The Parish of St Mary with All Souls, Kilburn & St James’, West Hampstead
SAFEGUARDING POLICY STATEMENT 2025
The following policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting on 14 September 2025 ___________________________________________________________________
The following statement was adopted by St Mary’s, Kilburn & St James’, West Hampstead at a Parochial Church Council meeting
Every person has a value and dignity. We have a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.
We recognize that everyone has different levels of vulnerability and that each of us may be regarded as vulnerable at some time in our lives and as members of this parish we commit ourselves to provide respectful pastoral care for all whom we minister.
We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults ensuring their well-being in the life of this parish and to promoting the inclusion and empowerment of all those who may be vulnerable.
We commit ourselves to promoting safe practice by those in positions of trust and undertake to exercise proper care in the appointment and selection of those who will work with those who are vulnerable including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and making appropriate referrals to the DBS.
We are committed to supporting, resourcing, training and regularly reviewing those who undertake work amongst children, young people and vulnerable adults.
Each person who works with children, young people and vulnerable adults will agree to abide by these recommendations and the policy established by this church.
Safeguarding is the responsibility of the whole church community, and it is the duty of each of us to prevent the physical, emotional, sexual, financial and spiritual abuse of children, young people or vulnerable adults and to report any such abuse that we discover or suspect.
We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child, young person or vulnerable adult may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and social care services in any investigation. In instances where the abuse is confirmed, the employee or volunteer will be permanently removed from their duties.
In instances where the evidence is inconclusive, we will offer appropriate pastoral support, attempting to honour the request of the victim’s family with regards to safety of the vulnerable person and ensuring also the rights of the accused.
We will offer informed pastoral care to anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate ministry that recognises the importance of understanding the needs of those who have been abused, including their feelings of alienation and/or isolation.
In as far as we can, we will protect survivors of sexual abuse from the possibility of further harm and abuse.
We will challenge any abuse of power by anyone in a position of trust and will suspend any employee or volunteer under investigation from the performance of their duties until the investigation has been completed.
We will offer pastoral care and support to anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them appropriate pastoral support.
We will 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 vulnerable adult.
We accept and endorse the principles set out in ‘Safeguarding in the Diocese of London’.
We have appointed Nancy Jirira as our Church Safeguarding Officer (CSO)
The PCC shall review this policy annually. The next review will take place in September 2026
This church appoints: Nancy JIRIRA (nancysoko@aol.com) as the Church Safeguarding Officer for St Mary’s and for St James’
Incumbent: Fr Robert THOMPSON
Churchwardens: Carleen LARRINGTON and Susan SLADE (St Mary’s) - Tom RAINBOW & Rah CARTER (St James’)
The contact details below are agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services. If you are concerned about a child or vulnerable adult please don’t hesitate to call:
London Diocesan Safeguarding Advisers 020 7932 1224
Support for those in London experiencing mental health challenges
The Diocese of London has partnered with the mental health text support service, Shout 85258, to bolster its support for those experiencing mental health challenges across the city. Shout is a free, 24/7, confidential and anonymous mental health text support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. From 30th March 2021, people within the Diocese will immediately be connected to one of Shout’s trained volunteers by texting the word ‘Neighbour’ to 85258.
If you have information about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention call the emergency services on 999. Do not delay.
