Parish Safeguarding Handbook                                                              St Mary the Virgin, Roade. Safeguarding Children

Church of England

 

                                                                                                                                                  

Parish of St. Mary the Virgin, Roade

 PARISH POLICY STATEMENT 

for SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN

 

We recognise that:

• The welfare of the child or young person is paramount

• All children (regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity) have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse

• Abuse of children can occur in all communities and is most likely to occur within families and by people known to the child

• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people’s welfare.

In all our activities we will endeavour to safeguard children and young people by:

• Valuing, listening to and respecting children and young people

• Fostering and encouraging best practice by setting standards for working with children and young people, in cooperation with statutory bodies, voluntary agencies and other faith communities

We are committed to promoting and supporting church environments which:

• Are child friendly and nurture their positive development

• Enable children and young people to be active contributors to the church community

• Protect children and young people from actual or potential harm

• Enable and encourage concerns to be raised and responded to openly and consistently

When concerns are raised we will follow Diocesan procedures in-

• Responding without delay to every concern raised that a child or young person may have been harmed , or be at risk from harm; or about the behaviour of an adult or child

• Working with the Diocese and statutory bodies during an investigation into child abuse, including when allegations are made against a member of the church community

In our supervision, we will follow Diocesan procedures in-

• Ensuring, in partnership with the Diocese and other agencies, that care and supervision is provided for any member of our church community known to have offended against a child or young person, or to pose a risk to them.

In our recruitment of paid staff and volunteers we will follow Diocesan procedures in-

• Ensuring careful selection and recruitment of ordained and lay ministers, voluntary workers and paid workers with children and young people, in line with safer recruitment principles and checks

• Provide supervision, support and training

In our care-

• Ensuring that informed and appropriate pastoral care is offered to any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse

• Ensuring that appropriate pastoral care offered to any member of our church community against whom an allegation is made

 

In our publicity

• Sharing information about good safeguarding practice with children, parents, and all those working with them