Safeguarding Report 2025
St. Georges Parish Church
Annual Parish Meeting 2025
Safeguarding Report
We continue to use the safeguarding dashboard that the Diocese rolled out in 2021 which ensures we are compliant with the House of Bishops recommendations (2016) on Safeguarding. At the time of writing this report the dashboard shows us as ‘green’, 100% compliant, however some training refreshers are due soon, which will change the dashboard percentage ‘amber’ showing these are for action, not red which would deem them urgent. Those requiring to refresh their certificates, which is every three years, are being contacted individually so their safeguarding training remains up to date.
The Safeguarding team has met three times since last year to discuss any issues, most notable was concerns following the Makin report and the resignation of the Archbishop of Canterbury. No criticism was levelled at Parish level and discussions at the General synod has raised further concerns nationally, on who should deal with Safeguarding, whether the church, or an external body. We will continue to monitor the issue.
As a parish we continue to work to maintain and improve procedures and what follows is a brief summary.
• The PCC regularly approve the action plans generated by the dashboard and are made aware of the areas requiring attention, completed or updated.
• The Safeguarding Policy statement is followed by the PCC.
• DBS checks continue to be maintained and updated.
• Declaration forms for the major groups within the Church are updated and completed when required.
• Risk Assessments have been completed for the major groups within the Church and others reviewed and renewed when necessary, as well as an additional one being recently completed.
• During the year, the Diocese Safeguarding caseworker has changed several times, however, a new person has now been appointed. We are currently in the process of updating the St Georges Church website, as it is a requirement to have all Safeguarding personnels contact details listed from a link on the front page of the website.
• Core Safeguarding training has been undertaken by all members of the PCC including those appointed within the last year.
• Safeguarding contact details are posted in the Church porch and Church hall together with details of how to access any information, handbooks and policies.
We continue to track our progress using the Safeguarding dashboard as well as reviewing and updating our policies and procedures to make our church a safer place for all.
In accordance with Safeguarding guidelines, we need to report that there have been no Safeguarding issues recorded and this has been noted by the PCC.
This concludes the Safeguarding annual report for 2025 and I would like to thank the Safeguarding team, the PCC and everyone else for their support and input. In particular, I would like to thank Alison French the previous Safeguarding Officer, for all the assistance, guidance and advice she has given me this past year.
Pauline Murray
Parish Safeguarding Officer