Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

Diocese of Oxford

Parish of Upton-cum-Chalvey

St Mary’s Slough: St Laurence’s Upton: St Peter’s Chalvey

Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy

July 2019

At Upton-cum-Chalvey, we believe that the welfare of children is of paramount importance. This policy promotes the welfare of children and offers guidance for those working with them.

The Parish Safeguarding Officer is Allan James.

Telephone: 01753 532425

Email: safeguarding.ucc@gmail.com

The Appointing Body, which meets as required, comprises one District Warden from each District, one Parish Warden, the Incumbent and the Safeguarding Officer.

For DBS checks:

Recruiters for each District are the District Wardens

The Verifier for the whole Parish is Allan James

The Registered Body for DBS Disclosures is Access Personal

Checking Services Ltd (APCS)

The PCC of this Parish agreed and adopted the following updated Policy on Safeguarding and Child Protection at a meeting held on 15th July 2019

This policy must be adhered to by all Church workers.

It must also be followed by any users of the Church premises.

1. We are committed to: The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children and all 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.

2. We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with safer recruitment principles, including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records checks.

3. We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, co-operating with the police and local authority in any investigation and we will have a clear reporting procedure in place.

4. We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.

5. We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust.

6. 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. In all these principles we will follow statute, guidance and recognised good practice.

8. We will advise the Diocese which Registered Body we use to process applications for Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records checks.

9. We will advise the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser if we receive a Disclosure which is ‘blemished’ or ‘positive’.

10. We will review this policy annually, check that our policies are up to date, and supply a copy of the updated policy statement to the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser

Our Parish Safeguarding Policy, information and contact details also can be downloaded here: UCCSafeguarding-July19