Safeguarding
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility but it is overseen here by:
Rev Mike Norris Rector – contactable on 01483 455333 or office@st-saviours.org.uk
Rev Lucy Webb Associate Minister – contactable on 01483 455333 or lucy.webb@st-saviours.org.uk
Annabelle Varley Children’s Safeguarding Parish Officer and Director of Children, Youth & Families Ministry – contactable on 01483 445144 or annabelle.varley@st-saviours.org.uk
Hilary Carter The Safeguarding Administrator – contactable on 01483 557580 or hilary.carter@st-saviours.org.uk
Julia Evans The Adults Safeguarding Officer – contactable on 01483 557587 or adult-safe@st-saviours.org.uk
Jackie Broadfoot – Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor – contactable on 07918 559387 or jackie.broadfoot@cofeguildford.org.uk
Safeguarding matters will be forwarded to the Diocesan Safeguarding Adviser (or the police if immediate action is required) and we will follow the advice given.
Church of England and Guildford Diocese Safeguarding Policy
The Church of England safeguarding responsibilities for parishes are outlined in the House of Bishops’ Safeguarding Policy and Practice Guidance. A Parish Safeguarding Handbook has been published to support the day to day work of parishes. This Handbook can be found by clicking here. We adhere to the Guildford Diocese Safeguarding Policy which incorporates the House of Bishop’s Safeguarding Policy and Guidance. If you wish to see more detail of the Diocese Safeguarding policies then click here. We have adopted the Church of England’s House of Bishops’ Promoting a Safer Church Safeguarding Policy Statement, which can be found here.
Safeguarding Review
The Church of England and Guildford Diocese is undertaking a past case review and is seeking information on persons, (alive or deceased), who have had or currently have a role in the Church, where concerns have been raised or allegations made regarding their behaviour toward a child or vulnerable adult.
If you are aware of any such case please contact Hilary Carter on safeguarding@st-saviours.org.uk or 01483 557580 or Lucy Webb on lucy.webb@stsavioursguildford.org or 07366 143956.
All information will be treated very confidentially.
Safeguarding in our Kids and Youth groups
Throughout the work in our kids groups we adhere to strict guidelines in order to ensure the children and youth in our care are kept safe and are treated equally and with awareness of individual needs. This starts with the recruitment of volunteers for our children’s groups (all our children’s volunteers have a full DBS check), and continues within the organisation of the groups. All our volunteers receive safeguarding training, in order to ensure they are clear on the church’s expectations in their roles, how they are to act with the children and what to do if they have concerns.
Further detail on our safeguarding policy for the Children and Youth can be found in our Policy Booklet.
Safeguarding Adults
We understand that adults sometimes need extra support and we work with many who are vulnerable due to their circumstances, their age or their health. Our Pastoral Assistant team, who all have a full DBS check and have taken the Diocese safeguarding training courses, visit and support many in our congregation for whom a friendly face and home assistance is helpful. We also have listening and mentoring teams for those who need a listening ear or support as they face life’s challenges, and again we ask that they take the Diocese safeguarding course. Julia Evans is our Adult Safeguarding Officer and she is available to discuss any concerns you may have. Her contact details are above.
Reporting a Safeguarding Concern
If you are concerned that a child or an adult is, or may be, at risk of abuse this should be reported immediately (and certainly within 24 hours) to one of the Church Safeguarding Officers or the clergy listed above. If it is a non-emergency situation you can report this either in person to one of the Safeguarding Officers or by telephone, and they will then contact the Diocese Safeguarding Officer and ensure that we respond appropriately. We will do everything we can to support the person at risk. If it is an Emergency situation, and you believe the child or adult is in immediate danger of significant harm, then you should call 999 before reporting it to one of the Safeguarding Officers.
Support Helplines
If you wish to speak with someone outside the church the following helplines will be of assistance.
- NSPCC for adults concerned about a child – 0808 800 5000
- Childline for children and young people – 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 8010 331
- Stop It Now preventing child sexual abuse – 0808 1000 900
- Cruse bereavement helpline – 0808 808 1677
- Family Lives support and advice on family issues – 0808 800 2222
- MACSAS for people who have been abused by church officers – 0808 801 0340
- Samaritans for people struggling to cope and needing someone to talk to – 116 123