Please see the Parish Safeguarding Handbook for day to day policy and guidance Safeguarding Policy Version 4 January 2019 (including the Safeguarding Policy of the Church of England - “Promoting a Safer Church” on Page 116) The Parochial Parish Council (PCC) of this Church has adopted the following policy for safeguarding children and adults who may be vulnerable. It is based on the Carlisle Diocese, Safeguarding People Policy, the parish safeguarding handbook www.carlislediocese.org.uk/people-and-structures/committees/safeguarding.html “The House of Bishops Safeguarding Policy”, the Church of England “promoting a Safer Church document and the Home Office Code of Practice, “Safe from Harm” and Safer Recruitment Guidance 2013. 1 January 2019 Introduction This updated Safeguarding Policy for the Parish of St. John’s in Hensingham brings together in one document the best current practice, national guidance from the House of Bishops, and recommendations from the Diocese of Carlisle. It complies with the Safeguarding Policy o the Church of England (see page 117). It combines “child protection” with “safeguarding vulnerable adults” – recognising a legal and moral responsibility to care for everyone and make sure that everyone (whatever their age) is able to flourish, enjoy and be served by what we do through our ministry, worship and care. Churches should be places where there is the highest level of concern for the welfare of all with whom we come into contact, because we know that everyone is loved by God. Some aspects of this Safeguarding Policy are requirements – and must be followed so that we are able to demonstrate we are operating properly in these areas. Some aspects are by way of guidance – for example the policy includes a Code of Practice for all who are working in pastoral situations with adults (or children), particularly those who may be vulnerable. Some aspects are simply fact – for example, what to do when convicted offenders want to attend church activities, or how we need to operate so that Hall users or church groups are properly insured. Some aspects are sound common sense and wisdom, informed by experience within our diocese and elsewhere. Inevitably, because this Safeguarding Policy covers a number of areas, it can appear complicated. Sadly over recent years weaknesses in the Church’s national approach to safeguarding have been exposed in the media, and there is a trickle of stories where the Church has let people down and not offered the highest levels of care and support. The Church has sought to learn lessons and change the way it operates and in Hensingham we are following the national lead. Whilst we are keen to prevent further hurt we also want to give all we serve a good, fruitful, life-enhancing and life supporting experience and so enable young and old to know the “life in its fullness” that Jesus offers. 2 January 2019 Contents Page Checklist for who should read parts of this policy 6 Section 1 Introduction to Safeguarding Principles, theological context and definitions 7 Section 2 Roles and Responsibilities 12 Section 3 Code of Conduct and Practice for working with.... i) Children 16 ii) Adults who may be vulnerable 31 Section 4 Safer Recruitment 37 i) Safer Recruitment practice ii) Disclosure and Barring Service checks 45 Section 5 Recognising abuse to ..... Children 60 Adults who may be vulnerable 66 Recognising Domestic Abuse 74 Section 6 Responding to concerns and complaints 78 Dealing with allegations, how to receive them, what to do next Dealing with non-safeguarding complaints Section 7 Supervision of Offenders and those who pose a risk 94 Section 8 Premises etc. i) Insurance and hire of premises 103 ii) Health and Safety and Risk Assessment 109 Safeguarding Policy of the Church of England 116 3 January 2019 Appendices Appendix 1 - & Appendix 2 i.e. Forms for Church use and Appointment Forms for Volunteers are to be found separately Appendix 3 – Resources and useful contacts 124 4 January 2019 History of ammendments: Version 1 Nov. 2015 Revised to take into account the revised section 4 published by the Church of England in June 2013 Version 2 February 2015 To take into account the revised section on e-safety published by the Diocese Version 3 February 2016 To accommodate the changes to the diocesan policy published in October 2015 Version 4 January 2019 To take into account the Church of England publication “Promoting a Safer Church” and the parish Safeguarding Handbook updates as published in the briefing documents released by the Diocese in January 2019 5 January 2019 Checklist for reading this policy The checklist below is designed to assist you in reading the policy, pointing you to the sections that are most likely to affect you and thereby aiding its’ implementation within the parish ROLE SECTIONS TO READ Vicar and all ordained clergy Each and every section of the policy Church Wardens Each and every section of the policy PCC member 1,2,8 Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator – Children 1,2,3i,4,5i,6,7,appendix 1a Parish Safeguarding Co-ordinator - Adults 1,2,3ii,4,5ii,6,7 appendix 1b Paid staff and volunteers working with 3i,5i,6, appendix 1a & 1d & 1e children Paid staff and volunteers working with adults 3ii, 5ii, 6, appendix 1b and 1e who may be vulnerable All the above Safeguarding Policy of the church of England Commencing page 117 6 January 2019 Section 1: Principles Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of human beings in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm. We are committed to: The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with all children and adults The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and 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 We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with safer recruitment principles, including the use of criminal records disclosures and registration with the relevant vetting and barring schemes. We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed; we will co-operate with the police and local authority in any investigation. We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, and will offer to develop with him, or her, an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care. We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust. We will seek 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 child, young person or vulnerable adult. 7 January 2019 In all these principles we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice. This Safeguarding Policy is drawn up with reference to the Church of England safeguarding documents, namely: Protecting All God’s Children (Church House Publishing) 2010 (4th Edition) Promoting a Safe Church (CHP) 2009 (2nd Impression) Responding Well to those who have been sexually abused (CHP) 2011 Responding to domestic abuse (CHP) 2006 Diocesan policy 2017 -2018 In drawing together this policy particular acknowledgment and thanks go to the diocese of Southwark, Newcastle and Durham, for allowing the use of their material, adapted for purposes. This policy covers all aspects involving the safeguarding of children and adults who may be vulnerable in our church and church related activities. The theological context within which these stand is important, and described below. This section concludes by examining the definitions of vulnerability in relations to children and adults. Our theological approach (from Promoting a Safe Church 2006) From beginning (in the cry of a baby) to end (in the cry from the cross), the life and death of Jesus Christ illustrates the willingness of God to be vulnerable in order to share to the full our world of pain, poverty, suffering and death. In his earthly ministry, Jesus constantly showed himself to be compassionately on the side of the outcast, the marginalized and the stranger, reaching across social barriers with the inclusive love of God. This was wholly in line with the Hebrew Bible’s priority concern for orphans and widows, its obligation to provide a voice for the voiceless, and its prophetic call for justice to “roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5.24). The risen Christ’s commission to his followers “(As the Father has sent me, so I send you”[John 20.21[) requires the Christian Church to exercise that same concern for those who some in society treat as the outsider and the stranger, to reach across barriers of exclusion and demonstrate a love which shows itself in compassionate pastoral care and in the quest for justice in all our relationships. The heart of Christian pastoral care is this: love for God and love for our neighbour, the social expression of which is justice in all human affairs. 8 January 2019 In line with the gospel of creation and redemption, Christian pastoral care has often been described in terms of healing, sustaining and reconciling. All people, and especially those who may be marginalized through a vulnerability, need to receive the healing love of God to rebuild relationships with others of within themselves which illness, disability or abuse may have fractured.