Safeguarding

Parish Safeguarding Officer

Rhian Rutland

Tel: 01474 831216

Parish Safeguarding Officer Role

The Parish Safeguarding Officer is the key link between the diocese and the parish/s, concerning safeguarding matters. She/he will have an overview of all church activities involving children, young people and vulnerable adults and will seek to ensure the implementation of safeguarding policy. The role can be taken by one person or the role shared, for example with one person covering children the other vulnerable adults.

The key tasks of the parish safeguarding officer are to:

1. Have an overview of all church activities involving children and vulnerable adults and keep a record of these activities.

2. Be familiar with diocesan safeguarding guidance and ensure that leaders of activities are fully aware of, and are implementing, this guidance.

3. Liaise with the incumbent over safeguarding issues.

4. Keep in touch with the leaders of all activities and offer them advice and support over safeguarding matters.

5. Liaise as necessary with the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers. Report all concerns or allegations against church officers to the DSA.

6. Attend diocesan safeguarding training offered for PSOs.

7. Assist with safeguarding training in the parish as appropriate.

8. Attend a meeting of the church leadership (PCC) at least annually to ensure safeguarding issues are discussed and that the church leadership adopt the annual Church Safeguarding Policy.

9. Ensure that the Church Safeguarding Policy and contact details is displayed in all Church premises.

10. Keep good records of any safeguarding concerns that may arise and ensure that others do the same.

11. Promote inclusiveness in places of worship and within church activities.

12. Keep the church leadership informed of good safeguarding practice.

13. Undertake a regular parish safeguarding self-assessment in the format offered by the Diocese.

Safeguarding Children, Young People, and Vulnerable adults.

Promoting a Safer Church

Saint Peter’s Church takes very seriously the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults.

We seek to welcome everyone into the life of the church, including those who for whatever reason may be considered as vulnerable or marginalised. We commit ourselves to the nurturing protection and safeguarding of all children young people and vulnerable adults associated with our church.

We are committed to ensuring that those working with children, young people and vulnerable adults who require a disclosure and barring check (DBS) have undergone this at enhanced level.

We base our work on the good practice advice set out in the Church of England’s own guidance (also called Promoting a Safer Church which was produced by the churches national safeguarding team.

The policy ensures that we meet our duties under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 to have ‘due regard’ to the safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops.

By applying the policy we seek to promote the welfare of children, young people and adults, work to prevent abuse from occurring, protect those who are at risk of being abused and respond well to those who have been abused.

We will take care to identify where a person may present a risk to others and offer support to them whilst taking steps to mitigate such risks.

We will safely recruit and support all those within the church with the responsibilities towards children young persons or vulnerable adults. We will respond promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation. We will also care pastorally for victims of abuse, those who are subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.

We will respond to those that may pose a present risk to others.

The PCC have appointed Rhian Rutland as the Parish Safeguarding Officer.

We believe that the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults in our activities is the responsibility of the whole church. It is important therefore that everyone who participates in the life of our church must play their part in promoting a safer church for all.

In the event of any person becoming concerned about protection issues concerning a child, young person or vulnerable adult they should contact Rhian Rutland parish safeguarding officer as soon as possible either by email or by phone (details at the top of the page).

If a child young person or adult is in immediate need of protection from significant or serious harm contact the emergency services on 999.

Social services can also be called or any of the following groups.

NSPCC (0808) 800 5000

Child line 0800 1111

Samaritans 116123

Family lives (0808) 800 2222

Action on Elder abuse (0808) 808 8141

National domestic violence helpline 0808 2000 247

Stop it Now 0808 1000 900