keeping safe
KEEPING SAFE
MOST OF THE TIME AT CHURCH WE ARE LIKE A BIG HAPPY FAMILY. HOWEVER, EVEN IN VERY HAPPY FAMILIES PEOPLE CAN HAVE A BAD DAY AND EVEN PEOPLE WE KNOW AND TRUST CAN UPSET US. WE WANT TO HELP EVERYONE HAVE GOOD DAYS ALL OF THE TIME. WE TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO HAVE JOBS IN THE CHURCH ALWAYS BEHAVE WELL AND IN A WAY THAT IS HELPFUL TO YOU. WE NEVER WANT ANYONE OR ANYTHING IN CHURCH TO FRIGHTEN YOU, CONFUSE YOU OR WORRY YOU. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU TELL US IF SOMETHING IS UPSETTING YOU OR IF YOU ARE FEELING WORRIED ABOUT SOMETHING THAT'S HAPPENING OR SOMETHING SOMEBODY IS DOING. WE HAVE SPECIALLY TRAINED PEOPLE WHO YOU CAN TALK TO AND WHO YOU CAN ASK FOR HELP. THESE PEOPLE ARE GOOD AT SAFEGUARDING. THIS MEANS THEY LOOK AFTER EVERYONE'S SAFETY. CARING FOR PEOPLE IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CHRISTIAN LIFE.
The people who can help you are the parish priest or the parish safeguarding officer. You can contact:
Our Parish Priest (Revd Kevin Dyke - 01724 852079)
The Safeguarding Officer (Mrs Jane Ward - 01724 629557)
Alternatively, if you wish to speak to someone outside the church you can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.
The Lincoln Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser during office hours on 01522 504081 or alternatively on 07712 321361
The Diocesan Safeguarding Team by e-mail at safeguarding@lincoln.anglican.org
Further contact details for the Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be found here. There is also information there about other places where you can get help or advice.
POLICY
The Parochial Church Council has adopted the Diocese of Lincoln Safeguarding Policy Statement which reads as follows:
Preamble
Every human being has a value and dignity which comes directly from God's creation of male and female in his own image and likeness. Christians see this as fulfilled by God's re-creation of us in Christ. Among other things this implies a duty to value all people as filled with the Holy Spirit and therefore to protect them from harm.
Principles
Within our church community we are committed to:
- The care and nurture of children and young people
- Respectful pastoral ministry to all adults
- The safeguarding and protection of children, young people and adults
We will carefully select and train all those with any pastoral responsibility within the Church, including the use of Criminal Records Bureau disclosures and registration with the Independent Safeguarding Authority.
We will respond without delay to every complaint made, that an adult, child or young person may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and local authority in any investigation.
We will seek to offer informed pastoral care to anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them an appropriate healing ministry.
We will challenge any abuse of power by anyone in a position of trust.
We will care for and supervise any member of our church community known to have offended against a child, young person or adult.
WHAT IF I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT A PERSON OR A SITUATION?
If you have concerns that a person within one our churches is not behaving appropriately, or that a situation has developed that may potentially be unsafe, then you should talk to someone in authority. Such people include:
Our Parish Priest (Revd Kevin Dyke - 01724 852079)
The Safeguarding Officer (Mrs Jane Ward - 01724 629557)
Alternatively, if you wish to speak to someone outside the church you can contact the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.
The Lincoln Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser during office hours on 01522 504081 or alternatively on 07712 321361
The Diocesan Safeguarding Team by e-mail at safeguarding@lincoln.anglican.org
Further contact details for the Diocesan Safeguarding Team can be found here. There is also information there about other places where you can get help or advice.
WHAT IF THE SITUATION IS URGENT?
If you have a serious concern about a child or adult at risk you should contact the Police or the local authority safeguarding team in your area. Please note: you do not need to speak to the either the local Safeguarding Officer or the Diocesan Safeguarding Team first if the matter is urgent.
WHAT IF I HAVE GENERAL CONCERNS NOT CONNECTED WITH THE CHURCH, OR NEED HELP MYSELF?
There are a number of organisations you can get in touch with who can help you. These include
The Emergency Services (Urgent): 999
Local Police: 101
Childline: 0800 1111
Stop It Now! (NSPCC): 0808 800 5000
Elder Abuse: 0808 808 8141
Domestic Violence: 0808 2000 247
WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ON THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SAFEGUARDING POLICIES?
Further details on the Church of England's Safeguarding policies, including Protecting All God's Children (Safeguarding policy for children and young people, 4th edition, 2010) and Promoting a Safe Church (Safeguarding policy for adults, 2006) can be found on the Safeguarding page of the Church of England here.
“The Church of England, its archbishops, bishops, clergy and leaders are committed to safeguarding as an integral part of the life and ministry of the Church.
Safeguarding means the action the Church takes to promote a safer culture. This means we will promote the welfare of children, young people and adults, work to prevent abuse from occurring, seek to protect those that are at risk of being abused and respond well to those that 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.
The Church of England affirms the ‘Whole Church’ approach to safeguarding. This approach encompasses a commitment to consistent policy and practice across all Church bodies, Church Officers and that everyone associated with the Church, who comes into contact with children, young people and adults, has a role to play.
The Church will take appropriate steps to maintain a safer environment for all and to practice fully and positively Christ’s ministry towards children, young people and adults; to respond sensitively and compassionately to their needs in order to help keep them safe from harm.”
— Introduction from the House of Bishops' Safeguarding Policy "Promoting a Safer Church"