Safeguarding in the parishes of Holy Trinity, Penn and St Margaret’s, Tylers Green

Reporting Abuse

What to do if you have a safeguarding concern

If you have information about a safeguarding situation where a child or adult is in immediate danger, or requires immediate medical attention, call emergency services on 999.

If you do not think there is a risk of immediate harm, you should still speak to our Safeguarding Officer or Vicar about your concern as soon as possible.

If you are concerned that a child or vulnerable adult is at risk of harm you should approach your local children or adult social care department.

Our Safeguarding Officer should be informed about any case where a child or vulnerable adult appears to be at risk or where an adult appears to present a risk. They should be informed straight away of any safeguarding concerns involving a Church Officer. A ‘Church Officer’ is anyone appointed/elected by or on behalf of the Church to a post or role, whether they are ordained or lay, paid or unpaid.

Our Safeguarding team:

Safeguarding Officer: Deborah Yeates – 01494 445286; djyeates@btinternet.com

Vicar: Rev Mike Bisset – 01494 816700; vicar@holytrinityandstmargarets.co.uk

If you have a safeguarding concern, or cannot locate any information which you require, then please get in touch.

Diocesan Safeguarding Team

You may wish to contact the safeguarding team at the Diocese of Oxford, their contact details are:

• Stuart Nimmo, Diocesan Safeguarding Advisor – stuart.nimmo@oxford.anglican.org or 01865 208290
• Sophie Harney, Safeguarding Casework Officer, sophie.harney@oxford.anglican.org or 01865 208295
• For queries on safeguarding training, Rebecca Norris-Bulpitt, Safeguarding Assistant & Training Officer – rebecca.norris-bulpitt@oxford.anglican.org or 01865 587041
• For DBS and general safeguarding enquiries, Linda Carpenter, Safeguarding Administrator – linda.carpenter@oxford.anglican.org or 01865 208267

For general safeguarding enquiries and advice on policies or procedures see safeguarding@oxford.anglican.org

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, PENN & ST MARGARET’S CHURCH, TYLERS GREEN

Our Parish 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 Criminal Records disclosures.

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 Criminal Records Bureau Disclosures.

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.

Our Safeguarding Officer(s) is: Deborah Yeates – djyeates@btinternet.com