Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Policy
Parish of St Thomas with St Stephen Policy for Safeguarding Adults who may be vulnerable. To download a printable copy, please click here.
We are committed to promoting and supporting environments which:
ensure that all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from
abuse
encourage adults who may be vulnerable to lead as independent a
life as possible, to choose how to lead their life, and to be active
contributors to the church community
protect adults who may be vulnerable from actual or potential harm
enable and encourage concerns to be raised and responded to
openly and consistently.
We recognise that:
everyone has different levels of vulnerability, and that each of us
may be regarded as vulnerable at some time in our lives
all adults who may be vulnerable (regardless of age, disability,
gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity)
have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse
abuse of adults who may be vulnerable can occur in all
communities and is most likely to occur within families and by
people known to them
working in partnership with adults who may be vulnerable, their
carers and other agencies is essential in promoting their welfare
that it is the responsibility of each of us to prevent the physical,
emotional, sexual, financial, spiritual abuse of vulnerable people and report any such abuse that we discover or suspect
We will endeavour to safeguard adults who may be vulnerable by: In all our activities -
valuing, listening to and respecting adults who may be vulnerable
fostering and encouraging best practice by setting standards for
working with adults who may be vulnerable, and boundaries for acceptable behaviour, in co-operation with statutory bodies, voluntary agencies and other faith communities
In our recruitment of paid staff and volunteers, following Diocesan procedures in -
ensuring careful selection and recruitment of ordained and lay ministers as appropriate, voluntary workers, and paid workers with adults who may be vulnerable, in line with safer recruitment principles and checks
providing supervision, support and training
In our publicity
sharing information about good safeguarding practice with adults who may be vulnerable, their carers, and all those working with them
When concerns are raised, following Diocesan procedures in -
responding without delay to every concern raised that a adult who
may be vulnerable may have been harmed, or be at risk from harm, through abuse, harassment or bullying; or about the behaviour of an adult or child
working with the diocese and the appropriate statutory bodies during an investigation into abuse, including when allegations are made against a member of the church community
challenging any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust
In our care
ensuring that informed and appropriate pastoral care is offered to
any vulnerable adult who has suffered abuse, including support to
make a complaint if so desired
ensuring that appropriate pastoral care is offered to any member of
our church community against whom an allegation is made
In our supervision, following Diocesan procedures in -
ensuring, in partnership with the diocese and other agencies, that care and supervision is provided for any member of our church community known to have offended against a vulnerable adult, or to pose a risk to them.
We are committed to reviewing our policy and procedures annually.
Last Updated: July 2021
For our main Safeguarding page, click here.
For further safeguarding information from the Southwark Diocese, please visit:
Diocese of Southwark - 'A Safe Church'