Our parish of Holy Trinity, Potten End is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults from harm. We follow the House of Bishops guidance and policies and have our own Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO). Our Diocese of St. Albans’s safeguarding pages contain vital links and information including contacts for the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor who advises our PSO. If you are concerned that a child or adult has been harmed or may be at risk of harm, please contact the PSO [Beverley Hamilton, 07900 673973] or the Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor [Jez Hirst, 01727 818107, 07867 350886, safeguarding@stalbans.anglican.org].

If you have immediate concerns about the safety of someone, please contact the police and your local authority’s children or adult social care services.

Holy Trinity is proud to be a part of the Diocese of St. Albans in the Church of England, whose Archbishops, Bishops, clergy and leaders are absolutely committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church.

Safeguarding means the action the Church takes to promote a safer culture. This means we will promote the welfare of children, young people and adults, work to prevent abuse from occurring, seek to protect those that are at risk of being abused and respond well to those that have been abused. We will take care to identify where a person may present a risk to others, and offer support to them whilst taking steps to mitigate such risks.

The Church of England affirms the ‘Whole Church’ approach to safeguarding. This approach encompasses a commitment to consistent policy and practice across all Church bodies, Church Officers and that everyone associated with the Church, who comes into contact with children, young people and adults, has a role to play.

The Church will take appropriate steps to maintain a safer environment for all and to practice fully and positively Christ’s Ministry towards children, young people and adults; to respond sensitively and compassionately to their needs in order to help keep them safe from harm.

Our Commitments

• Promoting a safer environment and culture
• Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children and vulnerable adults
• Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation
• Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse or other affected persons
• Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns/allegations of abuse and other affected persons
• Responding to those that may pose a present risk.

Our Safeguarding Lead

Although safeguarding is the responsibility of everyone here at Holy Trinity; Beverley Hamilton is our designated Safeguarding Lead and can be contacted about any safeguarding matter on 07900 673973.

Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser

Jez Hirst: Diocese of St Albans, Holywell Lodge, 41 Holywell Hill, St Albans AL1 1HE. 01727 818107 / 07867 350886 / safeguarding@stalbans.anglican.org

Two very useful links:

More information on the Church of England’s National Safeguarding can be found here: www.churchofengland.org/safeguarding

More information about Safeguarding in the Diocese of St. Albans can be found here: https://www.stalbans.anglican.org/diocese/safeguarding