Safeguarding

Safeguarding is the care and protection given to the vulnerable: this includes children, young people, the elderly and anyone who is vulnerable due to their circumstances or the role they may have when dealing with other people or children. I am the safeguarding officer in this parish.

My responsibilities include safer recruitment by initiating Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks on anyone in the church who wants to take on a role working with children or vulnerable adults. This process checks that people ‘are who they say they are’ through rigorous identification (ID) checks and that they have no extant criminal records that would bar them from such roles within the church.

I am also responsible for ensuring that people who take on church roles have received the appropriate level of safeguarding training for that role. For those who have been so trained I also advise when they need to refresh their training, and which training course is appropriate. All such courses are run under the authority of the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer either by in-house staff or accredited trainers.

My final role is to respond to any disclosure made or concerns raised if somebody believes that a child, young person or vulnerable adult may have suffered, may be suffering or is at risk of harm through abuse, exploitation or neglect. The Church of England, in all aspects of its life, is committed to and will promote the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Our church aims to provide a place where all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from abuse. We are all working towards creating a safe and non-discriminatory environment by being aware of some of the particular situations that create vulnerability. Everyone in the church has a responsibility with regards to safeguarding and the protection of children and vulnerable adults

Peter Warwick

Safeguarding Officer – St Andrew’s Church & Doccombe Chapel, Moretonhampstead

01647 441218 / [email protected]