PARISH : District of Gelligaer
DATE : 16 April, 2020

The Taff Rhymney Ministry Area, District of Gelligaer have agreed to adopt the Church in Wales Safeguarding policy.

**** All our leaders and volunteers are fully DBS checked. ****

Children, young people and vulnerable adults are an important part of the community of the District of Gelligaer, being respected and cherished for their own sake. Our District is committed to taking seriously its responsibilities to protect Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults. aiming to safeguard their welfare at all times. As a District we have adopted the Church in Wales Safeguarding Children,Young People and Vulnerable Adults Policy and upholds its Code of Good Practice (links to the Church in Wales Policy are given below) thus allowing that our parish is a "Safe from Harm Parish".

Should you have any concerns reguarding Safeguarding or Vulerable Adults please contact the following people.

Ministry Area Safeguarding Officer:

Mrs. Sue Hankins. Tel: 01443 820754.

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District Safeguarding Officer:

Fr. Gary Powell. Tel: 01443 832119

To be a Safe Church we are committed to:

• ensure that all church workers, whether ordained or lay, whether acting in a paid or voluntary capacity must act towards children, young people and adults at risk responsibly and with integrity; ensuring their position of trust is safeguarded and that no advantage is taken of those in their care.
• ensure that all church workers are suitable for working with children, young people and adults at risk.
• ensure that all public worship, events and activities are organised and delivered safely to a high standard; and with the particular needs of children, young people and adults at risk in mind.
• ensure that all pastoral care is delivered safely.

Key principles of safeguarding

Everyone has the right to live their life free from coercion, intimidation, oppression, physical, sexual, emotional or psychological harm and neglect. Children, young people and adults at risk have the right to be supported and empowered to achieve well-being and fulfil their potential. The welfare of children and adults at risk is paramount they have the right to be protected from harm and exploitation.

The Church in Wales is committed to:

• ensuring that it acts in an open, transparent and accountable way.
• a ‘One Church’ approach to safeguarding which is robust and consistent across the Province. promoting the well-being and ensuring the safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults.
• ensuring that all those we come into contact with the church, (especially children, young people or adults at risk), receive pastoral ministry that is compassionate, caring and respectful.
• contributing to safe, caring communities which provide an environment where there is a culture of informed vigilance around risk and abuse. This includes alerting all adults (where possible) of their responsibilities to act and intervene when it appears a child or adult at risk may be at risk.
• where possible the careful selection and training of those with any responsibility within the church, in line with safer recruitment principles. This should include the appropriate use of the disclosure and barring service (DBS) procedures as outlined in Section 4. Taking seriously every concern or allegation made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed and responding in a timely manner. This includes ensuring that any concerns or allegations are reported, proper records are kept, information is shared appropriately and statutory agencies receive full co-operation in any investigation to assist in bringing to justice anyone who has committed an offence against a child or adult at risk.
• building effective working relationships with statutory authorities, including police, child/adult social care services, health agencies, probation services and any other relevant agency and co-operating with Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) where requested.
• working sensitively and compassionately with anyone who has suffered abuse, being open to past mistakes and developing with them an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.
• challenging any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust.
• ensure that any member of the church community known to have offended against a child, young person or adult at risk is supported and appropriately supervised with a plan and written agreement put in place by the Provincial Safeguarding Officer.

In all these principles the Church in Wales endeavours to follow recognised good practice in line with this policy.

Extracts taken from "Church in Wales Safeguarding policy 2016".

Church in Wales Safeguarding

Background on Church in Wales Safeguarding Policy

Church in Wales Safeguarding Policy (2016)

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