Safeguarding

At St Michael’s, we do our utmost to ensure that everyone on site is kept safe.  All staff and volunteers working with children and vulnerable adults must undergo a safer recruitment process and an enhanced DBS disclosure. We also expect them to be fully conversant with the safeguarding policy. 

As a church, we have adopted the Church of England’s safeguarding policy ‘Promoting a Safer Church’ which can be viewed here:

Safeguarding team

We have appointed Margret Gayler as our Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO).

Our safeguarding officer is the first person to speak to if you have any concerns around the welfare of a child or adult with vulnerability.

Please contact Margaret if you have any concerns or queries about children or adults in the church, either that they are suffering harm, or are causing harm to others.

To view our procedure for responding to concerns or allegations, see here: Responding to concerns

To report concerns please download, print and fill out this recording concerns form which can be viewed here: safeguarding report form

Safe recruitment

All our volunteers undergo vetting appropriate for their roles. If you are registering as a volunteer, notes about our confidential declaration form can be downloaded here.

To process this we hold data as detailed in our related privacy policy.

PCC Safeguarding Policy Statement

  • Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. This implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.

  • As a church, we have adopted the Church of England’s safeguarding policy ‘Promoting a Safer Church.’

  • We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults.

  • We recognise that safeguarding is the responsibility of the whole church community.

  • We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection, appointment, training and support of those working in both paid and voluntary positions with children or vulnerable adults, including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosures and making appropriate referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

  • We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child or vulnerable adult may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and social care services in any investigation.

  • We will challenge any abuse of power by anyone in a position of trust.

  • We will seek to offer pastoral care and support to anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them appropriate pastoral support.

  • We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

Useful Contact Numbers

Diocesan Safeguarding Team – 024 7652 1345 – if, for any reason, Margret can’t be contacted, the Diocesan team will be able to help.

Childline – 0800 11 11 – a free confidential helpline for children, open 24 hours a day, every day, all year.

NSPCC – 0808 800 5000 – If you are worried about a child, contact the NSPCC helpline. Don’t wait until you are certain, call for advice and support or email help@nspcc.org.uk

The Silverline – 0800 4 70 80 90 – a free confidential helpline for older people open 24 hours a day, every day, all year.

The Samaritans – 116 123 – If there is something troubling you, you can get in touch any time.

Warwickshire Children’s Social Care Team   – 01926 414144 (out of hours: 01926 886 922) – to report any concerns about abuse, neglect or cruelty