Child Protection & Safeguarding

The Church of England is committed to the safeguarding, care and nurture of everyone within our church community.

NEWS

May 2013
Statement on Safeguarding from the House of Bishops of the Church of England

Statement from the Office of the Archbishop of York regarding allegations relating to the late Robert Waddington

Final Report of the Archbishop's Chichester Visitation
Statement from Archbishop of Canterbury and link to Report
Statement from Bishop of Chichester
Statement from Bishop Paul Butler, Chair of of the Churches National Safeguarding Committee

April 2013
Dean of Jersey apologises

March 2013
Statement from Archbishop of Canterbury and Winchester Diocese on an independent report into a safeguarding complaint in Jersey from 2008

Feb 2013
Statements from Archbishop of Canterbury and Diocese of Chichester on sentencing of Robert Coles

Protection of Freedoms Act 2012 
Safer Recruitment - June 2013
This is the almost-final version of this policy. Some limited decisions will still be needed in autumn 2013, following which the final version will be considered by the House of Bishops.  This policy, with the '10 Step Procedure for All Recruitment', is designed to be read and used without amendment at the level of parish, church or circuit

Reviews
 Read the recent reviews in Chichester Diocese and a letter from the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham.
National review 2008/9

Resources
 A summary of Ecclesiastical's approach to handling Physical and Sexual Abuse Cases

Children and Young People Safeguarding
1995 House of Bishops produced first child protection policy document (in response to the Home Office's 1993 document Safe from Harm).
1999 and 2004 - policy revised
2010 - Latest policy Protecting All God's Children

The policy is in place to protect not only children and young people, but also those adults who are committed to working with and for them.

Responding Well to those who have been sexually abused
July 2011 House of Bishops approved policy and guidance for dioceses and parishes
Order a printed copy of Responding Well from Church House Publishing

Adult Safeguarding
 The Church of England is committed to encouraging an environment where all people and especially those who may be vulnerable for any reason are able to worship and pursue their faith journey with encouragement and in safety.
Read the Church of England's full Adult Safeguarding Policy, Promoting a Safe Church

Domestic Abuse
 In 2006, the Archbishops Council published 'Responding to Domestic Abuse: Guidelines for those with pastoral responsibility'.

Contacts
 If you represent a parish church and would like further advice contact your Diocesan Child Protection Officer via your Diocesan Office or Elizabeth Hall National Safeguarding Officer 0207 467 5189, or  safeguarding@methodistchurch.org.uk