Our Safeguarding Policy

Promoting a Safer Church

1. Our commitment

St Matthew's Church, Northampton is committed to the care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children, young people and adults, and to the safeguarding and protection of all people when they are vulnerable.

This parish adopts the House of Bishops' safeguarding policy statement, Promoting a Safer Church, and commits itself to follow the House of Bishops safeguarding policy and practice guidance and the safeguarding requirements of the Diocese of Peterborough. The House of Bishops policy says that all parts of the Church of England must "adopt or take account of" the policy statement within their own safeguarding policy, may add local procedures and guidance, and should have a "Promoting a Safer Church" action plan in place.

Everyone who participates in the life of this church has a role to play in promoting a safer church for all. Safeguarding is integral to the life and ministry of the Church and not an optional extra.

2. The foundations of this policy

In line with Promoting a Safer Church, St Matthew's Church, Northampton affirms that safeguarding in the Church is grounded in:

	the Gospel;
	respect for human dignity, rights and the law;
	core safeguarding principles, including the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, integrity, respect, accountability, collaboration, prevention, informed vigilance and good record keeping;
	good safeguarding practice;
	learning from the past.

3. Our parish safeguarding commitments

In accordance with the House of Bishops policy statement, St Matthew's Church, Northampton commits to:

3.1 Promoting a safer environment and culture

We will strive to create and maintain an environment that is safer for all, promotes wellbeing, prevents abuse, nurtures informed vigilance, and responds promptly and appropriately to concerns.

3.2 Safely recruiting and supporting all those with responsibility in the Church

We will follow House of Bishops and diocesan requirements for safer recruitment and people management, including role assessment, confidential declarations where required, DBS checks where required, references, fair assessment of criminal record information, safeguarding training, and appropriate support or supervision.

3.3 Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation

Every safeguarding concern or allegation will be taken seriously and responded to respectfully, promptly, and in line with national guidance, diocesan procedures and relevant statutory processes. Safeguarding information will be recorded appropriately and shared on a need-to-know basis in accordance with guidance and the law.

3.4 Caring pastorally for victims and survivors of abuse and other affected persons

We will seek to offer a compassionate, respectful and appropriate response to those who have experienced abuse and to others who are affected.

3.5 Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations

We recognise the need to act in ways that are both protective and fair, respecting due process and working with statutory and diocesan safeguarding processes.

3.6 Responding to those who may pose a present risk to others

Where an individual may present a risk, we will work with the diocese and relevant agencies so that any identified risk is assessed and managed appropriately.

4. How this policy is put into practice at St Matthew's

St Matthew's Church, Northampton will:

	ensure that safeguarding is a standing priority in parish life and governance;
	appoint and support a Parish Safeguarding Officer;
	ensure the PCC fulfils its safeguarding responsibilities;
	ensure that those in relevant roles complete the safeguarding learning required for their role and renew it in line with Church of England requirements;
	follow safer recruitment procedures for all relevant roles;
	ensure that appropriate insurance arrangements are in place for parish activities involving children, young people and adults;
	maintain appropriate safeguarding records;
	display and publicise clear safeguarding contact details;
	encourage a culture in which safeguarding concerns, complaints and whistleblowing disclosures can be raised appropriately and responded to seriously;
	review safeguarding arrangements regularly;
	maintain and review a parish safeguarding action plan in line with national and diocesan priorities. The Church of England's parish safeguarding resources sit alongside the safeguarding policy and practice guidance for this purpose.

5. Parish safeguarding contacts

Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO)
Benjamin Drouet
Email : Contact Ben Drouet via our online contact form.
Telephone: 01604 791251

Incumbent
Reverend Canon Nicholas Setterfield

Churchwardens
Gary Drinkwater
Dave Wilson

6. Diocesan safeguarding contact details

Concerns may also be raised directly with the Diocese of Peterborough Safeguarding Team:

Diocese of Peterborough Safeguarding Team
Email: safeguarding@peterborough-diocese.org.uk
Telephone: 01733 887040 / 01733 887039
Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm.

7. What to do if you are worried about a child, young person or adult

If you believe that someone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical attention, call 999. Peterborough's safeguarding information also directs people to contact the police on 101 where appropriate for non-emergency police matters.

If you have a safeguarding concern or need advice, contact:

	the Parish Safeguarding Officer; or
	the Diocese of Peterborough Safeguarding Team.

Any safeguarding concern or allegation involving a Church Officer will be reported promptly to the Diocese of Peterborough Safeguarding Team and handled in line with House of Bishops and diocesan guidance.

