Safeguarding Policy 

The following policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting held on Monday 22nd May 2023.

 

In accordance with the House of Bishops’ Policy Statements ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ (2017) and ‘Protecting All God’s Children’ 4th edition (2010) and the Diocesan Safeguarding Policy ‘Promoting a Safer Diocese’ (2018) 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 Church Safeguarding Officer (CSO) 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. We have appointed Ruth Etang* as Church Safeguarding Officer (CSO) and Alice Howell as our Children’s Champion / Safeguarding Link. Further information is available at www.sjh.org.uk/safeguarding

*Following the departure of Ruth Etang from the staff team at the end of September 2023, Pauline Millar has been appointed as interim Church Safeguarding Officer while a new member of staff is recruited.

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.

Please seek support for issues concerning domestic abuse via the Safeguarding Report Form button below.

Safeguarding Concerns

If you have a safeguarding concern about a child, young person or vulnerable adult, please contact us via one of the methods below, or phone 020 7739 9302 x220 and leave a voicemail.

Further Support & Information

Church of England Safeguarding 

  • The Church of England has lots of resources to help you find out more about safeguarding.

  • The key document is ‘Promoting A Safer Church’ (2017) and is available here.

  • These are available on their website.

  • There is also a very helpful Parish Safeguarding Handbook available here.

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  • An independent charity promoting best practise around safeguarding in churches.

  • They have lots of helpful resources and advice on their website.

The Truth Project

  • The Truth Project has been set up by the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse

  • They're inviting people to share their experience of child sexual abuse.

  • They encourage you to apply before the Truth Project concludes in 2021.

  • More information here: https://www.truthproject.org.uk

Important Contact Information

St John’s Church Safeguarding Team

  • Vicar – Revd Graham Hunter (020 7739 9302 x208)

  • Church Safeguarding Officer – Pauline Millar (020 7739 9302 x220)

  • Children’s Champion – Alice Howell (020 7739 3902 x221)

  • Click Here To Email or Phone 020 7739 9302 x220

Diocese of London Safeguarding Team

Hackney Council Safeguarding Team

Safer Recruitment

All leaders and helpers – paid and volunteer – who work on behalf of St John’s Church with children, young people or adults at risk are subject to a rigorous and considered recruitment process. Before taking up a position of trust and responsibility in a ministries, leaders and helpers (who must be over 18 years old) must:

  • Meet with a ministry leader to ensure they have a clear understanding of the role they are being considered for.

  • Participate in a session as an observer.

  • Sign a clear role description outlining duties, expectations and support given.

  • Sign a confidential declaration stating they have no knowledge of anything which may disqualify them from the role.

  • Provide details of at least two referees from whom references can be sought.

  • Complete an application for a DBS disclosure, which must then be obtained before they take up their role.

  • Undertake safeguarding training on an annual basis as part of their team training and development.

Our ministry team leaders continues to offer regular support and advice to all leaders and helpers.

Unaccompanied Children and Youth at Worship Services

We encourage parents and children to attend worship services together, as we believe that our worship and prayer together will strengthen family bonds. However, we recognise that a number of children and young people take the initiative to attend worship services by themselves.

During the groups that take place in the services, children and young people are under the care of responsible leaders and helpers. However, these groups do not run for the whole of the service, and the nature of a public worship service is such that we cannot control who is in attendance. There is an inherent risk to children in such an environment. We mitigate the risk by adopting the following procedures for unaccompanied children and young people.

  • Children aged 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. NB- an adult must be someone aged 18+.

  • Children aged 6-11 (in primary school) who attend church without an adult will have their names added to an Unaccompanied Children List at Child Check-In. They will then be under the care of the Children’s Minister (or another responsible adult) for the duration of their time at church, not including the time they are in their groups.

  • Unaccompanied youth (in secondary school) must complete and return a parental permission form for Sunday mornings to include permission for members of both youth groups to attend church without an accompanying adult.

  • Involvement of other adults: The adult staffing the Child Check-In desk must ask all children if they have come with an adult in order to add names to the list.

  • Welcome team members receive some safeguarding training to be aware of the issues relating to children arriving on their own, leaving the main church to go to the toilet, playing in the hall, leaving the building during service times and other safeguarding issues.