Safeguarding

Ensuring that children and adults are kept safe whilst in our care is an integral part of church life. If you have any concerns about safeguarding please contact our parish safeguarding coordinator (Pat Simpson) on 0115 926 7859 or the diocesan safeguarding adviser on 01636 817200. Out of Hours for Nottinghamshire: 0300 456 4546. For further information click “Safeguarding” on our website.

Our Safeguarding Principals:

Safeguarding is a priority at St Mark’s. We are committed to following national guidelines and good practice on safeguarding children and adults, including safe recruitment of workers and volunteers. 

We follow the principles of the House of Bishop’s Policy for Safeguarding Children Young People. We believe that every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s recreation of us in Christ.

Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.

We are committed to:

➢ The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children and all adults.

➢ The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable.

➢ The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where there is a culture of ‘informed vigilance’ as to the dangers of abuse.

We will carefully select and train all those with responsibilities within the Church, in line with safe recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes.

We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority in any investigation.

We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with him or her an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.

We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust.

We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

In all these principles we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice.