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Safeguarding Policies

Safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults

St John Baptist Claines is committed to safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults to worship and grow in Christ safely.

We take that commitment very seriously and believe that making our church safe for all is everyone’s responsibility. To enable this, our church safeguarding team provide polices, procedures, advice, training and support to paid and voluntary members.

This we hope will ensure that all can flourish as God’s Kingdom People.

Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility

We all have a duty of care to protect children & adults in our church

Our Parochial Church Council have designated members whom you can go to if you should have a concern about anyone in our parish or church whom you think is vulnerable or at risk.

Lorraine Deeprose Safeguarding Co-ordinator 07963826139 lorraine@cornmeadow.co.uk

Licenced Lay Minister

Rachel Cramp
Children & Youth Advisor
01905 457749
willowslea2@yahoo.com

Hilary Higton
Worcester Diocese Safeguarding Adviser 07495060869
hhigton@cofe-worcester.org.uk

Parish Policy Statement on Safeguarding Children

The following policy has been agreed and implemented by the Parochial Church Council (P.C.C.).

  1. We are committed to safeguarding and the care of the children within our church community.
  1. We are aware of and will implement the House of Bishops’ Child Protection Policy Protecting All God’s Children 4th edition (2010), A copy of this policy can be found on www.cofe-worcester.org.uk We work closely with the Bishops Safeguarding Adviser.
  1. We will ensure that lay ministers, volunteers and paid workers who work with children and vulnerable adults are carefully selected and trained using the safe recruitment process and Disclosure and Barring Service to check the background of each person as outlined in the diocesan procedures. The Diocese will do likewise in respect of ordained
  1. We will respond without delay to every complaint made, that a child or young person for whom we are responsible may have been harmed or is in significant danger, reporting it to the relevant authority.
  1. We will fully cooperate with statutory agencies during any investigation, into allegations concerning a member of the church community. We will inform the statutory agency of any suspected criminal offences or concerns that we are made aware of in respect of our contact with children.
  1. We will offer informed pastoral care to any child, young person or adult survivor of abuse and provide details of local and national support agencies.
  1. We will supervise any member of our church community known to have offended against a child or vulnerable adult and ensuring proper and appropriate preventative safeguards are in place using a written agreement.
  1. We will review this policy annually, checking that all our procedures and activities involving children and vulnerable adults are up to date including the Disclosure and Barring Checks.
  1. We will review our insurance policy for those working with children and vulnerable adults ensuring we adopt the advice in the House of Bishops’ Policy and Promoting a Safe Church.
  1. A copy of this Policy will be displayed on the Parish Notice Board
  1. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU CAN CONTACT CHILDLINE FREE ON 0800 1111 AT ANYTIME

     

This policy was discussed and agreed at the P.C.C. meeting held on: –

We the PCC agree to review and update this policy annually.

The Revd Jo Musson (Incumbent and P.C.C. Chair)

Rachel Cramp (Churchwarden)

Phil Kear (Churchwarden)

Review Date: –  April 2020

The P.C.C. has identified the following activities involving children and young people to which the House of Bishops’ policy applies. The persons named are responsible for implementing this policy for their area of activity on behalf of the PCC.

  1. Little Fish Club meets in the Church Hall every 3rd Tuesday in the month.
  2. Little Friends meets in the Church Hall every 1st Tuesday in the month.
  3. Stay ‘n’ Play meets in the Church Hall every 2nd 4th & 5th
  4. Children’s Church meet on the 3rd Sunday during morning service. 
  5. Open the Book meet at Claines C of E Primary School twice a month.
  6. Choir meet in the Church for rehearsals and Church services.
  7. Servers meet in Church every Sunday.
  8. Worship Band meet in the vicarage, dates decided monthly Café Church on the 2nd Sunday in the month.
  9. Bell Ringers meet in the church on Sunday mornings.
  10. Music Group meet in church to rehearse and play on occasional Sundays.
  11. Communion Classes TBC yearly
  12. Café Church takes place in the church hall every 2nd Sunday

Parish Policy Statement on Vulnerable Adults

We are committed to and adopt the House of Bishop’s Policy – Promoting a Safer Church.

  1. We recognise that everyone has different levels of vulnerability and everyone may be regarded as vulnerable at some time in their lives.
  2. As members of the parish we commit ourselves to respectful pastoral care for all adults to whom we minister.
  3. We commit ourselves to the safeguarding of people who may be vulnerable, ensuring their well-being in the life of the church.
  4. We commit to promoting safe practise by those in positions of trust.
  5. The parish commits itself to promoting the inclusion and empowerment of people who may be vulnerable.
  6. It is the responsibility of each of us to prevent the physical, emotional, sexual, financial and spiritual abuse of vulnerable people and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
  7. We undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with people who may be vulnerable.
  8. The parish is committed to supporting training and regularly reviewing those who undertake work amongst people who may be vulnerable.
  9. The parish will adopt the Diocesan policy on vulnerable adults
  10. Each person who works with vulnerable people will agree to abide by these recommendations.
  11. The church has a nominated person who will represent the concerns and views of vulnerable people at parish meetings and to outside bodies.

This policy was discussed and agreed at the P.C.C. meeting held on: –

We the PCC agree to review and update this policy annually.

