E-SAFETY POLICY Parish of Holy Cross, Uckfield

This policy should be read alongside the Parish of Uckfield's policies on Safeguarding, Whistleblowing and Reporting Concerns about a Child.

This policy applies to all staff, including clergy, PCC members, paid staff, volunteers including children's and youth workers, those involving in leading or coordinating music and worship, and anyone else involved in working or volunteering on behalf of Holy Cross Church, Uckfield.

Purpose of Policy

• To protect children and young people who are ministered to by Holy Cross Church, Uckfield and who make use of information technology (such as mobile phones/devices, games consoles and the Internet) as part of their involvement with the parish.

• To provide our staff, volunteers, and parents with the overarching principles that guide our approach to e-safety.

• To ensure that, as a Christian community, we minister in line with our values, and also within the law, in terms of how we use information technology and behave online.

• To guide us as we seek to equip the children and young people with whom we minister to be safe, discerning and wise users of information and communication technology.

• We Recognise that:-

• The welfare of the children and young people to whom we minister and with whom we come into contact is paramount, and should govern our approach to the use and management of electronic communications technologies and online behaviour;

• All children, 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;

• Working in partnership with children, young people, their parents, carers and other agencies is essential in promoting young people's welfare, and in helping young people to be responsible in their approach to e-safety;

• The use of information technology is an essential part of all our lives; it is involved in how we as a church gather and store information, as well as how we communicate with each other. It is an intrinsic part of the experience of children and young people, and is greatly beneficial to all. However, it can present challenges in terms of how we use it responsibly, and, if misused either by an adult or a young person, can be actually or potentially harmful.

We will seek to keep children and young people safe by:

• Treating any child protection concern arising from the online world in the same way, taking it just as seriously, as concerns arising from the offline world.

• Ensuring that at least one of our parish Safeguarding Officers has access to up-to-date information and training regarding online safety, assisting them as appropriate to access this training.

• Ensuring that all staff and volunteers at Holy Cross Church, Uckfield avoid using private forms of electronic communication (text message, email, direct messaging including on social media) to communicate with the children and young people they are responsible for.

• Taking the use of such private communication between staff or volunteers and young people as seriously as one-on-one contact between adults and children without another responsible adult present. It is always the responsibility of the adult staff member or volunteer to put appropriate boundaries in place in their relationships with the young people with whom they minister, in both the offline and online worlds.

• Using open online forums to communicate with children, such as Facebook youth group pages to notify young people of events etc.

• Avoiding any form of inappropriate content in what we, our staff and our volunteers post online, including (but not limited to) sexual content, racist, sexist or otherwise bigoted content, or content promoting illegal activity.

• Maintaining electronic versions of sensitive personal data securely, according to the principles of the Data Protection Act.

• Providing age-appropriate awareness material, including training, to children and young people with regards to online safety. In particular, we will make them aware of the Thinkuknow website, and about Childline.

• Providing awareness material to parents with regards to online safety. In particular, we will make them aware of the Thinkuknow, Parents Protect, and UK Safer Internet Centre websites.

  November 2023 

Parish Safeguarding Handbook Church of England

Parish Safeguarding Policy

SAFEGUARDING POLICY PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH Parish of Holy Cross, Uckfield

The following policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting held on 14th November 2023. In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy our church is committed to:

•   Promoting a safer environment and culture.

•   Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and

  vulnerable adults within the church.

•   Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.

•   Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.

•   Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.

•   Responding and extending pastoral care to those that may pose a present risk to others. The Parish will:

•   Create a safe and caring place for all.

•   Have two named Parish Safeguarding Officers (PSO’s) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement

  policy and procedures.

•   Safely recruit, train and support all those with any responsibility for children, young people and adults to have the confidence and skills to recognise and respond to abuse.

•   Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.

•   Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.

•   Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.

•   Take steps to protect children and adults when a safeguarding concern of any kind arises, following House of Bishops guidance, including notifying the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately.

•   Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred. 01.08.18 v1

•   Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.

•   Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments as per SQP and Health and Safety are in place and that these are reviewed annually.

•   Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually.
  Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this church.

  This church appoints Karen Smith and Rhian Cottrell as the Parish Safeguarding Officers.

  Incumbent: The Revd John Wall Churchwardens: Dee Johnson, John Pontefract Date: 14th November 2023

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