Safeguarding

The parish of Betley: St Margaret is committed to the safeguarding of children, young people and adults. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer(s), PSOs.

The Diocese of Lichfield’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (DSA) who advise our PSOs.

If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm please contact the DSA. If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority Children or Adults Services.

STATEMENT ON THE CARE OF ADULTS IN THE CHURCH

St. Margaret’s Church, Betley.

2019 Safeguarding Policy and Procedures Document on Safeguarding, Children, Young People and Adults

Since July 2015 the PCC has had a combined Safeguarding Policy to cover children, young people and vulnerable adults, in keeping with Lichfield Diocesan Guidelines. The Safeguarding Policy and Procedures Document Policy was last reviewed at the September 2018 meeting.

It is useful to remind ourselves of the particular needs of adults and what our commitments to adults are as a Church of caring people and to those using the Reading Room.

1. Everyone has different levels of vulnerability and each of us may be regarded as vulnerable at

some time in our lives.

2. Respectful pastoral care should be available to all adults to whom we minister.

3. The need to provide formal Safeguarding is covered by the Safeguarding Policy September 2019 and is intended to protect those who may be vulnerable, ensuring their well being in the life of this church.

4. All those in positions of trust will be made aware of the Health and Safety Policies and the

need for safe practices in the Church.

5. Vulnerable persons should be able to find inclusion and empowerment in our community, including the sick and those with disabilities

6. It is the responsibility of each of us to prevent the physical, emotional, sexual, financial and spiritual abuse of vulnerable people and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect, to the Safeguarding Officer.

In particular we aim to be aware of the following 3 groups in particular:

a)) People who may be suffering from some form of dementia. We aim to provide a ‘dementia friendly environment’. We are currently seeking approval to call ourselves a Dementia Friendly Church. Some training took place October 2018 and will continue in May2019.

b) As a community we are aware that Domestic Abuse takes many forms and is very common and may include social media. In the first instance the Safeguarding Officer may be approached and will aim to direct people to the appropriate local agencies.

c) From time to time we may find that an ex offender wishes to join our church. In that case we would liaise with Diocesan Advisory Coordinator and follow the guidelines provided in the Safeguarding Handbook. If it is felt that anyone joining our congregation poses a risk to others, we would follow the same procedure.

7. Only appropriate people should work with those who may be vulnerable.

8. The same support, resources, and training, will be offered to those who undertake work

with people who may be vulnerable, in the same way as work with children is managed and

reviewed. This may include for example pastoral visitors. The PCC will be responsible for identifying such training.

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.

11. The Parish is aware of the special needs of those members of the church suffering from dementia and other similar conditions and will take steps to ensure the environment is as ‘user friendly’ as possible.

The Safeguarding officer appointed by the PCC will represent the concerns

and views of vulnerable people at our meetings and to outside bodies as required.

Date 06.05.19

Jennifer Walton

(01270) 820051

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SAFEGUARDING POLICY and PROCEDURES

St. Margaret’s Church Betley

This document was be reviewed by the Parochial Church Council on 14th May 2019

The Parochial Church Council (PCC) of St. Margaret’s Church Betley will take all reasonable care to ensure the safety of the children, young people and vulnerable adults for whom it bears responsibility.

Procedures

1. There will be a

Safeguarding Co-ordinator – At this meeting the P.C.C. agreed that Jennifer Walton will continue in this role as our approved Safeguarding Co-ordinator in 2019-2020. She is the point of contact through which concerns about child protection or the protection of vulnerable adults will be channelled.

Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinator – at the same meeting the P.C.C. approved Revd. Peter

Chantry as Deputy Safeguarding Co-ordinator.

2. The Co-ordinator and Deputy are responsible to the P.C.C. for ensuring that these procedures are implemented.

3. The P.C.C. will work towards adopting the recommendations of the House of Bishops, published in the documents, Policy for Safeguarding Children Protecting All God’s Children 4th edition, Promoting a Safer Church 2006 and the revised Safer Recruitment Policy reviewed May 2016.

4. The PCC will ensure full compliance with Health and Safety Guidelines as laid out in St. Margaret’s Health and Safety Policy 2015, and adopted by the PCC March 2016, and reviewed annually.

5. The PCC is directly responsible for the following groups which include children, young people and adults:-

• Church Choir

• Earlybirds (Sunday Group) and those church members who assist at Praise and Play at All Saints’ Madeley, will also comply with this policy

• Bell Ringers

• Occasional activities, such as Holiday Club, short courses, or social activities under the auspices of the Church

• Sunday Youth Group

• School Choir will be accompanied and supervised by a teacher from Betley School.

