Safeguarding - St John's Hoxton

- We accept and endorse the principles of the House of Bishops’ Policy for safeguarding children (Protecting All God’s Children, 2010) and safeguarding adults in the Church of England (Promoting a Safe Church, 2006).
- We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and adults at risk.
- 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 a paid or voluntary position with children or adults at risk, including the use of Criminal Records disclosures and making appropriate referrals to the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
- We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child or adult at risk 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 an appropriate healing ministry.
- 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 adult at risk.

- We accept and endorse the principles of the House of Bishops’ Policy for safeguarding children (Protecting All God’s Children, 2010) and safeguarding adults in the Church of England (Promoting a Safe Church, 2006).
- We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and adults at risk.
- 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 a paid or voluntary position with children or adults at risk, including the use of Criminal Records disclosures and making appropriate referrals to the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
- We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child or adult at risk 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 an appropriate healing ministry.
- 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 adult at risk.

- We accept and endorse the principles of the House of Bishops’ Policy for safeguarding children (Protecting All God’s Children, 2010) and safeguarding adults in the Church of England (Promoting a Safe Church, 2006).
- We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and adults at risk.
- 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 a paid or voluntary position with children or adults at risk, including the use of Criminal Records disclosures and making appropriate referrals to the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
- We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child or adult at risk 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 an appropriate healing ministry.
- 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 adult at risk.

- We accept and endorse the principles of the House of Bishops’ Policy for safeguarding children (Protecting All God’s Children, 2010) and safeguarding adults in the Church of England (Promoting a Safe Church, 2006).
- We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and adults at risk.
- 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 a paid or voluntary position with children or adults at risk, including the use of Criminal Records disclosures and making appropriate referrals to the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
- We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child or adult at risk 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 an appropriate healing ministry.
- 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 adult at risk.

We have appointed Ruth Cant as Church Safeguarding Officer and Angela Large is our Children’s Champion. Copies of the Parish’s Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk policy are held by Ruth Etang.

We have appointed Ruth Cant as Church Safeguarding Officer and Jarre Olajide as our Children’s Champion. Copies of the Parish’s Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults at Risk policy are held by Ruth Cant.

Important Contact Information

St John’s Church Safeguarding Team

Vicar – Revd Graham Hunter
Church Safeguarding Officer – Ruth Etang
Children’s Champion – Angela Large
020 7739 9302 / 07432 994085

Vicar – Revd Graham Hunter
Church Safeguarding Officer – Ruth Cant
Children’s Champion – Jarre Olajide
020 7739 9302 / 07432 994085

Vicar – Revd Graham Hunter
Church Safeguarding Officer – Ruth Cant
Children’s Champion – Jarre Olajide
020 7739 9302 / 07432 994085

Vicar – Revd Graham Hunter
Church Safeguarding Officer – Ruth Cant
Children’s Champion – Jarre Olajide
020 7739 9302 / 07432 994085

Diocese of London Safeguarding Team

General Safeguarding Queries – 020 7932 1224
safeguarding@london.anglican.org
CCPAS 24 Hour Helpline – 0845 120 4550

General Safeguarding Queries – 020 7932 1224
safeguarding@london.anglican.org
CCPAS 24 Hour Helpline – 0845 120 4550

General Safeguarding Queries – 020 7932 1224
safeguarding@london.anglican.org
CCPAS 24 Hour Helpline – 0845 120 4550

General Safeguarding Queries – 020 7932 1224
safeguarding@london.anglican.org
CCPAS 24 Hour Helpline – 0845 120 4550

Hackney Council Safeguarding Team

Duty Line Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm – 020 8356 5500
Emergency (out of hours) – 020 8356 2710

Duty Line Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm – 020 8356 5500
Emergency (out of hours) – 020 8356 2710

Duty Line Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm – 020 8356 5500
Emergency (out of hours) – 020 8356 2710

Duty Line Mon to Fri 9am – 5pm – 020 8356 5500
Emergency (out of hours) – 020 8356 2710

Safer Recruitment

All leaders and helpers – paid and volunteer – who work on behalf of St John’s Church with children, young people or adults at risk are subject to a rigorous and considered recruitment process. Before taking up a position of trust and responsibility in a ministries, leaders and helpers (who must be over 18 years old) must:

- Meet with a ministry leader to ensure they have a clear understanding of the role they are being considered for.
- Participate in a session as an observer.
- Sign a clear role description outlining duties, expectations and support given.
- Sign a confidential declaration stating they have no knowledge of anything which may disqualify them from the role.
- Provide details of at least two referees from whom references can be sought.
- Complete an application for a DBS disclosure, which must then be obtained before they take up their role.
- Undertake safeguarding training on an annual basis as part of their team training and development.

