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Safeguarding of Children
and Vulnerable Adults
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Child
Protection Policies and Procedures |
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Policy Statement -
Introduction |
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The Church
owes a special responsibility to children, young people
and vulnerable adults as members of God's community.
Their particular needs should be met, and opportunities
for physical, spiritual, mental and social development
provided, in a Christian environment where they can be
safe and secure.
Children, young people and vulnerable adults should thus
be treated by members of the St Matthew's community,
whether employed or acting as volunteers, with the
highest standards of fairness and care at all times.
Elaboration
A written policy and procedures are necessary to ensure
that all those in our community who come into contact
with children, young people and vulnerable adults are
aware of:-
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the attitudes and beliefs we hold concerning
the treatment of children, young people and
vulnerable adults;
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what is expected of workers and volunteers;
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the responsibility of Church authorities. |
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This document recognizes
that these policies are intended to safeguard the
interests of workers and volunteers as well as those of
children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Accordingly we recognize and accept as policies:-
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the need to create and maintain a safe
environment in which all these persons are
valued as individuals and feel confident to
ask for support and help;
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the Guidelines of the Diocese of
Peterborough for protecting children, young
people and vulnerable adults, noting in
particular that all relationships with them
should be open, observable, readily
understood and shared with more than one
responsible adult (i.e. that clergy and
other adults should not work alone with a
child or children or vulnerable adults
whether in pursuit of church activities or
on Church premises) and that all work with
them should be well supervised;
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the need to adopt procedures for the
recruitment and selection of volunteers and
workers, including formal written
applications and references as recommended
by the Diocese, endeavouring to ensure the
appointment of the most suitable adults to
such roles (NB the crucial 'disclosure'
requirements specified in Procedures below);
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that it is our responsibility to ensure that
all church workers who are involved with
these persons are given a copy of these
documents and understand their contents and
the implications for their work;
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the need to provide briefing, training and
support, appropriate to the different roles
to be undertaken, to the best of our ability
and with the support of the diocese;
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our responsibility, likewise, to offer help
and support to these persons and their
families and other adults affected by any
such abuse or alleged abuse;
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the need for the Church to offer help,
advice and personal support to any adult who
may be accused, or found guilty of, abuse
and, if possible, maintain them within a
loving Christian fellowship;
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the need to make the whole congregation and
any outside users of church facilities aware
of the Church's policies and procedures;
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that we expect all users of church premises
to treat children, young people and
vulnerable adults they come across there
with respect and in accordance with the
spirit of this policy.
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Procedures
The following procedures have been defined by the
Diocese of Peterborough, and have been adopted for use
at St Matthew's and are made available alongside this
document:
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Diocesan Guidelines (see 'Children and Young
People', Peterborough Diocesan Child
Protection Policy);
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Complaints Procedure;
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Enhanced Disclosures (DBS) Certificate
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The responsibility for
initiating, implementing, reviewing and reporting to the
PCC on the operation of these procedures belongs to the
incumbent and trained individuals. Elements of the
responsibility may be delegated by the incumbent, where
practically desirable on occasions, to particular
members of the congregation and, where appropriate, the
organizers of particular groups or activities. The
nature and extent of such delegation will be clearly
specified and limited with a requirement that the
incumbent be fully informed, and approving of, all steps
taken to implement the procedures concerned. The
procedure outlined in this paragraph should be applied
to the implementation of all the procedures related to
the Policy as given below.
a) Recruitment and
selection of church workers
Regarding all
potential workers as job applicants and give them a
defined role. Before any appointment is made, whether
paid or voluntary, the PCC, or its appointing group,
should be clear what exactly the person is being asked
to do. This can be put into a job description with
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job title |
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summary of main purpose of the job |
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person to whom the worker is responsible |
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people who are responsible to the worker |
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main duties of the job |
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terms and conditions of the job |
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When the post is
advertised ensure all the necessary information about
the role is included and make particular reference to
our commitment to safeguarding. If the job needs the
person to have an Enhanced Disclosures Certificate (DBS)
this should be made clear at the time of advertising. If
the interviewing panel does not include the incumbent,
he should be kept informed of all progress and he will
ratify all decisions made, having scrutinised the
documentation.
Recruitment and interviewing will take place in
accordance with Diocesan procedures. A probationary
period of 6 months will normally apply. The incumbent
will refer to the PCC on the membership of selection
panels for advertised, paid appointments.
