Safeguarding

Hello, my name is Liz Vernum. I am the Safeguarding officer for St Bernadette's. My role is to oversee that Safeguarding practices are followed in the parish, to promote the safety of children, young people and vulnerable adults and to provide a link between the Parish and Diocese in relation to safeguarding issues.

 

My role as a Parish Safeguarding Representative (PSR) will involve supporting the wellbeing of the Parish and its members in matters other than spiritual or theological. My main responsibilities as a Parish Safeguarding Representative (PSR) will include being available to listen to any safeguarding concerns you may have and promoting good and safe practices in all activities within the parish involving children, young people or vulnerable adults.

 

As you all may be aware of we are embarking towards a culture of safeguarding where all should be safe from harm and abuse and where every person is encouraged and enabled to enjoy the fullness of life in the caring, nurturing, supportive and protective endeavours of the Catholic community, both individually and collectively. In order to recreate a safe and nurturing environment and deepen (or where necessary rebuild) trust there needs to be a culture of:

• Openness and transparency

• Love and respect

• Responsibility and accountability

• Compassion and support

• Justice and integrity

• Honesty and humility

• Questioning and challenging

• Learning and changing

 

Every volunteer who will come forward kindly offering some of their precious time to get involved in one or more of the many activities within the parish will have to go through a disclosure barring service also now known as DBS or previously known as CRB. This ensures that those who work with vulnerable groups have been recruited on a fully informed basis. Anyone wishing to volunteer should talk to Fr David or Deacon Paul (retired). I will then be the person to offer guidance when filling in the forms to move the application forward.

 

If you have any concerns or require any information, I can be contacted by email at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or, alternatively I am usually at Mass on Sunday at St Bernadette's.

 

Published: 17/10/2024

Review: 16/10/2025