Safeguarding

Emergency Contact

safeguarding@saintpeters.co

As members of the Church of England we are concerned with the wholeness of each individual within God’s purpose for everyone.  We seek to safeguard all members of the church community, of all ages. It is the responsibility of each one of us to protect young people and vulnerable adults from physical, emotional and sexual abuse, and from neglect.

Our vision at Saint Peter’s is ‘to become a loving people as we welcome others into a shared life, a witnessing people as live transformed lives because of what God has done for us and a growing people as we seek to know God and experience his love more.’ Through our shared values of ‘Love without borders’, ‘Sharing without fear’, ‘and Seeking with passion’ and ‘Prayer without ceasing’, we recognise the importance of the individual story for every member within our congregation and wider parish. We live out these values through genuine relatable encounters and safeguarding others and ourselves through being committed to

  • The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all young people and all adults 
  • The safeguarding and protection of all young people and all 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. 
  • Seeking to carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within our church, in line with safer recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes. 
  • Responding without delay to every complaint made, which suggests that an adult or young person have been harmed, co-operating with the police and local authority in any investigation. 
  • Seeking to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with him or her appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care. 
  • Seeking to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust. 
  • Seeking 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 young person or vulnerable adult. 
  • Following legislation, guidance and recognised good practice. 
  • Helping young people and vulnerable adults in their Christian discipleship through a programme of learning and thereby to deepen their Christian faith.
  • Enabling young people and vulnerable adults to experience the love of God.
  • Encouraging a strong Christian fellowship.
  • Helping young people and vulnerable adults realise their full potential physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
  • Encouraging young people and vulnerable adults to take a full part in the Church’s life and worship.
  • Providing a safe meeting place for young people and vulnerable adults.
  • Encouraging young people to become responsible adults.
  • Promoting equality of opportunity for all.
  • Accept the prime duty of care placed upon the incumbent, Rev. Ned Lunn, churchwardens, Rebecca Popplewell and Francesca Millward-Rhodes, and the Parochial Church Council (PCC) to ensure the wellbeing of young people and vulnerable adults in the church community.

This means that we will:

  • Appoint at least one coordinator (Parish Safeguarding Officer, “PSO”) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures. The PSO must ensure that any concerns about a young person or the behaviour of an adult are appropriately reported both to the statutory agencies and to the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor (“DSA”). Ideally this PSO should be someone without other pastoral responsibility for young people or vulnerable adults in the parish; if they are, then a Deputy Safeguarding Officer (“DPSO”) will be appointed. The PSO should be a member of the PCC (elected or co-opted) and should report at least annually on the implementation of the policy within the parish. 

This person is Sarah Rowland. She can be contacted via confidential email (safeguarding@saintpeters.co)

The deputy appointed is Michelle Hayes.

  • Appointing a person, who may be different from the PSO and DPSO, to be a young people’s advocate; this should be someone whom the young people know they can talk to about any problems, if they wish. 

This person is Hannah Corrigan. She can be contacted via email (hannah@saintpeters.co)

  • Display in the church premises where young people’s activities take place, the contact details of the PSO and/or the young people’s advocate, along with the Childline (0800 1111) and Family Lives (0808 800 2222) telephone numbers. 
  • Ensure that all those authorized to work with young people and/or vulnerable adults or are in a position of authority are appropriately recruited according to safer recruitment practice, and are trained and supported. Ensure all authorized personnel have a copy of the Parish Safeguarding Policy, and access to Diocesan procedures and good practice guidelines. 
  • Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving young people and vulnerable adults undertaken in the name of the parish. 
  • Ensure that those who may pose a threat to young people and/or vulnerable adults are effectively managed and monitored. 
  • Review the implementation of the safeguarding policy, procedures and good practice, at least annually. (December of each year)
  • Ensure all those who work with children and/or vulnerable adults are asked to read and agree to this policy document.

For the longer form of our Safeguarding policy, along with appendices, please contact either Ned Lunn or Sarah Rowland.