- Meet with a ministry leader to ensure they have a clear understanding of the role they are being considered for.
- Participate in a session as an observer.
- Sign a clear role description outlining duties, expectations and support given.
- Sign a confidential declaration stating they have no knowledge of anything which may disqualify them from the role.
- Provide details of at least two referees from whom references can be sought.
- Complete an application for a DBS disclosure, which must then be obtained before they take up their role.
- Undertake safeguarding training on an annual basis as part of their team training and development.

- Meet with a ministry leader to ensure they have a clear understanding of the role they are being considered for.
- Participate in a session as an observer.
- Sign a clear role description outlining duties, expectations and support given.
- Sign a confidential declaration stating they have no knowledge of anything which may disqualify them from the role.
- Provide details of at least two referees from whom references can be sought.
- Complete an application for a DBS disclosure, which must then be obtained before they take up their role.
- Undertake safeguarding training on an annual basis as part of their team training and development.

- Meet with a ministry leader to ensure they have a clear understanding of the role they are being considered for.
- Participate in a session as an observer.
- Sign a clear role description outlining duties, expectations and support given.
- Sign a confidential declaration stating they have no knowledge of anything which may disqualify them from the role.
- Provide details of at least two referees from whom references can be sought.
- Complete an application for a DBS disclosure, which must then be obtained before they take up their role.
- Undertake safeguarding training on an annual basis as part of their team training and development.

Our ministry team leaders continues to offer regular support and advice to all leaders and helpers.

Unaccompanied Children and Youth at Worship Services

We encourage parents and children to attend worship services together, as we believe that our worship and prayer together will strengthen family bonds. However, we recognise that a number of children and young people take the initiative to attend worship services by themselves.

During the groups that take place in the services, children and young people are under the care of responsible leaders and helpers. However, these groups do not run for the whole of the service, and the nature of a public worship service is such that we cannot control who is in attendance. There is an inherent risk to children in such an environment. We mitigate the risk by adopting the following procedures for unaccompanied children and young people.

- Children aged 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. NB- an adult must be someone aged 18+.
- Children aged 6-11 (in primary school) who attend church without an adult will have their names added to an Unaccompanied Children List at Child Check-In. They will then be under the care of the Children’s Minister (or another responsible adult) for the duration of their time at church, not including the time they are in their groups.
- Unaccompanied youth (in secondary school) must complete and return a parental permission form for Sunday mornings to include permission for members of both youth groups to attend church without an accompanying adult.
- Involvement of other adults: The adult staffing the Child Check-In desk must ask all children if they have come with an adult in order to add names to the list.
- Welcome team members receive some safeguarding training to be aware of the issues relating to children arriving on their own, leaving the main church to go to the toilet, playing in the hall, leaving the building during service times and other safeguarding issues.

- Children aged 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. NB- an adult must be someone aged 18+.
- Children aged 6-11 (in primary school) who attend church without an adult will have their names added to an Unaccompanied Children List at Child Check-In. They will then be under the care of the Children’s Minister (or another responsible adult) for the duration of their time at church, not including the time they are in their groups.
- Unaccompanied youth (in secondary school) must complete and return a parental permission form for Sunday mornings to include permission for members of both youth groups to attend church without an accompanying adult.
- Involvement of other adults: The adult staffing the Child Check-In desk must ask all children if they have come with an adult in order to add names to the list.
- Welcome team members receive some safeguarding training to be aware of the issues relating to children arriving on their own, leaving the main church to go to the toilet, playing in the hall, leaving the building during service times and other safeguarding issues.

- Children aged 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. NB- an adult must be someone aged 18+.
- Children aged 6-11 (in primary school) who attend church without an adult will have their names added to an Unaccompanied Children List at Child Check-In. They will then be under the care of the Children’s Minister (or another responsible adult) for the duration of their time at church, not including the time they are in their groups.
- Unaccompanied youth (in secondary school) must complete and return a parental permission form for Sunday mornings to include permission for members of both youth groups to attend church without an accompanying adult.
- Involvement of other adults: The adult staffing the Child Check-In desk must ask all children if they have come with an adult in order to add names to the list.
- Welcome team members receive some safeguarding training to be aware of the issues relating to children arriving on their own, leaving the main church to go to the toilet, playing in the hall, leaving the building during service times and other safeguarding issues.

- Children aged 5 and under must be accompanied by an adult. NB- an adult must be someone aged 18+.
- Children aged 6-11 (in primary school) who attend church without an adult will have their names added to an Unaccompanied Children List at Child Check-In. They will then be under the care of the Children’s Minister (or another responsible adult) for the duration of their time at church, not including the time they are in their groups.
- Unaccompanied youth (in secondary school) must complete and return a parental permission form for Sunday mornings to include permission for members of both youth groups to attend church without an accompanying adult.
- Involvement of other adults: The adult staffing the Child Check-In desk must ask all children if they have come with an adult in order to add names to the list.
- Welcome team members receive some safeguarding training to be aware of the issues relating to children arriving on their own, leaving the main church to go to the toilet, playing in the hall, leaving the building during service times and other safeguarding issues.