HomeSafeguarding
Safeguarding
Everyone here should be safe, and feel safe.
As part of the Christian Church living in the spirit of the Gospel, we are committed to protecting and caring for everyone in the church community, and especially children and adults at risk.
If someone is at risk
If a child or an adult is in immediate danger, call the emergency services on 999 first. Then let us know so we can support you.
Who to contact
If you have a concern, please tell someone.
You do not need to be certain, and you do not need to have all the details. If something worries you, any of these people will listen and take it seriously.
Start here
Parish Safeguarding Officer
Marion Jones is our Safeguarding Officer at St. Edmund's.
24 hours
Coventry Diocese Safeguarding Team
Out of office hours this number is diverted to a 24 hour helpline.
Independent
NSPCC Helpline
If you would rather speak to someone outside the church, the NSPCC can help.
Our commitments
To this end, we will:
These commitments come from Promoting a Safer Church, the safeguarding policy of the Church of England, adopted by our Parochial Church Council.
- Carefully select, support and train all those with any responsibility within the church, in line with the Church of England's Practice Guidance for Safer Recruitment.
- Respond without delay to every complaint made that a child or adult may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority in any investigation.
- Seek to offer informed pastoral care and support to anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry that recognises the needs of those who have been abused, including their feelings of alienation and isolation.
- Seek to protect survivors of abuse from the possibility of further harm and abuse.
- Seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of respect and responsibility, where they are trusted by others.
- Seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision, and referral to the appropriate authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child or adult.
In all of the above, we will follow legislation, guidance and recognised good practice, and we will monitor and regularly review our safeguarding procedures.
In practice
What this looks like week to week.
Safeguarding is not a document in a drawer. It shapes how we recruit, how we run groups and how we respond when something is raised.
Safer recruitment
Everyone with a role of responsibility is carefully selected, DBS checked where required, supported and trained, in line with the Church of England's Practice Guidance for Safer Recruitment.
Training that is kept up to date
Clergy, officers, group leaders and volunteers complete the diocesan safeguarding training for their role and refresh it regularly.
Annual review by the PCC
Our policy and procedures are reviewed and re-adopted by the Parochial Church Council each year, and the review is minuted.
If you have been harmed
You will be listened to, and you will be believed.
We seek to offer informed pastoral care and support to anyone who has suffered abuse, working out together a form of care that recognises what you need, including the feelings of alienation and isolation that so often come with it.
We will respond without delay to every complaint that a child or adult may have been harmed, and we will cooperate fully with the police and the local authority in any investigation.
“St. Edmund's is a church that believes God welcomes everyone, celebrates our diversity and loves us without bounds. We try to be the same, and would love to see you at any of our services.”
Sarah Edmonds, Rector
Questions
Not sure who to talk to?
If you would like to ask something before making a report, or you volunteer with us and want to check a procedure, the parish office will point you in the right direction.
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