St Andrew’s Church, Church Aston
Safeguarding Policy
Our Safeguarding Co-ordinator - Lesley Green
St Andrews Safeguarding Policy
This statement was adopted by St Andrew’s Church at a Parochial Church Council meeting :April 2019
1. This policy will be reviewed each year to monitor the progress which has been achieved. We recognize that everyone has different levels of vulnerability and that each of us may be regarded as vulnerable at some time in our lives.
We recognise that a position of power in relation to another creates a risk of vulnerability. As a consequence we strive to ensure that we consider power when working and leading with people. We recognise that children by virtue of legal status and dependency on adults for their emotional and physical needs will always be vulnerable and at a disadvantage. We commit to considering this in our children’s activities– undertaking supervision of staff working with them and risk assessing activities and groups as a check and balance in our work. We understand that illness, disability, race, mental health and other issues can put adults in a position of vulnerability. We accept that these can be long term (ongoing), or temporary. We commit to considering this in our adults activities and events – undertaking supervision of staff and risk assessing activities and groups as a check and balance in our work. We commit to transparency in our actions and accountability for our work.
2. As members of this parish we commit ourselves to respectful pastoral care for all adults and children to whom we minister.
We will consider issues relating to spiritual care in prayer activity, ensuring that members of our prayer team consider power, control and spiritual abuse issues in their ministry. We will ensure that leaders of our children’s Sunday schools and house groups as well as other ministries that involve working with vulnerable persons have appropriate enhanced DBS checks. We will ensure that those who care for people in our parish attend appropriate safeguarding training. We commit to discuss safeguarding and support to of safeguarding as a standing PCC agenda item
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.
We commit to discuss safeguarding and support to of safeguarding as a standing PCC agenda item.
We will ensure that those in positions of trust (such as wardens), and those with remits or leadership of groups involving vulnerable children etc have appropriate enhanced DBS checks and that these are updated every 5 year. We will engage with appropriate training and seek to develop relationships with other agencies and the diocese on safeguarding. Safeguarding including revision of policy will be a regular PCC agenda item and agree that whilst we have a named co-ordinator we will accept collective ownership for this important issue. We will be transparent, open and not have secrets.
5. The parish commits itself to promoting the inclusion and empowerment of people who may be vulnerable. We will consider the impact of power, disadvantage, inclusion, disability, age and race on how we provide and plan for our ministry. We will actively (but appropriately), challenge each other in our work in order to ensure we consider a wide range of perspectives and views– ensuring that we do not oppressively impose our own values or views to another’s detriment. Where a person struggles with a activity due to disadvantage, disability or illness we will go the extra mile to assist them so they can participate and contribute as a full part of the church.
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. We will not collude, keep secrets or make decisions when we have suspicion of abuse. We will seek through discussion the views of others an ensure through use of external agencies and the diocese safeguarding service that we engage and welcome external perspectives in order to promote a healthy accountable culture. We will report without being bias to our personal view. We will report and not investigate. We will record concerns factually in diocese suggested formats (as per recording with care policy 2017) We will not take chances with the welfare of children or vulnerable adults. We are open to scrutiny and encourage this in others. We have zero tolerance to abuse and put the welfare of vulnerable children and adults first. We take seriously training and activities relating to the safeguarding of Children and seek to engrain this in our congregational culture.
7. We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with people who may be vulnerable. We will ensure that those in positions of trust (such as wardens), and those with remits or leadership of groups involving vulnerable children etc have appropriate enhanced DBS checks and that these are updated every 5 year. We will engage with appropriate training and seek to develop relationships with other agencies and the diocese on safeguarding. Safeguarding including revision of policy will be a regular PCC agenda item and agree that whilst we have a named co-ordinator we will accept collective ownership for this important issue. We will be transparent, open and not have secrets. Our incumbent will undertake to ensure that to the best of his or her knowledge all PCC members, wardens and ministry leaders are of good standing. The PCC undertakes to appoint and upskill a dedicated Safeguarding co-ordinator. Safeguarding co-ordination undertakes to maintain a relationship with diocese level safeguarding team and endure that this policy is followed.
