Parish of St Mary’s, West Chiltington
The following policy was agreed by the PCC of Saint Mary’s, West Chiltington at the meeting held
on 17th May 2023
- As members of this PCC we are committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of all our members, particularly the children and young people.
- We recognise that our work with children and young people is the responsibility of the whole church community and, consequently, safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone.
- We are committed to implementing the House of Bishops’ Child Protection Policy ‘Protecting All God’s Children, 2010, and the diocesan procedures, which are based on the Children Act, and Government guidance “Working together to Safeguard Children”, both published in 2013.
- We will carefully select and train ordained and lay ministers; volunteers and paid workers with children and young people. We will use the Disclosure and Barring Service, amongst other tools, to check the background of each person.
- We will respond, without delay, to every concern made that a child or young person, for whom we are responsible, may have been harmed.
- We will co-operate fully with statutory agencies during any investigation concerning a member of the church community.
- We will seek to ensure that any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse is offered support that meets their needs.
- We will care for and supervise any member of our church community known to have offended against a child.
- We will review this policy annually and as part of this process will ensure that all our procedures, particularly in relation to the Disclosure and Barring Service, are up to date.
Our Church Safeguarding Representative is: Mrs Pam Wells
Address: Bower Lodge, Bower Lane, West Chiltington, RH20 2RH
Telephone number: 01798 813131
Email address: pamwells100@aol.com
Our CCPAS Lead Recruiter is: Pam Wells alongside Chichester Diocese Safeguarding Team
Incumbent: Fr Stephen Merriman SSC
Churchwardens Mr Patrick Higham and Mr Cosmo Goldsmith
Date: 17th May 2023