Safeguarding report April 2022
The Parish of St Peter and St Paul Tonbridge take our collective responsibility for safeguarding those most vulnerable in our community seriously.
I am pleased to welcome Reverend Ben Thorndike to lead the Parish Safeguarding Team. The team includes, Ben, Reverend Wendy Carr, Church Wardens; Paul White and Adam Calvert, Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) Amanda Harris, the members of the PCC and all those in leadership roles (Employed or Voluntary) across the four churches in our Parish.
All policies in relation to Safeguarding children and Vulnerable adults used in the Parish are those of the Diocese of Rochester (1) and Church of England (2). Following a review of training requirements for role the current guidelines come from the ‘safeguarding learning and development Framework 2021’ (3). Leadership and safer recruitment training have been separated. Leadership training is for all those “who play a lead role in shaping the culture of the church body concerned” (3 P22). This is been delivered in two sessions via zoom with additional reading and self-reflection. A number of those in a leadership positions in the Parish have managed to access and update via this training and have evaluated it positively.
Safer recruitment and people management have been amalgamated and are available as an online learning module for those involved in the recruitment or management of others.
Raising awareness of Domestic Abuse is an online module that requires attendance from anyone holding the Bishops licence, commission, authorisation or permission; pastoral visitors and members of the PCC.
Safeguarding training at Basic and Foundation level continues to be available online (4). The safeguarding team appreciate the diligence of those who have undertaken this in a timely manner demonstrating their understanding of the importance of safeguarding as a collective responsibility. This training is available face to face in exceptional circumstances.
Following the pause in face-to-face activities caused by COVID-19 Paul White has taken on the role of lead recruiter and has been key in ensuring recruitment and safeguarding requirements have been met as activities restart.
This past year the parish safeguarding team have worked with statutory and voluntary agencies (as required) with support from the Diocese (as necessary) to manage safeguarding concerns and ensure appropriate support for all individuals involved.
Moving forward:
• Ben, Church wardens and myself meet regularly to discuss any new or ongoing safeguarding matters. If you have anything you would like discussed please contact me.
• DBS frequency has begun moving from 5 to 3 yearly. Paul (as lead recruiter) is managing this process as people come up for renewal or are new to post.
• Work is underway in the parish to ensure compliance with safeguarding guidelines in relation to mobile phones.
• I would like to request those who meet the criteria for Safer Recruitment/people management and Raising Awareness of Domestic Abuse to undertake this training now.
Amanda Harris Parish
Safeguarding Officer 19/04/2022
1.https://www.rochester.anglican.org/safeguarding/guidance-safeguarding/
2. https://www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding
3. https://www.churchofengland.org/sites/default/files/2021- 06/SafeguardingLearningAndDevelopmentFramework2021.pdf
4. https://safeguardingtraining.cofeportal.org