8. The parish is committed to supporting, resourcing, training and regularly reviewing those who undertake work amongst people who may be vulnerable. We will ensure that those in positions of trust (such as wardens), and those with remits or leadership of groups involving vulnerable children etc have appropriate enhanced DBS checks and that these are updated every 5 year. We will engage with appropriate training and seek to develop relationships with other agencies and the diocese on safeguarding. Safeguarding including revision of policy will be a regular PCC agenda item and agree that whilst we have a named co-ordinator we will accept collective ownership for this important issue. We will be transparent, open and not have secrets. Our incumbent will undertake to ensure that to the best of his or her knowledge all PCC members, wardens and ministry leaders are of good standing. The PCC undertakes to appoint and upskill a dedicated Safeguarding co-ordinator. Safeguarding co-ordination undertakes to maintain a relationship with diocese level safeguarding team and endure that this policy is followed.
9. The parish adopts the guidelines of the Church of England and the Diocese. The Parish will report and record in line with Diocese policies and comply with local guidance’s for implementing national policies as defined in diocese policies. These include the diocese safeguarding policy, recording with care policy, social media policy and safer recruitment policy.
10. Each person who works with vulnerable people will agree to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this church.
Spiritual and emotional abuse
Spiritual abuse is a form of emotional and psychological abuse.
Mistreating a person in the name of God, faith or religion – the exact nature of the mistreatment may fall within the definition of one of the other abuse types, emotional /psychological
Special relationships, especially where there is an imbalance of power
• Inappropriate or untrained exercise of exorcism and/or deliverance ministry
• Misuse of authority e.g. by dictating exactly what a person should believe
• Extreme pastoral interference in personal issues including how someone should express their faith
• Telling someone that if they pray harder/believe more they will be healed
• Making someone feel inferior in their faith
Lone Working
St Andrew’s Parish Church has a duty to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of its clergy and others who may be affected by the work of the church.
Lone working is an everyday and essential practice for some clergy, church workers, youth and children’s workers and parish visitors
The purpose of this policy is to:
Reduce the risks presented by lone working;
Adopt a consistent approach to the safety of lone workers throughout the life of the church;
The PCC will regularly review the policy to ensure its implementation and to ensure that it is relevant to working practice. In addition, the PCC has a responsibility to undertake risk assessments with anyone that may be at risk from lone working and to put in place safe working practices that take account of normal work and foreseeable emergencies.
Lone workers are those who work by themselves without close or direct supervision.
Potential Risks:
· Unknown members of the public.
· A requirement to lock up when leaving a building.
· Poorly lit entrance/exit.
· Handling money.
· Using certain pieces of equipment.
· Being taken ill whilst working alone.
· Lack of knowledge re Health and Safety procedures
Requirements.
If you must enter the building alone you must inform a family member/ church member that you are going to be there and let them know the time you will be leaving.
ensure that you have a mobile phone with you that is on, charged and has credit.
. If you are in the church alone for more than 1 hour, check in with that person every
hour to confirm that you are safe and still working
Once you have left ensure you call the designated person to let them know you have left.
Do not handle money when you are alone
Do not do anything that may endanger yourself whilst alone i.e. climbing standing on ladders/steps
Only enter the building for any kind of lone working if it is absolutely necessary if it can wait until there are other people within the building then do so.
Personal Safety
The PCC has a responsibility to ensure the health, safety and welfare of all people, but people also have a duty to take reasonable care themselves. This is not about raising anxiety levels, but about recognising potential dangers and taking positive steps to reduce risk, for yourself and for others involved within the running of the church.
Use of social media/Zoom
Whilst using Zoom for meetings and public worship to be mindful of anyone who continually does not use the video as may be a reason for concern.
Anyone under 18 must use the video when on Zoom
This policy to be reviewed July 2025
This church appoints Lesley Green. to represent the concerns and views of vulnerable people at our meetings and to outside bodies as Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator.
Safeguarding co-ordinator - Lesley Green - Contact 07968234667