If you are concerned that a child or adult is at risk of harm, you may also contact the relevant Children's Social Care, Adult Social Care, or the Police. The parish will not obstruct or delay appropriate referrals to statutory agencies.

If someone wishes to raise a concern directly with the National Safeguarding Team, they may use the Church of England safeguarding routes published on the national safeguarding pages.

8. Independent support for survivors

We recognise that, for some people, speaking first to the parish or diocese may not feel safe.

Safe Spaces is a free and independent support service for anyone who has been abused through their relationship with the Church of England, the Catholic Church in England and Wales, or the Church in Wales. The Church of England provides parish resources for Safe Spaces.

Safe Spaces
Helpline: 0300 303 1056
Email: safespaces@victimsupport.org.uk

9. Scope of this policy in parish life

This policy applies across the life of St Matthew's Church, Northampton, including worship, pastoral ministry, parish events, and all activities and roles that fall within the life of the parish.

It applies in particular to:

	clergy and licensed ministers;
	the PCC and churchwardens;
	The Choir of St Matthew's;
	Junior Church;
	choir sitters;
	servers;
	welcomers;
	St Matthew's Minis;
	connected uniform organisations;
	pastoral visiting and home communion ministry;
	volunteers and paid workers;
	any other Church Officers or workers acting on behalf of the parish.

This parish will ensure that role requirements for DBS, training and safer recruitment are determined in line with current House of Bishops and diocesan guidance. Appropriate safeguarding risk assessments will be completed and reviewed for parish activities involving children, young people and adults where required.

10. Training and safer recruitment

St Matthew's Church, Northampton will ensure that Church Officers complete the safeguarding training required for their role and refresh it at the required intervals.

The parish will also follow current House of Bishops and diocesan requirements in relation to:

	role descriptions;
	person specifications where appropriate;
	references;
	interviews and appointment processes where appropriate;
	DBS eligibility and checking;
	confidential declarations where required;
	induction, supervision and support;
	responding to safeguarding concerns about Church Officers.

11. Confidentiality, record keeping and information sharing

The parish will maintain appropriate safeguarding records and handle safeguarding information carefully, sensitively and lawfully.

Information will be shared on a need-to-know basis in order to protect children, young people and adults who may be at risk, to support proper safeguarding processes, and to comply with the law and House of Bishops guidance. Confidentiality will be respected, but it will not be allowed to stand in the way of safeguarding action where a person may be at risk of harm. This reflects the national policy commitment to prompt response, transparency, accountability and good record keeping.

12. Working with hirers and partner organisations

Where the church, halls or other parish premises are used by outside groups, St Matthew's Church, Northampton will take reasonable steps, in line with House of Bishops and diocesan guidance, to clarify safeguarding expectations and reporting routes.

This will include, where appropriate:

	seeking assurance that regular user groups working with children, young people or vulnerable adults have appropriate safeguarding arrangements in place;
	keeping under review the arrangements with connected uniform organisations and other regular users;
	making proportionate safeguarding expectations clear to irregular or one-off users where needed;
	ensuring that concerns arising on parish premises can be reported promptly through the parish and diocesan safeguarding routes.

13. Parish action plan

The PCC will maintain and review a parish safeguarding action plan so that this policy is translated into practical action. The House of Bishops policy says church bodies should ensure the policy is promoted and publicised and that they have a "Promoting a Safer Church" action plan in place.

Current parish safeguarding priorities include:

	DBS compliance;
	safeguarding training compliance;
	visible safeguarding information and posters;
	keeping the parish website safeguarding information up to date;
	promoting safeguarding awareness in parish life;
	observing Safeguarding Sunday;
	ensuring safer recruitment processes are followed where relevant;
	developing a review process for regular users of parish premises.

14. Related parish safeguarding documents

This policy should be read alongside the following parish safeguarding documents:

	St Matthew's Church, Northampton Promoting a Safer Church Action Plan;
	St Matthew's Church, Northampton Appropriate Boundaries and Safer Working Practice;
	St Matthew's Church, Northampton Procedure for Responding to Safeguarding Concerns or Allegations;
	St Matthew's Church, Northampton Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Statement;
	relevant activity risk assessments and local procedures;
	any parish safeguarding provision used with hirers, regular users or partner organisations.

15. Review

This policy will be reviewed annually by the PCC, and earlier if required by changes in national guidance, diocesan requirements, parish circumstances, or following any safeguarding learning or review.

Everyone who works within this church community is expected to uphold this policy and the related safeguarding guidance and procedures of the parish.

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SMC/DOCS/SP_V3/20042026