The Revd Jo Musson (Incumbent and P.C.C. Chair)

Rachel Cramp (Churchwarden)                                          

Phil Kear (Churchwarden)

Designated  Safeguarding Representative: – Lorraine Deeprose

Review Date: –  April 2020

 

The P.C.C. has identified the following activities to which the House of Bishops’ policy applies.

  1. Quest Bereavement Group meets in the Church Hall on the 4th Tuesday in the month.
  2. Holy Communion
  1. Linc meet in the Church Hall 2nd Saturday in the month.
  1. MU meet at the Church Hall on the first Saturday in the month.
  1. Adult Communion Classes TBC yearly
  1. Choir meet in the Church for rehearsals and Church services.
  1. Servers meet in Church every Sunday.
  1. Worship Band (meet in the Vicarage TBC monthly & sing during Café Church on the 2nd Sunday in the month.
  1. Bell Ringers meet in the church on Sunday mornings.
  1. Music Group meet in church to rehearse and play on occasional Sundays. 
  1. Cleaners
  1. Flower Guild
  1. Sides People
  1. More Tea Less Hate
  1. Café Church meets at the church hall 2nd Sunday of the month

Parish Policy Statement On Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS)

Statement of policy in respect of Disclosures from the Disclosure and Barring Service when using the facility offered by the Bishop of Worcester in his corporate capacity as an Umbrella Body registered with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

  1. The Parish of St John Baptist Claines is committed to complying with the DBS Code of Practice and committed to the fair and sensitive use of Disclosure information, and where an applicant feels that this has not happened an appeal process will be available, details of which can be obtained in writing from the PCC Secretary or from the Diocesan Secretary, The Old Palace, Deansway, Worcester WR1 2JE.
  2. The Parish of St John Baptist Claines is committed to the recognition of each individual’s abilities, skills, experience and qualifications and will take every step to ensure that these are given appropriate weight and consideration in the appointment or recruitment process.
  3. The Parish of St John Baptist Claines will ensure that each paid post or volunteer position is assessed for the appropriateness of a DBS Disclosure, that any advertisement or other indication of a paid post or volunteer position will indicate the level of Disclosure to be sought, and that any offer of a paid post or volunteer position will be subject to the receipt of satisfactory Disclosure information. Every change in role or responsibilities will be regarded as a new post for DBS Disclosure, in line with recommendation from the House of Bishops.
  4. The Parish of St John Baptist Claines will request candidates for a paid post or volunteer position to submit in writing any convictions or other disqualifying behaviour that might be revealed in the Disclosure process in order to assist the recruitment decision process. This information will only be taken into account when relevant to the post in question. It should be submitted in an envelope clearly marked ‘Private and Confidential’ and handed to the person specifically identified for this purpose in the recruitment process.
  5. The Parish of St John Baptist Claines is committed to encouraging the re-submission of applications for Disclosure in respect of all paid employees and volunteers for whom this is appropriate as part of its ongoing strategy for the protection of children and vulnerable adults, in line with recommendations from the House of Bishops.
  6. The Parish of St John Baptist Claines is committed to the safe storage and disposal of disclosure outcome information in line with guidance from the Diocesan Office. Its policy is attached

     

Appeals and complaints procedure

Every effort is made to ensure that all recruitment decisions involving Disclosure information are made sensitively and fairly. Should an applicant for a paid post or volunteer position feel that this has not happened in their case the matter can be referred to the Diocesan Secretary, The Old Palace, Deansway, Worcester WR1 2JE who will instigate an independent assessment of the issues in question.

The applicant should submit the appeal or complaint in writing within 6 months of the Disclosure, stating their name and address, the nature of the complaint or appeal, the date of the Disclosure document concerned, the identity of the person or appointing body responsible for making the appointment to the paid post or volunteer position, and any other relevant information.

Handling & Storage

 Disclosure information should not be stored in the parish. Only a log is kept, listing

  • applications sent to the Diocesan DBS & Safeguarding Administrator, together with the reasons for requesting either enhanced or

enhanced plus disclosure

  • any posts for which it has not been deemed necessary to request a disclosure, together with the reasons for the decision

 

When the notification of the outcome of a disclosure is received, including any conditions, this is stored with the applicant’s self declaration form in a locked cabinet under the control of the incumbent/priest in charge/team vicar, or during a clergy vacancy, in the care of the churchwardens.

Copies of application forms are not taken and parishes should not accept or hold copies of an applicant’s copy of the disclosure.

This policy was discussed and agreed at the P.C.C. meeting held on: –

We the PCC agree to review and update this policy annually.

The Revd Jo Musson (Incumbent and P.C.C. Chair)

Rachel Cramp (Churchwarden)

Phil Kear (Churchwarden)

Review Date: –  April 2020

(A signed copy of the policy should be returned to the Diocesan Administrator for DBS)

Get in touch

The Parish Church of St John Baptist, Claines Lane, Worcester WR3 7RN

We are always pleased to provide any information, answer any queries we can, or pass on your request to anyone in the parish we think can help.

PRIEST IN CHARGE

Rev Sarah Carwardine:

GENERAL ENQUIRIES & BOOKINGS

Parish Administrator: Tamara Adams.
The Parish Office, Claines Parish Hall, Cornmeadow Lane, Worcester WR3 7NY
Opening Hours Mon-Weds-Fri 9am – 1pm

VENUE BOOKINGS

If you wish to hire Claines Church Hall or Institute please contact Katrina Boucher

bookings@clainesfriends.org.uk