The St Benedict’s Centre has adopted the national Church of England safeguarding policy statement and the 6 policy commitments therein (Promoting A Safer Church 2017). The Centre’s Safeguarding Action Plan is as follows. We will:

1. Create a safe and caring place for all and communicate this as a priority
2. Have a named Safeguarding Officer (SO) to work with the Chair of the Trustees to implement policy and procedures.
3. 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, including Spiritual
Abuse
4. Ensure that all staff and volunteers, regardless of role, undertake basic safeguarding awareness training
5. Hold a 4-way meeting twice a year between the safeguarding leads for the St Benedict’s Centre, Malling Abbey, St Augustine’s and Rochester Diocese, to ensure sharing of issues and mutual
support.
6. Notify Malling Abbey, St Augustine’s and the Diocese of Rochester about any individual who may potentially pose a risk, in line with statutory guidance
7. Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the St Benedict’s Centre
8. Display, both on the premises and on its website, the details of who to contact if there are
safeguarding concerns or support needs.
9. Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse, including Spiritual Abuse
10. 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 Advisor (DSA) and statutory agencies within the timescales set out by House of Bishops and statutory guidance.
11. Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse or when or where it occurred.

12. Care for and monitor any member of the St Benedict’s Centre community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
13. Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that
these are reviewed annually.
14. Follow current Charity Commission safeguarding guidance
15. Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least
annually. Each person who works/volunteers within the St Benedict’s Centre remit will agree to abide by this
policy and the guidelines established by the Centre.
This Policy will be reviewed annually.

Rt Revd Adrian Newman
Acting Chair of Trustees
November 2023