Safeguarding

What is Safeguarding?

The care and protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults involved in Church activities is the responsibility of the whole Church. Everyone who participates in the life of the Church has a role to play in promoting a Safer Church for all.

This means we will promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults, work to prevent abuse from occurring, seek to protect those that are at risk of being abused and respond well to those that have been abused. We will take care to identify where a person may present a risk to others, and offer support to them whilst taking steps to mitigate such risks. (Promoting a Safer Church; CofE 2017)

Safeguarding Mission Statement

St. Paul’s recognises the importance of ministry to children and young people and its responsibility to protect and safeguard the welfare of children and young people entrusted to it. The Children Act 1989 and the notes of guidance make it clear that child protection applies to children and young people up to the age of 18.

In addition, we recognise that all adults may be vulnerable at some point in their lives, and in this context we follow the Church of England’s working definition of a vulnerable adult that defines a ‘vulnerable adult’ as a person aged 18 or over whose ability to protect himself or herself from violence, abuse, neglect or exploitation is significantly impaired (temporarily or indefinitely) through physical or mental disability or illness, old age, emotional fragility or distress, or otherwise’.

As part of its mission, St. Pauls is committed to:

• Valuing, listening to and respecting children, young people and vulnerable adults as well as promoting their welfare and protection.

• Safe recruitment, supervision, training and support for all who come into contact with children, young people and vulnerable adults.

• Adopting a procedure for dealing with concerns about possible abuse.

• Encouraging and supporting parents and carers.

• Supporting those affected by abuse.

• Maintaining good links with the statutory authorities and other organisations.

St Paul's Policy

All leaders that may be unsupervised with children or young people will have two references taken and be DBS checked.

For further information, please download any of the following documents:

• St Paul’s Children, Youth & Vulnerable Adults Safeguarding Policy 2022

• St Pauls Statement on Child Safeguarding 2022

• Child Safeguarding Procedures 2022

If you have concerns you can contact safeguarding@stpauls-stalbans.org.