Safeguarding

Safeguarding

We want everyone to feel welcome and safe in our churches.

Safeguarding Policy and Procedures

The United Benefice of Sharnbrook, Felmersham and Knotting with Souldrop is committed to safeguarding all those who attend the worship and other activities that we offer. We follow the House of Bishops’ Policy, ‘Protecting All God’s Children’ (2010), and the Diocese of St Albans Policy and Procedures. We seek to create a culture where everyone is included, respected, listened to, and taken seriously. We accept the prime duty of care for children and vulnerable adults and have appointed a safeguarding coordinator to ensure that what we do is informed by up-to-date policies and procedures from local and national authorities.

Our safeguarding coordinator is:

Rosemary Drewery and she can be contacted on:

[email protected] or Tel: 07792 926004

We follow recommended safeguarding practice in recruiting, training and supporting our ordained and lay ministers and our volunteers. Recruitment includes Disclosure and Barring Service checks for those working regularly or substantially with children and/or vulnerable adults. Health and safety policies are in place and we have provided adequate insurance cover for all activities undertaken in the name of the parish. All those working on behalf of the parish have agreed to comply with the safeguarding policy and with the good practice guidelines for their work.

We respond without delay to any complaint that a child or vulnerable adult in our care may have been harmed by the behavior of an employee or volunteer working on behalf of the church. We always seek advice on such matters from outside this church, and we will co-operate with statutory agencies during any enquiries they need to make into allegations against a member of the church community. During those enquiries we will do our best to ensure that those making an allegation, and those against whom an allegation is made, are supported appropriately.

We seek to offer informed pastoral care and support to any child or adult whose life has been affected by abuse, whether the abuse was recent or long ago. Where there is a current risk to vulnerable people that has not yet been brought to light, we support the person who has suffered abuse in taking information to the appropriate agencies.

This church wishes to welcome and support all members of its community. Those who have a history of offences against children or vulnerable adults, and/or who may pose a risk to them are offered a supportive agreement to help them take part in church life; they are supported pastorally, and boundaries are set to protect those who might be vulnerable within the church.

Confidential safeguarding agreements are the responsibility of the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser and the safeguarding coordinator.

We regularly review and update our safeguarding policy.

Signed

Rosemary Drewery

Benefice Safeguarding Officer

Revd Paolo Di Leo

Rector of Sharnbrook

The Rectory, 81 High Street, Sharnbrook, Bedford MK44 1PE; 07968 606377

Key contacts

Safeguarding Coordinator: Rosemary Drewery; Email: [email protected]; Tel: 07792 926004

Rector: Revd Paolo Di Leo; Email: [email protected]; Tel: 07968 606377

Churchwarden All Saints, Souldrop: Nick Wells; Tel: 07841 759497

Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor: Jez Hirst; Email: [email protected]; Tel: 01727 818107

Bedford Borough Local Authority Social Services

Report a concern about a child: 01234 718700 (office hours)

Concern about a vulnerable adult: 01234 276222 (office hours)

Out of hours emergency for children or vulnerable adults: 0300 300 8123

Helplines

NSPCC: 0808 800 5000

Childline: 0800 1111

Stop It Now: 0808 1000 900

NAPAC: 0808 801 0331

Samaritans: 116 123

Family Lives: 0808 800 2222

National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247

Respect Phoneline: 0808 8010 327

National Careline: 0800 0699 784