The Parish of St Andrew’s Haughton le Skerne

SAFEGUARDING POLICY

PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH

The following Parish Safeguarding Policy was adopted  at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting held on 19th March 2019.
In accordance with the Church of England Safeguarding Policy our church is committed to:

Promoting a safer environment and culture.

  • Safely recruiting and supporting all those with any responsibility related to children, young people and vulnerable adults within the church.
  • Responding promptly to every safeguarding concern or allegation.
  • Caring pastorally for victims/survivors of abuse and other affected persons.
  • Caring pastorally for those who are the subject of concerns or allegations of abuse and other affected persons.
  • Responding to those that may pose a present risk to others.

The Parish will:

  • Create a safe and caring place for all.
  • Have a named Parish Safeguarding Officer (PSO) to work with the incumbent and the PCC to implement policy and procedures.
  • 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.
  • Ensure that there is appropriate insurance cover for all activities involving children and adults undertaken in the name of the parish.
  • Display in church premises and on the Parish website the details of who to contact if there are safeguarding concerns or support needs.
  • Listen to and take seriously all those who disclose abuse.
  • 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 Adviser (DSA) and statutory agencies immediately.
  • Offer support to victims/survivors of abuse regardless of the type of abuse, when or where it occurred.
  • Care for and monitor any member of the church community who may pose a risk to children and adults whilst maintaining appropriate confidentiality and the safety of all parties.
  • Ensure that health and safety policy, procedures and risk assessments are in place and that these are reviewed annually.
  • Review the implementation of the Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Practices at least annually.

Each person who works within this church community will agree to abide by this policy and the guidelines established by this church.

This church appoints Mrs Gillian Jones as  the Parish Safeguarding Officer she can be contacted on 01325 468142

Incumbent The Revd Mark East

Churchwardens Andy Teague, Denise Hope, Moyra Cooper, Carole Ainslie and Claire Kay?

Date: 19th March 2019

Parish of St Andrew’s Church, Haughton le Skerne

Policy for Responding to Domestic Abuse

All forms of domestic abuse are wrong and must stop. We are committed to promoting and supporting environments which:

  • ensure that all people feel welcomed, respected and safe from abuse;
  • protect those vulnerable to domestic abuse from actual or potential harm;
  • recognise equality amongst people and within relationships;
  • enable and encourage concerns to be raised and responded to appropriately and consistently.

We recognise that:

  • all forms of domestic abuse cause damage to the survivor and express an imbalance of power in the relationship;
  • all survivors (regardless of age, disability, gender, racial heritage, religious belief, sexual orientation or identity) have the right to equal protection from all types of harm or abuse;
  • domestic abuse can occur in all communities;
  • domestic abuse may be a single incident, but is usually a systematic, repeated pattern which escalates in severity and frequency;
  • domestic abuse, if witnessed or overheard by a child, is a form of abuse by the perpetrator of the abusive behaviour;
  • working in partnership with children, adults and other agencies is essential in promoting the welfare of any child or adult suffering abuse.

We will endeavour to respond to domestic abuse by:

In all our activities –

• valuing, listening to and respecting both survivors and alleged or known perpetrators of domestic abuse.

In our publicity –

• raising awareness about other agencies, support services, resources and expertise, through providing information in public and women-only areas of relevance to survivors, children and alleged or known perpetrators of domestic abuse.

When concerns are raised –

  • ensuring that those who have experienced abuse can find safety and informed help;
  • working with the appropriate statutory bodies during an investigation into domestic abuse, including when allegations are made against a member of the church community.

In our care –

  • ensuring that informed and appropriate pastoral care is offered to any child, young person or adult who has suffered abuse;
  • identifying and outlining the appropriate relationship of those with pastoral care responsibilities with both survivors and alleged or known perpetrators of domestic abuse.

If you have any concerns or need to talk to anyone please contact our Safeguarding Office,  Gillian Jones 01325 468142

Other Useful Contacts

  • The Durham Diocesan Safeguarding Officer is Beth Miller, and she can be contacted on 07968 034075.
  • Police Call 101 or 999 in an emergency

Local Contacts - Adult and Children’s Social Care:

  • Children Contact the Children’s Access Point on 01325 406222 or Emergency Duty Team on 01642 524552.
  • Adult Contact the First Point of Contact Team on 01325 406111 or the Emergency Duty Team on 01642 524552.

 Helplines for further support

  • NSPCC - For adults concerned about a child 0808 800 5000 
  • ChildLine - For children and young people on 0800 1111 
  • Action on Elder Abuse Helpline - 0808 808 8141 
  • 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000 247
  • NAPAC – Offer support and advice to adult survivors of childhood abuse 0808 801 0331
  • Stop It Now – Preventing child sexual abuse 0808 1000 900 Cruse
  • Bereavement helpline 0808 808 1677

Web Link to Durham Diocese Safeguarding Information: