Safeguarding 

Safeguarding Statement: Parishes of Dedham and Ardleigh  

The Parochial Church Council (PCCs) of Dedham and Ardleigh take seriously their responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

This Safeguarding Statement applies to all who make up the church ‘workforce’ which includes all clergy, holders of Bishop’s licence or permission, those commissioned or authorised by the Bishop, those, paid or unpaid, who hold positions of responsibility in a parish and work with children or vulnerable adults, and those with representational parish ministry, for example; churchwarden, organist, server & choir members

For the purposes of this document the term ‘Parish’ is used to denote the PCC and Incumbent who are together responsible for ensuring that diocesan safeguarding policies and procedures are implemented.

For the purposes of this document a child is anyone under the age of eighteen years.

Policy

1.    The PCCs of Dedham and Ardleigh have adopted the Diocese of Chelmsford Safeguarding Policy which is in line with the national Church of England Policy. Our last review was January 2021.

A copy of the full relevant policy is obtainable on the Diocese of Chelmsford's website www.chelmsford.anglican.org/safeguarding 

2.    The Parishes Safeguarding Administrator is Deb Turner 01206 322136 

Statement of Commitment

The PCC will develop a safeguarding culture that:

•  Creates an environment where there is awareness and vigilance about the signs, symptoms and impacts of abuse.
•  Enables and encourages all concerns or allegations to be raised in order to protect children and adults from harm.
•  Ensures all those who work or volunteer on behalf of the church with children and adults achieve the standards required by this policy.
• Holds to account those in the church community who disregard the safety and well-being of children and adults.

 

To bring this about we will:

•  Formally adopt the Diocese of Chelmsford Safeguarding Policy.
•   Review the implementation of the Diocese of Chelmsford Safeguarding Policy annually
•  Invite our PSR(s) to attend at least one PCC meeting each year. (At this meeting the PSR will provide a report on Safeguarding for the parish).
•  Ensure that all those authorised to work with children and vulnerable adults are appropriately recruited according to safer recruitment practice and are adequately supported.
• Ensure that all those authorised to work with children and vulnerable adults are trained appropriately for their roles, including Diocesan Safeguarding Training.
•  Provide appropriate insurance cover for all activities undertaken in the name of the church, which involve children or vulnerable adults.
• Ensure that an Activity Plan and Risk Assessment is completed and reviewed (at least once a year) for each activity, which is associated with either children or vulnerable adults and run in the name of the church.
• Comply with Data Protection Principles[1] – specifically with reference to storing information about the ‘church workforce’, including volunteers, who have completed a confidential declaration and/or undergone DBS checks and for Safeguarding Agreements of offenders and others who may pose a risk.

 

The most important point to bear in mind is, if in doubt about any safeguarding matter contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team (DST) whose job it is to offer advice, guidance and support in all situations in which a child or adult may be at risk. For this purpose the DST can be contacted at any time on;

01245 294444