Safeguarding at St Paul's
We are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our community.
Here at St Paul’s Church we take our safeguarding responsibilities very seriously. We believe that we are all made in the image of God and we are all entitled to live our lives in safety.
In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy 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.
We undertake that we will:
- Create a safe and caring place for all.
- Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) 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.
For more details, please see the Parish Safeguarding Handbook here: Safer Church
If you have any concerns relating to safeguarding, please contact our Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO), Paula Harris on 07969904036 or the Priest-in-Charge, the Reverend Alison Stewart Smith on 0191 4529381 or 07388 143398.
If neither of the above are available, the next port of call is the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser, Mrs Beth Miller. Beth’s details are below.
Beth Miller
Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser
Address: Cuthbert House, Stonebridge, Durham DH1 3RY
Email: beth@bethmillerisw.co.uk
Mobile: 07968034075
If you are unable to speak to the Safeguarding Adviser and a child, young person or vulnerable adult is at immediate risk of harm please call 999.
The full Safeguarding Policy can be found on https://durhamdiocese.org/safeguarding.