SAFEGUARdiNG

The following policy statement was agreed at the PCC meeting held on 25th April 2022.

As members of St Matthew with St Sidwell, Exeter PCC, we commit our church community to the support, nurture, protection and safeguarding of all, especially the young and vulnerable. We recognise that our work with children, young people and adults at risk is the responsibility of the whole church community. We are fully committed to acting within current legislation, guidance, national frameworks and the Diocesan Safeguarding procedures. We will also act in an open, transparent and accountable way in working in partnership with the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Children and Adult Social Care Services, the Police, Probation Services and other agencies to safeguard children and adults at risk.  Staff and volunteers are recruited in accordance with House of Bishops’ Guidance on Safer Recruitment.  This means we will ensure that those who are employed or who volunteer to work with children, young people and adults at risk are suitable for the role, that they know what the role entails and that they are supported in carrying it out.

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, but there are particular groups of people who need to be cared for:

Children and Young People (In this policy, as in the Children Acts 1989 and 2004, a child is anyone who has not yet reached their 18th birthday. ‘Children’ therefore means ‘children and young people’, and these terms are often used interchangeably. The term ‘young people’ is often used to describe children who are of secondary school age, i.e. aged between 11 and 17. By implication, the term ‘children’ is often used to specifically describe a child between the age of 0 and 10). 

Adults who may fall into one or several of these categories:

• A sensory, or physical disability, or impairment

• A learning disability

• A physical illness

• Mental ill health (including dementia), chronic, or acute.

• An addiction to alcohol, or drugs.

• The failing faculties of old age

• A permanent, or temporary reduction in physical, mental, or emotional capacity brought on by life events e.g. bereavement, trauma, or previous abuse.

St Matthew with St Sidwell, Exeter PCC will follow the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy and Guidance for Parishes when recruiting staff and volunteers in accordance with the latest legal requirements and national church guidelines.

Staff and volunteers working with children and young people or with adults at risk will be trained about their responsibilities to these groups when being initiated into their roles, and other training sessions will be held for volunteers and staff when required.  Part of this training may involve preparing volunteers and staff for the reporting of concerns, scenario planning about what to do if a child or adult discloses something that has upset or harmed them, a child or adult exhibits behaviour that might show signs of abuse (physical injury), behaviours or attitudes of those who may be abusing a child or vulnerable adult, and information about who would need to be contacted. 

Concerns about the wellbeing and safety of children, young people and adults at risk at St Matthew with St Sidwell, Exeter can be reported to our safeguarding officer Miriam Westaway or a member of our Safeguarding Team (tel: 07541 817902 and/or email: safeguarding@stmattsexeter.org) or in their absence the church office (01392 248322), or to any of the agencies listed on the Quick Reference for Safeguarding information sheets displayed in the welcome area in church and church hall.

The Quick Reference for Safeguarding includes information about who would need to be contacted (and their contact details) in the event of an incident. Statutory agencies (police and/or children’s or adults’ services as appropriate as listed on the Quick Reference Sheet) should be contacted as a first priority if there is an immediate risk of continuing harm to a vulnerable person. The Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser should be contacted as soon as possible in every circumstance to help with the decision on who should be contacted and how the process is managed. It may be necessary to contact:

• The Parish’s Insurer

• Disclosure and Barring Service

• Charity Commissioners

St Matthew with St Sidwell, Exeter PCC is committed to co-operating fully with the Diocese of Exeter and all appropriate statutory agencies during any investigation into abuse, including when allegations are made against a member of the church community.

We follow the guidelines in the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy and guidance for Parishes about arrangements for the provision of pastoral care to children and adults at risk and their families and to any member of the church community against whom an allegation is made.

Where possible and in consultation with the Diocesan Safeguarding Officer, we would follow the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy and guidance for Parishes, in partnership with the Diocese of Exeter and other agencies, to provide (where it is possible and safe to do so) care and supervision for any member of our church community known to have offended against a child or vulnerable adult, or to pose a risk to them.

Copies of the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy and guidance for Parishes are available for members of the church to examine and copies are located in the welcome area, the vestry, and the church hall along with a copy of this policy and the Quick Reference for Safeguarding information sheets.

This policy will be reviewed and updated during the first PCC of each calendar year.

Date of next review: PCC Meeting January/February 2024