Files on all workers will be personally retained by the
incumbent. All these formalities are to be applied to
existing workers in accordance with Diocesan Policy.
Crucially, all appointments of persons involved with
children and young persons will be subject to the
Diocesan Safeguarding Policy i.e. the applicant and
relevant Church Officers must have completed
appropriately and returned to the Diocese the DBS
Disclosure Application Form, the appointment being
confirmed only on receipt of a satisfactory Enhanced
Disclosure Certificate.
b) Familiarization
of workers with policies and procedures
The responsibility for ensuring that everyone is fully
aware will rest with the named organizers and leaders of
the activities concerned, except in the case of
employees where it will normally be undertaken by the
incumbent direct.
c) Monitoring the
implementation of procedures and annual review
Monitoring will be undertaken by a policy group of three
persons, appointed by the PCC, who will report to the
incumbent and agree any action that is required in the
short term to remedy a deficiency. There will be an
annual review and report presented by this group to the
PCC with any recommendations for change and improvement
d) Creating a safe
environment
The officer or organizer concerned with each group will
take all reasonable steps to create a safe and rewarding
environment for these persons - in the context of their
physical, spiritual, moral and social welfare. They
should study carefully, and adhere closely to, the
guidelines on Prevention. Organizers will be asked to
provide the necessary briefings in relation to the
programme and details of training to be offered on an
individual basis to ensure that appropriate standards of
safety and security are observed. The PCC undertakes to
ensure that the premises used, in particular the Parish
Centre, complies fully with all health and safety
requirements.
e) Reporting
Allegations and complaints of abuse on the part of a
worker must be reported to a responsible leader, the
incumbent and safeguarding officer (as appropriate) and
where it is considered that they might relate to
significant harm or the prospect of such harm to a
person, they will be reported (normally by the
incumbent) in the manner prescribed in the Diocesan
Guidelines, and without delay, to a Lead Agency. The
complaint may surface in different ways, e.g. by letter
to the organizer or incumbent, personally by the child
or parent or by the organizer or other adult. In all
cases the matter must be referred immediately to the
incumbent for him to consult, seek advice and satisfy
himself on the action taken. Subject to the particular
circumstances it might be necessary to suspend the
person complained of from the activity or remove him or
her from any contact with a particular child or any of
the children in the group. In such a case the worker in
question would need to be informed sensitively, with no
necessary presumption of guilt, of the reason for the
action taken and the nature of the investigation to
follow. This would ordinarily be undertaken by the
incumbent in the company of a Safeguarding Officer or
organizer if appropriate. The incumbent, having taken
advice, would consider how best the worker concerned
could be supported in the church community. A conscious
effort would be made to maintain confidentiality as far
as possible to a few key people.
f) Supporting
children who are the subject of reports
A specific plan will be devised by the incumbent,
officers or organizer to continue the work of the group,
with sensitive supervision, and provide the support that
may be needed by the persons and families affected.
g) Insurance
Appropriate public liability insurance policies will be
taken out with the Ecclesiastical Insurance Group and
the Diocesan Youth and Children's Group Insurance.
h) Informing
everyone
Following adoption by the PCC a Notice will be
prominently displayed by the PCC Secretary in the church
and in the Parish Centre. A statement concerning the
Policy and its importance will be made by the incumbent
to the congregation annually, at the APCM drawing
attention to any key changes that have been agreed from
year to year. It will also be the subject of reference
to any outside users of the premises.
Safeguarding Officer - Sarah Oughton
Telephone: 07761 248272
Email:
safeguarding@stmatthews-northampton.org.uk
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser - Carole Fitzsimons
Direct dial: 01733 887040
Email:
carole.fitzsimons@peterborough-diocese.org.uk
Incumbent - Fr Nicholas Setterfield
Updated May
2023 |
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Sundays |
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Find information about Sunday activities
that take place at
St Matthew's Church.
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Holiday Clubs |
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Read about Holiday Clubs at
St Matthew's |
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St
Matthew's Minis
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Find information about
St Matthew's Minis activities.
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Photo Gallery |
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Browse through photos of some of our events.
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Uniformed Organisations |
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Read about uniformed organisations including
Rainbows, Brownies, Guides, Rangers, Beavers, Cubs
and Scouts.
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Safeguarding Policy |
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Find information about our obligations towards
safeguarding children, young people and
vulnerable adults. |
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