Safeguarding

The Parochial Church Council, (PCC) staff and volunteers of this Church commit themselves to the nurture, protection and safekeeping of the children, young people and vulnerable adults in its care.

1. It is the responsibility of staff, volunteers and members of the congregation to prevent the physical, sexual, emotional financial or spiritual abuse of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to report any abuse, alleged or suspected.
2. The PCC is committed to supporting resourcing and training all those who work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. It will provide supervision for workers (staff and volunteers) because it recognises this as important in maintaining good practice and protection for those working with children, young people and vulnerable adults.
3. All staff and volunteers will be required to complete a confidential declaration form.
4. The PCC will require, where appropriate, everyone directly responsible for children, young people and vulnerable adults to undergo an enhanced disclosure with the disclosure and barring service, The PCC will adhere to the Disclosure and Barring Service’s Referral Service legislation.
5. The PCC adopts the Diocese of Norwich’s Safeguarding Policies and Practice, details of which are available on the Diocesan website, www.dioceseofnorwich.org . Copies are available in the Parish Office.
6. The PCC’s Named Person, Diana Grant, will ensure that all Clergy, Wardens and other Senior Managers receive a copy of the Diocesan Guidelines, and undertake to observe them.
7. This policy statement will be displayed on the noticeboards in the Abbey Church, the Abbey Office and in the Abbey Hall. It can be found online.

This policy statement will be reviewed annually by the PCC and progress in carrying it out will be monitored.

Diana Grant can be contacted via the Abbey Office. She has been appointed by the PCC to have a monitoring role in the development of the policy and is responsible for exercising oversight of those who work with children, young people and vulnerable adults. In consultation with the Bishop’s Safeguarding Officer, she must ensure that safeguarding training is provided where appropriate. Any suspicion or disclosure of abuse should be in the first instance reported to the Named Person, or if not available, to the Vicar. Where appropriate, the Named Person will then seek advice from the Bishop’s Safeguarding Officer.