Safeguarding

SPECIALIST HELP

We understand reporting abuse may be very difficult and distressing to you and it may add to your hurt by our not being able to immediately assist you. Therefore here are the contact details of other agencies that are available to assist either on a 24-hour basis or through specialist helplines and services:-

• 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 Violence 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: 080 8808 8141 ( free phone Monday to Friday 9-5pm).

• The National Safeguarding Team: safeguarding@churchofengland.org

OUR SAFEGUARDING POLICY

The following is our Safeguarding Policy:-

1. We are committed to:

   • The care, nurture of, and respectful pastoral ministry with, all children and all adults

   • The safeguarding and protection of all children, young people and adults when they are vulnerable

   • The establishing of safe, caring communities which provide a loving environment where there is a culture of ‘informed vigilance’ as to the dangers of abuse.

2. We will carefully select and train all those with any responsibility within the Church, in line with safer recruitment principles, including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records checks.

3. We will respond without delay to every complaint made which suggests that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, co-operating with the police and local authority in any investigation and we will have a clear reporting procedure in place.

4. We will seek to work with anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with him or her an appropriate ministry of informed pastoral care.

5. We will seek to challenge any abuse of power, especially by anyone in a position of trust.

6. We will seek to offer pastoral care and support, including supervision and referral to the proper authorities, to any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or vulnerable adult.

7. In all these principles we will follow statute, guidance and recognised good practice.

8. We will advise the Diocese which Registered Body we use to process applications for Disclosure and Barring Service criminal records checks.

9. We will advise the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser if we receive a Disclosure which is ‘blemished’ or ‘positive’.

10. We will review this policy annually, check that our policies are up to date, and supply a copy of the updated policy statement to the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser.

You can download a copy of our Safeguarding Policy here. You can also download here the wider Diocese of Oxford’s Safeguarding Handbook.