Parish of Rochester

Safeguarding Action Plan

June 2026 Review May 2027 

This Parish fully embraces the documents pertaining to Safeguarding in the Church of England including: 

Promoting a Safer Church 

Responding to Safeguarding Concerns 

In addition we will follow these safeguarding standards in this action plan. 

National Safeguarding Standards

Standard 1: Culture, Leadership and Capacity

Standard 2: Prevention

Standard 3: Recognising, Assessing and Managing Risk

Standard 4: Victims and Survivors

Standard 5: Learning, Supervision and Support 

Culture , Leadership and Capacity 

Our Safeguarding Policy and Promoting a Safer Church are up-to-date.

The safeguarding Who’s Who is displayed.

Safeguarding is on every PCC Agenda and reports are given each month. The report is also done each year to the APCM 

We will continue to promote a safeguarding culture with regular safeguarding meetings and updating the Parish Dashboard and work on any outstanding issues. We will also continue to use the Safeguarding Hub. We uphold the principals of an inclusive and diverse church and generally welcome all, unless there are particular reasons for not doing so where safety is concerned. We will continue to pray for children and vulnerable adults and our leaders and the safeguarding team. 

During the interregnum the PSO will report concerns to The Church Wardens /Priest in Charge and liaise more closely with the DSO Diocesan Safeguarding Officer. The PSO will share information on safeguarding with the new incumbent on appointment.

Church wardens

Will put safeguarding information in the pew sheets once a month.

Add accessible notice boards.

Add social media handles to pew sheets

Make details of parish governance more available on notice boards.

Will ensure that safeguarding culture is more available to the whole congregation by updating websites accordingly with links to documents. 

Members of the PCC who may be involved in interviewing in the future, must complete The Safer Recruitment Training.   

Prevention

When volunteers come forward, we will safely recruit them to the standard required. Volunteers and paid staff are required to do the appropriate safeguarding training. DBS checks will be done where appropriate. All volunteer roles should have a job role description. We will continue to work on this in the next year. All volunteer roles also have a risk assessment for that activity.  New activities must have safeguarding  risk assessments for that activity as well as a new role description.

Recognising, Assessing and Managing Risk

All volunteers who have done training must know the lines of contact for safeguarding concerns.

The PSO will continue to work closely with the DSO on any ongoing issues.

To implement our photo and filming policy more assiduously reminding visiting clergy of our policy. That it should be announced if people wish to take photos it should not include the congregation carte blanch and people should be given the opportunity to opt out if they so wish.

Victims and Survivors

The PSO will follow the approved procedure if there is a disclosure of past abuse that is in place.

Learning, Supervision and Support

We will aim to make sure that people working in their roles get an appropriate induction and continued support and feedback in their role from the volunteer leaders. We will review this annually.

Church wardens

Will encourage volunteer leaders to write job descriptions for volunteers and encourage volunteer leaders to implement getting the feedback

Key Roles and Responsibilities of Church Office Holders and Bodies Practice Guidance