• Activities n the Reading Room, including Fellowship Groups and St. Margaret’s lunches

6. The PCC is responsible for ensuring that outside bodies eg School or visiting choirs using the Church have their own safeguarding policies or adopt our policy for the event.

The Co-ordinator will similarly advise the Reading Room Committee of their responsibilities to ensure

Safeguarding policies are in place for any outside organisations or groups, which might use this facility.

7. All new leaders and others as determined, working with children, young people or vulnerable adults will be validated (DBS) on appointment. They must

• be over 18, young people under 18 may assist in leadership roles, but must be supervised at all times.

• complete the Confidential Parish Declaration based on the Lichfield Diocesan guideline.

• provide two references using the Child Protection Policy Form

• apply for and supply clearance from the Disclosure and Barring Service before taking up post and every five years thereafter. The applicant will receive hard copy through the post of the outcome. As from 1st July when the new on line system commenced, the Criminal Record disclosure will only be seen by the Safeguarding Administrators at the Diocese. If the record is not clear following evaluation the incumbent or designated person will be advised as to the suitability of the applicant for the role applied for.

• Confidential Declarations will continue to be carried out locally and a record kept by the Safeguarding Co-ordinator or incumbent.

Existing leaders and others working with children and young people must

• have completed the Parish Declaration based on the Lichfield Diocesan Guideline

• apply for and supply clearance from the Criminal Records Bureau every five years.

8. Only suitable and responsible people may become church key holders, references may be taken up in accordance with the Safer Recruitment Policy, and Parish Declarations completed as necessary. Access and Usage of Church Buildings will be monitored as far as is reasonably possible. All authorised ministers and other workers defined in the Policy for Safeguarding Children Protecting All God’s Children 4th edition and promoting a Safer Church 2006 will also satisfy the requirements of 7 above.

9. All declarations and references and CRB/DBS documentation, which predate July 1st will be confidential and securely held by the incumbent or Safeguarding Officer. In future these records will be held by the Diocese.

The P.C.C. will use the Disclosure and Barring Service for checking the records of relevant personnel. This procedure can only be done on line, through CCPAS, now known as Thirtyone:eight, the agency which now deals with these matters. The Jennifer Walton - Safeguarding 0fficer can provide guidance on this procedure and is an authorised local verifier, in respect of the identification process.

10. At its May meeting or next convenient meeting annually the PCC will, with the assistance of the Safeguarding Co- ordinator

1) review and endorse the list of all validated leaders working with children, young people or vulnerable adults; this to include Churchwardens and authorised ministers.

2) review the roles, support and training for those leaders.

3) review the working pattern, venue and age range of all groups who may be at risk.

4) review the risks to people in those groups

5) satisfy itself that written parental/carer permission is always obtained for certain physical activities and for transport on trips.

6) issue clear guidelines for avoiding situations where children/adults could be in danger, via the Health and Safety Policy

11. Mixed age activities

e.g. bellringing and church choir;

Responsibilities of validated leaders

1) To manage their activity with the interests and protection of children as paramount.

2) To observe and monitor interaction between adults and children in the group.

3) To monitor the behaviour of new members, particularly those whose background is unknown.

4) To raise any matter of concern regarding the behaviour of an adult or child promptly with the incumbent or Safeguarding Co-ordinator.

Responsibilities of the Safeguarding Coordinator

1) To ensure that validated leaders of these activities are made aware of their specific responsibilities listed above.

2) To ensure that newly appointed validated leaders are made specifically aware, on appointment, of the potential for undesirable adults to seek access to their activity.

3) The PCC will provide leaders and those working in Safeguarding access to guidance and training in the understanding of child/vulnerable adult abuse. All members of the PCC have an opportunity to read the document All God’s Children.

12.The P.C.C. will publish on the Church Notice Board and in the Reading Room a copy of the Diocesan Child

Protection Flow Chart and all validated leaders will be given a copy. PCC members will also be provided with

a copy.

13. The PCC will work to Section 2 of the Lichfield Diocese Child Protection Policy.

1) In all ‘children only’ activities there must be at least two adults present, one of whom should be a validated leader.

2) In all ‘mixed age’ activities there must always be two validated leaders present.

14.The P.C.C. will carry public liability insurance and will insure all leaders and staff for personal accident.

15.The P.C.C. will make a copy of this policy and its procedures available to the Archdeacon on request or at his/her visitation.

16.This policy will be kept under review by the Safeguarding Co-ordinator, who will report monthly to the P.C.C. The P.C.C. will review the policy and all its procedures annually at a PCC meeting. If members are happy with any changes they can be approved then or if necessary after discussion at a later meeting. Safeguarding will be an agenda item at each PCC meeting as part of the Health and Safety review.