Policy for Safeguarding Children and Adults who may be vulnerable

We are committed to promoting and supporting environments which:
• ensure that all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from abuse
•encourage adults who may be vulnerable to lead as independent a life as possible, to choose how to lead their life, and to be active contributors to the church community
• are youth-friendly and child-friendly and nurture their positive development
• enable children and young people to be active contributors to the church community
• protect children, young people and adults who may be vulnerable from actual or potential harm
• enable and encourage concerns to be raised and responded to openly and consistently.

We recognise that:
• the welfare of the child or young person is paramount
• everyone has different levels of vulnerability, and that each of us may be regarded as vulnerable at some time in our lives
• all adults who may be vulnerable (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;
• all children (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;
• abuse of children and adults who may be vulnerable can occur in all communities and is most likely to occur within families and by people known to them
• working in partnership with children, young people, their parents and carers and in partnership with adults who may be vulnerable and their families and carers alongside other agencies is essential in promoting people’s welfare. 

We will endeavour to safeguard children and young people by:
In all our activities -
• valuing, listening to and respecting children,young people and adults who may be vulnerable
• fostering and encouraging best practice by setting standards for working with children, young people and adults who may be vulnerable, and boundaries for acceptable behaviour in co-operation with statutory bodies, voluntary agencies and other faith communities 

In our recruitment of paid staff and volunteers, following Diocesan procedures in -
• ensuring all necessary checks are made to promote the safe selection and recruitment of ordained and lay ministers, voluntary workers and paid workers with children,young people and adults who may be vulnerable and providing supervision, support and training. 

In our publicity -
• sharing information about good safeguarding practice with children, parents, adults who may be vulnerable and all those working with them 

When concerns are raised, following Diocesan procedures in -
• responding without delay to every concern raised that a child, young person or adult who may be vulnerablemay have been harmed, or be at risk from harm through abuse, harassment or bullying; or about the behaviour of an adult or child;
• working with the diocese and appropriate statutory bodies during an investigation into child 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
• ensuring that appropriate pastoral care is offered to any member of our church community against whom an allegation is made

In our supervision, following Diocesan procedures in -
• ensuring, in partnership with the diocese and other agencies, that care and supervision is provided for any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult, or to pose a risk to them.

This policy will be reviewed in December 2013.  We are committed to reviewing our policy and procedures annually. Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Tim Curle and he can be contacted via the Parish Office 020 8693 1524.