harm.

We will co-operate fully with statutory agencies during any investigation concerning a member of the church community.

We will seek to ensure that anyone for whom we have pastoral responsibility who has suffered abuse is offered support that meets their needs.

We will respond appropriately to those who have committed sexual offences who wish to join our fellowship, following ‘House of Bishop’s’ guidance and the advice of the Safeguarding Team.

We will review this policy annually and as part of this process will ensure that all our procedures, particularly in relation to the Disclosure and Barring Service, are up to date.

 

Our Church Safeguarding Representative is Mrs Carol Brown, Little Warren, Sheiling Road, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 1BJ; telephone 01892 652310, email carol.brown@btinternet.co

 

 

Signed on behalf of the PCC:

 

Name/Signed:     .................................................................   The Venerable Dr Edward Dowler, Priest in Charge/Archdeacon

 

Name/Signed       .................................................................   Miss Susan Miell, Churchwarden

 

Parish of St John the Evangelist

 

This policy was agreed by the PCC of St John the Evangelist at the meeting held on March 2023

 

Our Church DBS Safeguarding Representative is: Peter Sugden, 11 Birches Close, Crowborough, TN6 2UP