We are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of all our members, particularly the children and young people.
Child Protection Policy
- We recognise that our work with children and young people is the responsibility of the whole church community and, consequently, safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone.
- We are committed to implementing the House of Bishops’ Child Protection Policy ‘Protecting All God’s Children’, 2010, and the diocesan procedures, which are based on the Children Act, and Government guidance “Working together to Safeguard Children”, both published in 2013.
- We will carefully select and train ordained and lay ministers; volunteers and paid workers with children and young people. We will use the Disclosure and Barring Service, amongst other tools, to check the background of each person.
- We will respond, without delay, to every concern made that a child or young person, for whom we are responsible, may have been harmed.
- We will co-operate fully with statutory agencies during any investigation concerning a member of the church community.
- We will seek to ensure that any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse is offered support that meets their needs.
- We will care for and supervise any member of our church community known to have offended against a child.
- We will review this policy annually and as part of this process will ensure that all our procedures, particularly in relation to the Disclosure and Barring Service, are up to date.
If you are looking for advice about raising children or in relation to current issues that young people face, you may find some helpful articles here.
The Safeguarding of Adults
- We recognise that everyone has different levels of vulnerability and that each of us may be regarded as vulnerable at some time in our lives.
- As members of this parish we commit ourselves to respectful pastoral care for all adults to whom we minister.
- We commit ourselves to the safeguarding of people who may be vulnerable, ensuring their well-being in the life of this church.
- We commit ourselves to promoting safe practice by those in positions of trust.
- The parish commits itself to promoting the inclusion and empowerment of people who may be vulnerable.
- It is the responsibility of each of us to prevent the physical, verbal, emotional, financial, sexual, institutional and spiritual abuse of vulnerable people and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
- We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with people who may be vulnerable, including the request for a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) clearance when required, to be processed by our parish 31:8 Lead Recruiter.
- The parish is committed to supporting, resourcing, training and regularly reviewing those who undertake work amongst people who may be vulnerable.
- The parish adopts the guidelines of the Church of England and the Diocese.
- Each person who works with vulnerable people will agree to abide by these recommendations and the guidelines established by this church.
- We will review this policy annually and as part of this process will ensure that all our procedures, particularly in relation to the Disclosure and Barring Service, are up to date.
For further information and advice about safeguarding, please follow this link to the Diocese of Chichester Safeguarding Site.