PROTECTION

Promoting a Safer Church, the safeguarding policy of Coventry Diocese.

To this end we will:

• 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 importance of understanding the needs of those who have been abused, including their feelings of alienation and/or 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.
• We will monitor and regularly review our safeguarding procedures.

 If you have any safeguarding concerns, please contact:

St Edmund’s Safeguarding Officer
Marion Jones: safeguarding@shipstonchurch.org

 Coventry Diocese Safeguarding Team:

02476 7652 1345

Out of office hours, this number will be diverted to a 24 hour helpline

safeguarding@covcofe.org

Further information is also available at www.dioceseofcoventry.org/safeguarding

NSPCC Helpline: 0800 800 5000