Safeguarding at St Mary's
St Mary's, in line with the Church of England and the Diocese of Newcastle, is committed to:
- Promoting a safer environment and culture.
- Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church.
- Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
- Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
- Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
- Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.
The Parish will:
- Create a safe and caring place for all.
- Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.
- Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.
- Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.
- Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
- Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
- Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately.
- Offer 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.
- Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.
- Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually.
- The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and adults.
- The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults.
- Being a safe and caring community which provides a loving environment where victims of abuse can report or disclose abuse and where they can find support and best practice that contributes to the prevention of abuse.
This commitment is shared by all our staff and volunteers.
Our Safeguarding Policy, agreed by the Parochial Church Council, can be downloaded from the link below, and a hard copy is displayed at the Church.
Our Parish Safeguarding Officer from 2021 is JANE KARTUPELIS
If you have concerns about safeguarding issues please feel free to contact our Parish Safeguarding Officer, Jane Kartupelis, or our Priest-in-Charge, (post currently vacant), or use the Newcastle Diocese contact details below.
The Diocese of Newcastle, in common with the whole Church of England, is committed to prevention of abuse and to responding appropriately to concerns of allegations of abuse: the message is "You will be listened to." Follow this link to the Reporting Abuse and Finding Support page on the diocesan website.