1.1: Our commitment
St Nicholas Church Stevenage, as part of the Diocese of St. Albans in the Church of England, is fully committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church.
St Nicholas Church see safeguarding as the practical outworking of the Christian way of life and in accord with the example of Christ’s ministry towards all.
Safeguarding is the action the Church takes to implement a safe culture. This means we will:
- Ensure the welfare of children young people and adults
- Work to prevent abuse from occurring
- Seek to protect those that are at risk of being abused
- Respond effectively to those that have been abused
We will also take care to identify where a person may present a risk to others, and offer support to them whilst taking steps to avoid any risks they pose.
We affirm the ‘Whole Church’ approach to safeguarding. This approach encompasses a commitment to consistent policy and practice across all Church groups and Church Officers; and promoting that everyone associated with the Church who comes into contact with children, young people and adults, has a role to play.
The Church will take appropriate steps to maintain a safe environment for all, this includes children, young people and adults, and to respond sensitively and compassionately to their needs in order to help keep them safe from harm.
Although safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone at St Nicholas, we have a team to lead and support this important work.
More information on the Church of England’s National Safeguarding guidelines can be found here: www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding
More information about Safeguarding in the Diocese of St. Albans can be found here: https://www.stalbans.anglican.org/diocese/safeguarding
1.2: Document Status
|
| Name | Title | Date |
| Author: | Martin Bailey | Safeguarding leads | November 2019 |
| Checked: | S.G.Bamford | Church Warden | November 2019 |
| Approved: | D.Brown | Rector | November 2019 |
| Review date: |
| November 2021 |
1.3: Accessing the full document
This document has been designed to be primarily accessed via the church website and so is divided into different relevant sections.
1.4: Partner organisations
The diversity of organisations and settings means there can be great variation in practice when it comes to safeguarding children, young people and adults who have care and support needs. This can be because of cultural tradition, belief and religious practice or understanding, for example, of what constitutes abuse.
Therefore, as part of the letting agreement, any organisation using our premises, must have their own policy that meets the safeguarding standards of our church and those of the Hertfordshire Safeguarding Partnership for Children.