Christ Church Dore - Safeguarding

Safeguarding team

Our Church Safeguarding Officer (CSO) is Dr Yvonne Twelvetree. She may be contacted through Church Office, 0114 236 3335 or email: safeguarding@dorechurch.org.uk

Diocesan Safeguarding Contacts

If you have information about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger or requires immediate medical attention call the emergency services on 999. Do not delay.

Diocesan Safeguarding Office Hours Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm

If you have a safeguarding concern, please contact one of our Safeguarding team:

Siân Checkley, Safeguarding Adviser – m. 07741 013775, sian.checkley@sheffield.anglican.org (Monday – Thursday)

Elina Penttila, Assistant Safeguarding Adviser – m. 07871 796682, Elina.penttila@sheffield.anglican.org (Monday – Friday)

Rachel Tankard, Assistant Safeguarding Adviser – m. 07874 859062, rachel.tankard@sheffield.anglican.org (Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 9am – 3pm)

In writing:

Diocesan Church House,

95-99 Effingham Street,

Rotherham,

S65 1BL

For all other issues including Safeguarding Training please contact the Safeguarding Team - http://www.sheffield.anglican.org/support/safeguarding/contact-the-team/

Out of Hours Emergency

An emergency concern about the safety of a child or an adult is something that needs immediate attention.

If you are considering contacting social care regarding a child or an adult, please do not delay if you are unable to speak to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team.

If you have a concern and require safeguarding advice that should not wait until the next working day contact.

Thirtyone:eight on 0303 003 11 11.

Thirtyone:eight provide cover during evenings and weekends. They provide advice relating to children and adults and Sheffield Diocese has signed an information-sharing agreement in compliance with GDPR.

Please inform them that you are calling from Sheffield Diocese.

They will offer advice about your concern and confirm their advice in an email to you. They will also provide you with a PIN number to access the email

A copy of the email will also be sent to the Diocesan Safeguarding Team (DST). The DST will follow up cases as required on the next working day.

Further Contacts:

Call 999 if a child or adult is in immediate danger of significant or serious harm

National helplines:

NSPCC – 0808 800 5000

Childline – 0800 1111

Stop it Now – 0808 1000 900

NAPAC – 0808 801 0331

Samaritans – 116 123

Family Lives – 0808 800 2222

National Domestic Violence Helpline – 0808 2000 247

Action on Elder Abuse – 0808 808 8141

Safeguarding links

Current Safeguarding advice from Sheffield Diocese - https://www.sheffield.anglican.org/support/safeguarding/

PCC Safeguarding Policy Statement

Every person has a value and dignity which comes directly from the creation of male and female in God’s own image and likeness. Christians see this potential as fulfilled by God’s re-creation of us in Christ. This implies a duty to value all people as bearing the image of God and therefore to protect them from harm.

▪ We accept and endorse the principles set out in ‘Safeguarding in the Diocese of Sheffield’.

▪ We commit ourselves to nurture, protect and safeguard all our members, particularly children, young people and vulnerable adults.

▪ We recognise that safeguarding is the responsibility of the whole church community.

▪ We undertake to exercise proper care in the selection, appointment, training and support of those working in both paid and voluntary positions with children or vulnerable adults, including the use of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosures and making appropriate referrals to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

▪ We will respond without delay to concerns or allegations that a child or vulnerable adult may have been harmed, cooperating with the police and social care services in any investigation.

▪ We will challenge any abuse of power by anyone in a position of trust. ▪ We will seek to offer pastoral care and support to anyone who has suffered abuse, developing with them appropriate pastoral support.

▪ 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.

Further guidance can be found in the National Church’s Safeguarding Policies and Practice Guidance.

The National Church’s Parish Safeguarding Handbook provides further advice on responding to concerns.

The Parish of Christ Church Dore

SAFEGUARDING POLICY

PROMOTING A SAFER CHURCH

The following policy was agreed at the Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting held on 10th September 2024 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 priest in charge 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 Yvonne Twelvetree as the Parish Safeguarding Officer

This church appoints Sarah Oxby to be an advocate for children (under 11 years)

This church appoints Emma Archer to be an advocate for youths (11yrs to 18yrs)

Priest in Charge Andrew Patrick

Churchwardens

1. Lena Plaskitt

2. Sarah Oxby

In addition to this policy there is held for reference and accessible via the Parish Office these appendices: 1. Template for activity risk assessments

2. Registration form for activities and trips

3. Safeguarding Who’s Who

4. Volunteer Driver Agreement

5. Consent for recordings and photos

6. Parish Safeguarding Handbook

7. Fact sheet-sexting

8. Home visiting risk assessment checklist

9. Christ Church Bell Tower information

10. Domestic Abuse

Christ Church Parish statement on domestic abuse

Parish of Christ Church Dore Safeguarding Appendices

Appendix 10 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 Rev Andrew Patrick Tel 0114 2363335 or vicar@dorechurch.org.uk

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