Safeguarding Children, Young People, and Vulnerable adults.
Promoting a Safer Church
Saint Peter and Saint Paul’s Church takes very seriously the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults.
We seek to welcome everyone into the life of the church, including those who for whatever reason may be considered as vulnerable or marginalised. We commit ourselves to the nurturing protection and safeguarding of all children young people and vulnerable adults associated with our church.
We are committed to ensuring that those working with children, young people and vulnerable adults who require a disclosure and barring check (DBS) have undergone this at enhanced level.
We base our work on the good practice advice set out in the Church of England’s own guidance (also called Promoting a Safer Church} which was produced by the churches national safeguarding team.
The policy ensures that we meet our duties under Section 5 of the Safeguarding and Clergy Discipline Measure 2016 to have ‘due regard’ to the safeguarding guidance issued by the House of Bishops.
By applying the policy we seek to promote the welfare of children, young people and adults, work to prevent abuse from occurring, protect those who are at risk of being abused and respond well to those who 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.
We will safely recruit and support all those within the church with the responsibilities towards children young persons or vulnerable adults. We will respond promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation. We will also care pastorally for victims of abuse, those who are subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
We will respond to those that may pose a present risk to others.
The PCC have appointed Rhian Rutland as the Parish Safeguarding Officer.
We believe that the protection of children, young people and vulnerable adults in our activities is the responsibility of the whole church. It is important therefore that everyone who participates in the life of our church must play their part in promoting a safer church for all.
In the event of any person becoming concerned about protection issues concerning a child, young person or vulnerable adult they should contact Rhian Rutland parish safeguarding officer as soon as possible either by email or by phone.
email Rhianrutland51@btinternet.com
phone 01474 831 216.
If a child young person or adult is in immediate need of protection from significant or serious harm contact the emergency services on 999.
Social services can also be called or any of the following groups:
- NSPCC Child Protection Helpline: 0808 800 5000 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are worried about a child.
- Child-line: 0800 1111 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are a child or young person and are worried about anything.
- National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 (lines free and open 24 hours). Phone if you are experiencing domestic abuse.
- Samaritans Helpline: 116 123 (open 24 hours). Phone if you feel you are struggling to cope and need someone to talk to.
- Action on Elder Abuse Helpline: 0808 808 8141 (free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm)
- National Rape Crisis Helpline: 0808 802 9999 and is open every day from 12-2.30pm and 7-9.30pm.
- The Survivors Trust: 0808 801 0818 and is open Monday to Wednesday 10-7.30pm, Thursday 10-6pm and Friday 10-2pm.
- LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0800 999 5428 help@galop.org.uk
- Men’s Advice Line: 0808 801 0327 info@mensadviceline.org.uk
- Age UK Advice Line: 0800 678 1602
Links to additional documents:
Signposts to external organisations that can offer support
The Diocese have compiled a downloadable list of national and local organisations and services that can be approached for support.
Links to victim/survivor-led websites
Here are details of some websites and blogs which have been established by victims and survivors of abuse.
- House of Survivors - This is an information-based site for Survivors of Church of England-based abuse and Safeguarding employees within the Church of England. Please be aware that a disclaimer on this site warns that it contains some distressing content. Please exercise self-care. Should you need support, please visit one of the services listed on the website or use the Quick Exit button available on the site itself.
- Survivors Voices - Survivors Voices is a survivor-led organisation that harnesses the expertise of people affected by abuse in order to transform society’s response to trauma and abuse. They state that they are ‘experts by experience’, survivors of all types of abuse, experienced as a child or as an adult, 'turning our pain into the power to create something good.'
- Surviving Church - A blog aiming to offer support to those who have been through negative church experiences of various kinds. Edited by Stephen Parsons, it seeks to offer commentary, insight, as well as challenge, to church leaders for their past and present failures in protecting the abused.
