Safeguarding

Content

Introduction
St Paul’s contacts
Sheffield Diocese contacts
Policies and Procedures
Helplines
Sources of Support for Victims and Families of Abuse
Useful websites

Introduction

Safeguarding is the care and protection of children, young people
and adults involved in church activities.
St. Paul’s Church takes the safeguarding of children and vulnerable
adults seriously. The PCC are implementing the Church of England
House of Bishops' policy and guidance.

If there is immediate risk or danger please contact the police on 999

St Paul's Contacts

St Paul's contacts

Parish safeguarding officer:

Peter Franklin

Tel: 0114 255 4441 or Mobile: 07716 147189

Email: peterfranklin1962@gmail.com

Available: 24 hrs

Sheffield Diocese contacts

Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser:

Sian Checkley

Tel: 07741 013775

Email: Sian.checkley@sheffield.anglican.org

Available: Mon- Thurs 9am - 5pm

Thirtyone:Eight (providing out of hours contact)

Safeguarding advice

Tel: 0303 0031111

Sheffield City Council

Safeguarding Hub

Tel: 0114 273 4855

Email: sheffieldsafeguardinghub@sheffield.gov.uk

Available: 24 hrs

Policies and Procedures

SAFEGUARDING POLICY: PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH

The following policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting held on 3 August 2019.

In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy our church is committed to:

Promoting a safer environment and culture.

Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and
vulnerable adults within the church.
Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected
persons.
Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.

The Parish will:

Create a safe and caring place for all.

Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.
Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.
Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.
Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately.
Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.
Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually.

Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines

established by this church.

This church appoints Peter Franklin as the Parish Safeguarding Officer

Incumbent:

Churchwarden: Andy Rice

Parish Safeguarding Officer: Peter Franklin (e-mail: peterfranklin1962@gmail.com tel: 07716147189)

Date: 15 September 2019

01.08.18 v1

Parish statement on recruitment of ex-offenders

The following policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting held on 3 August 2019.

As an organization assessing applicants’ suitability for positions which are included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order using criminal record checks processed through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), St. Paul’s Church complies fully with the Code of Practice and undertakes to treat all applicants for positions fairly. St. Paul’s Church undertakes not to discriminate unfairly against any subject of a criminal record check on the basis of a conviction or other information revealed.
St. Paul’s Church can only ask an individual to provide details of convictions and cautions that St. Paul’s Church are legally entitled to know about. Where a DBS certificate at either standard or enhanced level can legally be requested (where the position is one that is included in the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 as amended) and where appropriate Police Act Regulations (as amended), St. Paul’s Church can only ask an individual about convictions and cautions that are not protected.
St. Paul’s Church is committed to the fair treatment of its staff, potential staff or users of its services, regardless of race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, responsibilities for dependents, age, physical/mental disability or offending background.
St. Paul’s Church has a written policy on the recruitment of ex-offenders, which is made available to all DBS applicants at the outset of the recruitment process.
St. Paul’s Church actively promotes equality of opportunity for all with the right mix of talent, skills and potential and welcome applications from a wide range of candidates, including those with criminal records. St. Paul’s Church select all candidates for interview based on their skills, qualifications and experience.
An application for a criminal record check is only submitted to DBS after a thorough risk assessment has indicated that one is both proportionate and relevant to the position concerned. For those positions where a criminal record check is identified as necessary, all application forms, job adverts and recruitment briefs will contain a statement that an application for a DBS certificate will be submitted in the event of the individual being offered the position.
St. Paul’s Church ensures that all those in St. Paul’s Church who are involved in the recruitment process have been suitably trained to identify and assess the relevance and circumstances of offences. St. Paul’s Church also ensures that they have received appropriate guidance and training in the relevant legislation relating to the employment of ex-offenders, e.g. the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.
At interview, or in a separate discussion, St. Paul’s Church ensures that an open and measured discussion takes place on the subject of any offences or other matter that might be relevant to the position. Failure to reveal information that is directly relevant to the position sought could lead to withdrawal of an offer of employment.
St. Paul’s Church makes every subject of a criminal record check submitted to DBS aware of the existence of the Code of Practice and makes a copy available on request.
St. Paul’s Church undertakes to discuss any matter revealed on a DBS certificate with the individual seeking the position before withdrawing a conditional offer of employment.

Incumbent:

Churchwarden: Andy Rice

Parish Safeguarding Officer: Peter Franklin (e-mail: peterfranklin1962@gmail.com tel: 07716147189)

Date: 15 September 2019

Parish statement of domestic abuse

Policy for responding to domestic abuse

All forms of domestic abuse are wrong and must stop. We are committed to promoting and supporting environments which:

ensure that all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from abuse;
protect those vulnerable to domestic abuse from actual or potential harm;
recognise equality amongst people and within relationships;
enable and encourage concerns to be raised and responded to appropriately and consistently.

We recognise that:

all forms of domestic abuse cause damage to the survivor and express an imbalance of power in the relationship;
all survivors (regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity) have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse;
domestic abuse can occur in all communities;
domestic abuse may be a single incident, but is usually a systematic, repeated pattern which escalates in severity and frequency;
domestic abuse, if witnessed or overheard by a child, is a form of abuse by the perpetrator of the abusive behaviour;
working in partnership with children, adults and other agencies is essential in promoting the welfare of any child or adult suffering abuse.

We will endeavour to respond to domestic abuse by:

In all our activities –

valuing, listening to and respecting both survivors and alleged or known perpetrators of domestic abuse.

In our publicity –

raising awareness about other agencies, support services, resources and expertise, through providing information in public and women-only areas of relevance to survivors, children and alleged or known perpetrators of domestic abuse.

When concerns are raised –

ensuring that those who have experienced abuse can find safety and informed help;

working with the appropriate statutory bodies during an investigation into domestic abuse, including when allegations are made against a member of the church community.

In our care –

ensuring that informed and appropriate pastoral care is offered to any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse;
identifying and outlining the appropriate relationship of those with pastoral care responsibilities with both survivors and alleged or known perpetrators of domestic abuse.

If you have any concerns or need to talk to someone please contact:

Peter Franklin 07716147189