Safeguarding

Parish Contact

Safeguarding

Mary Richardson

07788 486786

SAFEGUARDING POLICYPOLICY

The following policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting held on 27th May 2025

In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy our church is committed to:

 ·        Promoting a safer environment and culture.

·         Safely recruiting and supporting all with responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within church.

·         Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.

·         Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.

·         Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.

·         Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.

The Parish will: 

·         Create a safe and caring place for all.

·         Have named Parish Safeguarding Officer(s) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.

·         Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and             skills to recognise and respond to abuse.

·         Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and vulnerable adults undertaken in the name               of the parish.

·         Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support                 needs.

·         Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.

·         Take steps to protect children and vulnerable adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops                 guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately.

·         Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.

·         Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and vulnerable adults whilst                         maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.

·         Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.

·        Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices, including our Safe and Fair Recruitment of Ex-               Offenders Policy, at least annually.

Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this church.

This church has appointed Mary Richardson as the Parish Lead Safeguarding Officer and Disclosure Officer

Incumbent: In Vacancy

Churchwardens: Sue Murphy, Alex Borg

Date: 27th May 2025

The Diocesan Safeguarding Advisors are:

Paul Brightwell: pbrightwell@diocant.org

Fiona Coombs:   fcoombs@diocant.org

Any child wishing to talk about a problem can also contact Childline on 0800 1111

Any parent or carer wishing to talk about parenting problems can contact Family Lives on 0808 800 2222

The Parish Safeguarding Coordinator(s) are available to speak with adults or children.

RECRUITMENT OF EX-OFFENDERS POLICY

The Canterbury Diocesan Board of Finance (CDBF) acts on behalf of this parish and all parishes and organisations within the diocese to enable Parochial Church Councils (PCCs) and organisations to have access to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) where the roles of workers require a DBS check/Criminal Records Check.

The CDBF complies with the DBS Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. It undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a Disclosure on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.

The PCC of Holy Trinity, Broadstairs (HTB) is responsible for recruitment decisions within the parish, whether these are voluntary positions or paid ones. The PCC agrees to comply with diocesan guidance and recommendations in accordance with the Parish Agreement

The PCC agrees to adopt sound recruitment procedures and is aware that guidance is available through national and diocesan church publications and training events under the auspices of the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers.

Should information about offences be revealed through the Disclosure process, a rigorous risk assessment is conducted by a specially selected Core Group before a recommendation is made to the PCC regarding recruitment.

For those positions where a Disclosure is required, application forms, job advertisements and recruitment information indicate that the post is subject to obtaining a DBS Disclosure.

Applicants are encouraged to complete a “Self-declaration form” wherever appropriate and to provide details of any criminal record at an early stage in the application process. Such information is to be sent under separate, confidential cover, to a designated person within the appointing body. This information is only seen by those who need to see it as part of the recruitment process.

Unless the nature of the position allows the PCC (or CDBF) to ask questions about an applicant’s entire criminal record, only questions about “unspent” convictions, as defined in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974), are asked.

Having a criminal record is not necessarily a bar to an appointment in a parish, although this depends on the nature of the position and the circumstances and background of the position involved.